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Kickoff: Reacting to Seattle Sounders vs. PSG!
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With the Seattle Sounders playing PSG in the Club World Cup at noon on a Monday, it's a special postgame edition of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff with fan reactions.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
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Transcript
Episode Announcement
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.
Weather and Today's Scorcher
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.
Seattle Sounders vs PSG: Club World Cup
00:00:44
Speaker
Good evening, everybody, and welcome in to a special edition of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff that is also going to serve as our postgame live. I'm Ari, that's Nico, and we are going to be talking about the Seattle Sounders group stage finale.
00:01:01
Speaker
in the Club World Cup versus PSG. We're going to be giving our thoughts on the game that just took place at Lumen Field today. We're going to be talking about the Club World Cup as a whole, and then later on planning on taking some calls.
00:01:15
Speaker
So if you want to hop on, lay down some takes with us, we will get to that a little later. um But ah Nico, I guess, first of all, how are you doing? It sounds like you had a bit of a an adventure on your on your trip home.
00:01:32
Speaker
I did do not take I-5 south. I don't know what was going on, but it was messed up from the start, from the jump. Then I tried to do a little bit of my own ah GPSing. And, you know, that I don't know if that helped any, but, you know, at least there was no traffic in front of me.
00:01:50
Speaker
But I'm finally home. I think that I was coming home on a bit of a high. And I think that is all part of what this Club World Cup has done for all of us, including the the team.
00:02:03
Speaker
I'm interested how the team comes off that high because I got to tell you, man, this tournament started kind of iffy and shaky, but I feel like I'm going to miss it
Sounders Defy Expectations
00:02:14
Speaker
tomorrow.
00:02:14
Speaker
I mean, I'm i'm still going to hope to go to one more game, but the Sounders won't be there. but But yeah, I definitely feel like I'm going to miss it. Yeah, no, i had the I had the same kind of feeling as I was walking to the bus stop out of the out of the stadium.
00:02:29
Speaker
ah i think I think there is a ah lot of pride that Seattle can take in how they played in this group stage. It wasn't perfect. But it certainly exceeded the expectations from the outside.
00:02:42
Speaker
I heard a lot going into this tournament about how Seattle didn't stand a chance in any of these games. They were going to get blown off the field in every single, oh, if they play PSG, they're going to get absolutely just dog walked.
00:02:56
Speaker
And ah that didn't really happen in any of these games. And i think for me, like ah I've been hammering home the the phrase, the concept of just competing with dignity and and acquitting yourself well out there.
00:03:08
Speaker
And but let's just talk about whether they did that today against PSG.
Sounders' Performance Analysis
00:03:13
Speaker
This was the spotlight game, I think, of the group stage. One of the spotlight but games that the Seattle Sounders have ever played.
00:03:22
Speaker
And, you know, when you're going up against a team that just won UEFA Champions League, ah you you expect it to be a certain type of game or at least ah very tilted in one direction.
00:03:36
Speaker
And I don't let, ah let's talk about just like the start of the game first, because i don't know about you, but 10 minutes into this game, I was like, this is actually, this is not going that bad.
00:03:47
Speaker
This is actually going kind of okay. kind of good in some in some aspects. And then as the as the game went on, like you see PSG's quality, and and we're going to talk about that.
00:03:58
Speaker
ah But Nico, I guess, what did you just make of of the start of that game and how the team competed in this match overall? Look, first of all, I would like to address the big elephant in the room, which would be those same people who you just mentioned that were saying that the Sounders were going to get you know, Trump, and they're going to get just completely obliterated, and five zero are the same people that will tell you that It had to do with the field and you had to do with the travel and you have to do with the exhaustion from a team that and come from an entire full season of play.
00:04:36
Speaker
So those naysayers, uh, obviously will still have their own thoughts because those are the type of people that will flip a coin and with heads, they win and with, uh, tails you lose.
00:04:49
Speaker
So, um, Let me start with that.
Mixed Reactions to Performance
00:04:52
Speaker
In terms of my analogy, look, I have mixed feelings myself. I have two threes of two trains of thought, and they each land in two different conclusions.
00:05:04
Speaker
On one end, I feel like the Seattle Sounders should be proud that they went toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the planet and today the best team in the planet.
00:05:18
Speaker
in PSG. And they looked the part and they competed and they pushed them back. And the first 10 minutes, as you mentioned, was all Sounders and you created a lot of half chances.
00:05:30
Speaker
Jesus Ferreira could have possibly had the Sounders on the lead with a great moment of pressure and then a very poor decision-making right after in which if he slips for Rothrock through a half.
00:05:44
Speaker
Lay it off. Just lay it off. That's probably going to end up in the lead for the Sounders. moments, you know, you have the second goal for PSG came off of a very good play where I think Ovid Vargas tries to cut back in front of goal, gets picked up.
00:06:01
Speaker
That creates a transition moment and it results in a PSG goal. So you should feel proud that you were able to do that, that Luis Enrique told me in the question that I asked that he enjoyed the the play of the Sounders.
00:06:18
Speaker
Hakimi told me that he thought that Seattle was brave, that that they played out of the bag, that you know this is a team that really played them straightforward. That's the best fullback in the world, by the way.
00:06:31
Speaker
That's the best fullback in the planet. The literal best fullback in the entire world. So that those are high praises. But on the other end, I do kind of feel like there were, maybe there was something missing and and there was maybe more to be had for this team.
00:06:50
Speaker
If you go back and look at every single goal, the all those goals are so important. Basic mistakes, right? It's set pieces. It's unmarked man on top of the box. It's a throwing with a bad clearance.
00:07:02
Speaker
I mean, you put those three games in a vacuum and you'll see the exact same mistakes. So Brian Smets are some of the substitution patterns. I thought that today they were off.
00:07:13
Speaker
I thought that Pedro La Vega should have came onto the field. I didn't know if Ryan can't deserve to start today. I really don't think he had done enough to deserve a start today.
00:07:24
Speaker
So, you know, when I look at the fact that this team wasn't completely fully fit, that Jordan Morris played 10 minutes because he's injured, that Yemar Gomez and Jordan was on the bench probably just for show, it does make me feel like what would happen if either A, the Sunners would have been completely fit, or B, maybe this team would have had maybe one more piece early this year win solidify the base in the core group that basically competed with Botafogo, with Atletico, and they never looked outmatched.
00:08:04
Speaker
I feel like tonight I can very easily Phrase it this way and I phrased it in other shows like this before they were outclassed, but they were not outperformed.
00:08:15
Speaker
ah Clearly the difference were the small margins, the talent, the ways that Kimi's, you know, those are the that the players that made the difference, but.
Pride in Performance
00:08:27
Speaker
Seattle was not played out of the park by any means of the imagination or any means of the term. They were not outplayed to the point where they couldn't hang. So that is something to be proud of. But I do understand, it that's the big feelings that I have right now, is that maybe an opportunity was missed to equalize or beat Botafogo to maybe get a draw ah today and in one particular point of the game. of the game So you just kind of want look at the the end result and the way the group played out because Botafogo did the unthinkable by beating PSG.
00:09:00
Speaker
Maybe there was an opportunity missed. So those are the mixed feelings I have. But all in all, and now I will be quiet and let you talk.
00:09:10
Speaker
I do feel like this group should be proud and they should take that sense of pride and don't let it get stale and really built off of that for the rest of the season.
00:09:23
Speaker
And if there was a high in motivation and if there was a high in intensity, you got to keep it there and see what that does against MLS competition because you just did it against the best in the world.
00:09:36
Speaker
Bad sequels coming in with the $2 super chat. You're one of our favorite people as well. Thank you for the support. ah I wanted to talk a little bit about just what, ah like watching PSG play and what ah what we thought of them. Because, you know, going into this match, I was i was trying to look at it through lens of, all right, this is this is the best team in the world.
00:09:57
Speaker
There's and probably there might not ever be a context again where we get to see the Seattle Sounders play the literal best team in
PSG's Game Control
00:10:05
Speaker
the world. It just happened to line up like that. And so I was kind of ah I was kind of watching the match through lens of like, all right, what what makes this team the best team in the world? Like what differentiates them from an elite team or like a great team to an elite team to the best team?
00:10:23
Speaker
And it kind of wasn't what i expected. Like I was thinking of it like, all right, this team probably just has so much quality in front of goal that the fact that they're just elite in possession and probably elite on defense is just, that's what puts them over the top.
00:10:43
Speaker
But just watching, watching them play in possession in particular I mean, they're one of the best I've ever seen. And it's to me, it's it's more about the the control they were able to exert over the match in terms of the tempo and keeping the ball.
00:11:02
Speaker
And they never... Didn't it kind of feel like they never really kicked into their full gear? And for me, like the possession was so skewed and there was times where Seattle, uh, like wasn't yielding super dangerous chances off that, but they were just, they were just so in control of everything to the point where, when it was, uh, when it was one zero into the second half,
00:11:29
Speaker
Yeah, it was ah it was technically a close game on the scoreboard, but to me, it just it never there was never any point in that game, or especially in the second half, where it felt like PSG was in much of a danger of conceding a goal or dropping the points. or they They were just...
00:11:49
Speaker
fully in control of the game the entire time. And I think their ability to do that, that's like the foundation of why they're able to play the way that they play.
00:12:01
Speaker
And, you know, when you wait for champions league. So I don't know. What did, what did you think of a, what did you think of PSG? I was just impressed exactly because of what you said. ah This is a team that on like the PSGs of the past in which they use those that oil money ah to call it that way to get the best talent in the planet.
00:12:23
Speaker
And by doing so, they were very, um, leaning on that star power. It was Neymar and it was Mvapé and it was Messi and it was Fidel Di Maria.
00:12:38
Speaker
They seem to always have a player and a couple of players that were going to make the difference. They had Icardi. They've always had a lot of talent. But this is the best collective group that I have seen and through and PSG.
00:12:52
Speaker
And I think that's what makes the difference. When you go back and, yes,
Sounders' Tactical Approach
00:12:55
Speaker
you have probably the best fullback duo in the planet. ah you have a not He has not played in the Club World Cup.
00:13:03
Speaker
But in Dembélé, you have a new version of Dembélé that grew and um advanced to be a player that was way beyond what was at Barcelona at one time.
00:13:14
Speaker
ah You got a guy like Dewey. You have the Luis Enrique stamp of discipline and order and explosiveness. This is probably the team that gets from the defensive end to the offensive end.
00:13:30
Speaker
in transition, the quickest out of any team that I've seen play all year long yeah yeah ah around the world. So it was impressive just to see them be as good as they were. And yes, today we probably didn't see the best of it.
00:13:44
Speaker
um In possession, there were times where the passing wasn't as accurate as we have been used to seeing in it.
00:13:54
Speaker
I'm going to go ahead and share this with the caveat that it wasn't an excuse. It was more of a circumstance, but both Hakimi and Luis Enrique said, look, we, we, we, we enjoy the tournament. We think that it's, uh, it was Enrique called it brilliant, but if there's something that needs to do, they need to do better is the the field.
00:14:14
Speaker
He said, look, ah the the field might feel good to most people and, um when you water it down, it's good for about 10 minutes, but then it gets really dry, gets really slow.
00:14:26
Speaker
And for us possession-based teams, this is very difficult. And the ball bounces like a bunny was another reference that Luis Enrique made. So general maybe there are some things that didn't allow their play to be at their best, but even then,
00:14:42
Speaker
going back to your point, they seem so in control, so poised. They just knew they were the better team on the field. Um, guys like, uh, like Reese that have a ton of experience in all kinds of fields and and venues and, and, and pressure.
00:14:59
Speaker
Um, thought Vinita was so good today. Vinita was fantastic. The entire game when he came to possession, when he came to building now, when he came to play defense, uh,
00:15:11
Speaker
You just see a team that collectively knows what they are about in terms of their concepts or principles, and they just have all the talent in the world. So you have to applaud a Sounders team that did not just bunker, that didn't just sit and park the bus, that at times pressured PSG pretty well, I may add.
00:15:36
Speaker
I mean, they were very good at pressing in several moments in this game. whether maybe some decisions by Brian and maybe a couple of other plays going their way would have changed the course of this game.
00:15:53
Speaker
That's not here, not there. That's just soccer because the first goal is the shot that's going completely wide, baby. I mean, t just he just hit it. That thing was going wide. And then he just happened to hit a player in the back and he goes in the back of the net.
00:16:08
Speaker
And that just kind of changed the course of the game. So, All in all, I think we could both agree, Ari, that you just played the best team in the planet, and the fact that a deflection and a transition moment was what took you out, you've got kind of feel pretty good about it, regardless of not believing in moral victories and understanding that this team has room to improve, that this roster has room to improve, and that neither you or I are sitting here saying, this is the all be all, we should be content, just, you know, put it on auto drive for the rest of the the season because you just did your thing.
00:16:59
Speaker
But it is something to help you build for the future and the rest of the 2025 season. I think Vamo Sounders put it ah put a pretty good nutshell sort of of what I was alluding to earlier.
00:17:11
Speaker
was a very controlled performance from ah from PSG. I think if they felt if they really felt the need, then they could have knocked in a come a more couple more. It almost felt like they weren't trying. Exactly. It felt like they were in like second gear.
00:17:24
Speaker
like yeah and To the point where in the in the second half, when it was 1-0, I was sitting there like, this may as well be 3-0. Like, and it but it felt like that, like, say Seattle did somehow get it, get an equalizer that they could have just turned up and like, uh, really, really kicked it into gear.
00:17:44
Speaker
So, uh, on one hand, I think you could probably, i don't know, for me, just the vibe of it, it felt like a taller mountain to climb. than it actually was on the scoreboard.
00:17:57
Speaker
um but I don't think that takes away at all from, uh, from the fact that Seattle was, uh, was certainly a lot more competitive in this game than, uh, than everyone thought they would be. I mean, we got, uh, we got fans of other teams in chat right now, uh,
00:18:12
Speaker
you know, yucking it up, talking trash. ah But what's satisfying to me is those, those people all wanted, they wanted it to be like six zero Seattle looked like they didn't belong, get blown off the field. And they're just like, ah like a disgraceful performance. And they don't, they don't have that.
00:18:29
Speaker
They don't have that to say. So I love that. I think that's great. I would also, i would also ask, why aren't you, why are your guys' this team teams playing in these games?
00:18:40
Speaker
Where, are where are they? why aren't why Why aren't they playing teams like this? Why aren't they getting the opportunity to test themselves in situations like this?
Testing Against High-Tier Teams
00:18:47
Speaker
That's a question that ah you might want to ask yourself and focus on that before you come into a come into our chat.
00:18:54
Speaker
ah But ah I guess... miko what else did you want to want to hit on this game i guess let's get to this from wade he he was asking is coach mad at you what did you do to him what did something happen at the at the presser coach stays mad at me coaches made be because i don't scratch my head or i see itches i don't nationalize i hear music and i will not be intimidated and That is from Remember the Titans, if you don't know the reference.
00:19:22
Speaker
ah But there's a reality, man. I just I asked a simple question and a question that he probably did not want asked. And is why did you leave your seven million dollar young DP on the bench? Why did he never come in?
00:19:35
Speaker
And he didn't have anything better. He didn't have, and he he did not have anything to say. He said, because that's the players that I chose. That's the the players are at that I thought were fine.
00:19:46
Speaker
I asked him about the substitution. So I thought they were odd. And, and, you know, I love Kalani, but if you, if I'm, if I'm down a goal, I'm not bringing Kalani on the field.
00:19:57
Speaker
If I need some defensive wing play, if I need to get the ball back to a certain sense, um, this needed a little bit more of a dynamism and someone who was going to put those fantastic fullbacks, at least the effort to to make them defend.
00:20:18
Speaker
and and he he never did that. he He did not try to put his, one of his most productive players I may add, because if you take back the all comps of both MLS and what he did at CCL, I mean at CCC, sorry.
00:20:32
Speaker
Um, He's one of your more productive players when it comes to full contributions. So excuse the hell out of me, sir. But I felt like this Pedro needed this game needed some Pedro to be had and you didn't. So, yeah, he was just not happy about the question. And thanks for the comment. I'm glad that you noticed. i mean, it's yeah, it's kind of par for the course.
00:20:54
Speaker
I thought I thought it was interesting interesting that De La Vega didn't play at all. I think you have a situation with one of those spots in the starting 11 right now where if you ask me in this game or any given game like who should be starting between Ryan Kent and Pedro De La Vega.
00:21:11
Speaker
To me, it's ah almost become like a wash at this point. Like you have two players who are sort of in the same situation of like, you know, you cannot see the talent, the technical ability and the final product at times, but just not consistently.
00:21:26
Speaker
So, I mean, I definitely agree with you that I would have wanted, it i wanted i wanted to see De La Vega in all these games because Him playing against this type of competition, i think, ah continues to give us a gauge data points on you know his quality, where he stands, how he's playing.
00:21:41
Speaker
Maybe he can help inform how we look at it for the rest of the season. ah so But like ah i'm I'm not like pressed about the fact that Ryan Kent got the start in this game, but ah I would have liked to see De La Vega at least for a little bit.
00:21:58
Speaker
I don't know. it It just doesn't seem like when you ah bring Kalani and Danny Musowski in the 57th and then you bring Danny Leyva in Georgia, you moved into 3-5-2 that you've kind of gave up on. Yeah.
00:22:18
Speaker
It just seems odd. And you're just doing what with that? I mean, you know you can't even build off of that necessarily. So the substitutions today just seem way off.
00:22:28
Speaker
And maybe you're just trying to give guys time to participate. And although i ah could be okay with that, then say with your chest.
00:22:40
Speaker
Tell me why it is that you made those decisions and don't hide behind this. It's because that's what I decided because it's not good enough. And I will reiterate these questions because I don't think that he gave and answer that certified what I was looking for.
00:22:55
Speaker
And now i'm not I'm not looking for the answer that I want. I just want him to answer the question in a
Coaching Decisions and Player Highlights
00:23:03
Speaker
very real way. Tell me what you saw. Tell me what it was that did Pedro play himself out of your lineup for this one? Did you think that Kent can do some things that Pedro didn't?
00:23:13
Speaker
let me know i'm just asking i'm not telling you who to play i'm just saying let me know what it is that you did see Okay, I see what's going on here. We got a Salzburg fan in the in the chat who is offended that we did like predictions on ah on like the group predictions and we had them in last. I mean, dude, I'll just tell you those predictions were like if a lot of the teams in this tournament, we have no concept. So we were just freestyling that.
00:23:42
Speaker
ah So... Sorry that's got you that hot and bothered. I don't know why you give a shit what we have to say about your team because we obviously don't know anything about it, but that at least explains like why you're here crashing out.
00:23:54
Speaker
ah Nate says, Christian, $10 million. dollars and Yes, let's let's talk about that. I wrote my little post-game article ah where I highlighted Christian rolled on performance in this tournament.
00:24:06
Speaker
He was Seattle's team MVP in these three games for sure, without a doubt. And what I thought was great about he how he played was just you could tell so obviously that he like his quality was of this level.
00:24:24
Speaker
And we've always wondered, he's, you know, he's chosen to be a ah Seattle lifer, which we all love and appreciate him for that. ah But there has always been sort of the question of like, could he have played in Europe if he, if he really wanted to, is that something that his level could have hit? And there's always been this discourse around him with the USMNT and how he should have never have been called in because he doesn't play in Europe.
00:24:47
Speaker
I mean, that's another great that's another great thing about this tournament is that anyone who watched those games, there's no way now that they can say that he's not of that level because he just proved it.
00:25:00
Speaker
So ah that was great to see. He played phenomenal today. He played it phenomenal in all three of these games. And I'm just happy for him that he got the opportunity to show that he can do that. Because I think we all, I think I always knew.
00:25:12
Speaker
i always knew that he could do that. But to see him actually do that, oh man, he was just everywhere. Sprinting, covering ground, ah his ball winning today. There was more of those plays where he was just getting the ball off guys in dangerous areas, starting it, going the other way.
00:25:27
Speaker
It was just fantastic. So we we do have, we got to shout him out for that. Nico, what did you, ah what did you make of Christian Roldan in this tournament? Christian Rodan has been without a doubt the best player for the Seattle Sounders throughout this competition. He has been the heart and soul.
00:25:42
Speaker
He has been the definition of tenacity, effort, grit, experience, leadership.
00:25:56
Speaker
I cannot say enough about what k Christian Rodan has done throughout these three games. I thought that today he was phenomenal. um the the one thing that Brian was right about today's press conference was saying that he probably would have been the man of the matches just that the team didn't win, so he was not going to get that.
00:26:13
Speaker
But he has been great in every single game, and he has been you know the best player probably in the Athletico game, best player probably in the Budafogo game. um And to your point in regards to What we've thought about k Christian Rodin for a very long time, i had to take a while back when Jordan Morris was loaned to um the Premier, was it?
00:26:38
Speaker
ah well just it was the champion It was the championship. The championship. but debbbit that That I said that I thought Christian Rodin was built more for European soccer than even Jordan.
00:26:49
Speaker
And the reason why i said that is because his versatility, his engine, his ability to cover space, his IQ, his durability, all of it to me at the time.
00:27:00
Speaker
And, you know, there there was at least a La Liga team that was maybe never made an offer for Christian Roldan, but was looking at Christian Roldan.
00:27:12
Speaker
Raul Betis. And ah I you know told this one ah scout you know that I thought that Christian Oudan would have been fantastic for Liga.
00:27:22
Speaker
ah So yes, I believe that in my mind, Christian Oudan, although we love that he's a lifer, I really do believe that there's a universe where if he had gone to, let's just put him in Spain,
00:27:37
Speaker
three, four years ago, he would probably would be a a very good player ah in that league. I mean, you look at De La Torre, no disrespect to him, he's a very good player.
00:27:48
Speaker
ah You know, I don't think Christian, you know, four or five years ago could have not done what De La Torre did in La Liga. So I really do believe that he maybe has been, he's played the cards that he was dealt, but I've always felt like he was,
00:28:07
Speaker
I hate to use this word, but maybe meant for more in a global spectrum. i mean, he's been so good for the Sounders in MLS, and he's probably extremely happy with his trajectory and his career.
00:28:19
Speaker
But my outlook of who he is as a player should have probably reached greater...
00:28:36
Speaker
Uh-oh. I'm losing you, Nico. Does anyone else? Okay. my be Yeah, I got you now. I don't know if that was on my end or if that was on ah on everybody's end, but I got you now.
Jesus Ferreira's Missed Opportunities
00:28:47
Speaker
yeah Just just ah in case in case it was just me, lay down the last part of your take there again.
00:28:55
Speaker
No, i' just saying that this is me talking about how highly I think of Christian Will Dan, that as much as he's had a fantastic trajectory, I've always felt like he could have done even more because that's how good of a player, a person, an athlete, a professional he is.
00:29:11
Speaker
Yeah, ah you know, I'm not the one who ah who said it. Matthew Doyle said it. if he keep If he keeps playing like this, he should probably get called into the USMNT. I mean, look, but that's like one of the most triggering things for that fan base is specifically that player getting called in.
00:29:29
Speaker
It ain't like the the guys that are getting called in above them right now are doing that hot. Okay. Like they're, they're just not. So yeah, you maybe you guys, I don't even consider myself a part of that fan base anymore at all.
00:29:41
Speaker
You guys could use them. Like might actually, yeah might actually help the team. Oh man, that's ah that's really going to ruffle some feathers. ah Wade asks, thoughts on Jesus' performance today? is passing His passing was way off today and he seemed to not really do a lot in the attack.
00:29:57
Speaker
ah Yeah, he was kind of he was kind of killing me with that first one ah where Rothrock freaking wins the ball off the off the goalkeeper, who is like obviously one of the best ever in the world, whatever.
00:30:11
Speaker
And Rothrock actually gets the ball off him, finds Jesus Ferreira, and ah it's just the layoff was there, man. It was there, and ah he instead rips it into the 27th row, and it was just like...
00:30:28
Speaker
The rest of the game, i mean, I don't know. i feel like it's a little tough to to gauge anybody in attack because i think this PSG team, to me, it seems like that's a about as like solid defense as you can possibly go against.
00:30:44
Speaker
The thing about that team is there's kind of no weaknesses. And I feel like even the guys that were trying to do what they could and attack, it's just like you can't get anything going against those guys. That's like what they do to you. they just ah They just take the air out of you, take the life out of you. And it looks like they're not even trying. Like there was points in that game where it literally looked like they were just Like it was like they you were at practice and it sometimes when you say that it's like in the context of them beating you by three or four goals. But I think that's the thing about this team.
00:31:17
Speaker
They don't even need need to do that. They get the one goal and then they're so good in possession and so good defensively that that may as well be like a three or four goal lead. That's how that's how I felt. So.
00:31:28
Speaker
uh, yeah, Ferreira was killing me with the, uh, with not laying it off to Rothrock. There wasn't that effective. The rest of the game definitely needs to be more effective going into the second half of the season here.
00:31:40
Speaker
ah but if we're talking about like, uh, you know, what any individual player could have done better to change the result, I don't know if anything Jesus anyone else would have made a difference here. I just think that, uh,
00:31:56
Speaker
the the degree the degree of difficulty you're threading on trying to score any goddamn goal against this PSG team is is hard. the The fact that Botafogo did it is like a testament to their team ah and Igor Jesus as an individual player.
00:32:16
Speaker
But also, I don't know what what you think about this, Nico, but I feel like Brazilian football has made like a strong statement in this tournament. They have showed up. They are getting results.
00:32:28
Speaker
ah They, they have had like this increased investment in recent years with the, with the goal of going into tournaments like this and doing exactly what they're doing right now. And this is, it sort of feels like a kind of moment where everyone who's watching this tournament and like, Keeping track of the game globally Has to look at what Botafogo and Flamengo And what the what the Brazilian teams are doing in this tournament And be like, this needs this needs to be taken seriously Like, this is a thing Yeah, no Look, first of all ah let Let's start off with Jesus He had a poor game He had a bad game And maybe a lot of it has to do with that miss in the nineteenth minute
00:33:14
Speaker
It's funny because Rothrock creates the pressure, but it is Jesus who intercepts the pass. So he does a great job by getting to that ball and then completely loses his idea of what he wanted to do. I think he panics. You said that in the press box, Ari.
00:33:36
Speaker
may But it might have been a moment of panic where you didn't realize you were going to get the ball. Now you get it and you just shoot. but Well, and I think he was, I think what he was, to the extent that he was able to, like, have a planning thought in his mind in that moment, he's like, all right, like, we have them scrambling, like, the goalkeepers off his line, like, right now.
00:33:56
Speaker
i'm I'm pretty far away at a tough angle, but I got to just get the, I got to get this shot off, like, while we have that. But it's like, you have Rothrock right there. He's right there. He's right there.
00:34:07
Speaker
Anyway, continue. No, no, but, but that's what I'm saying. I just think he had an off game. might've been the nerves. It could have been all kinds of situations, but at the end of the day, you got to perform.
00:34:19
Speaker
And as someone who has been in his corner ah from the very beginning, this is kind of what you needed to do to gain confidence and, uh,
00:34:32
Speaker
I know that he has articulated that he doesn't care of about what people say, but he's very aware what people say, and he wants to do well. He wants to perform. I know it. I've talked to him on and off the mics, and you could tell how much he gives a shit.
00:34:47
Speaker
So this sort of situation, that particular moment, I could only see it just eating him inside for the rest of the game. So you're right. I thought that his decision-making wasn't great.
00:34:58
Speaker
His passing wasn't great. ah Some of the runs he was making wasn't quite there. And then when he would make the right runs, the passes weren't getting to him. and There is a ah very good transition moment where Ryan Kent feints a defender and he's moving forward.
00:35:14
Speaker
Ferrer is in the right place, but Ryan Kent doesn't get him the ball. So all of those things, I feel like they just snowballed today. it felt like if it wasn't a mistake on his end, it was a mistake on someone's end.
00:35:27
Speaker
And they just very slowly just completely overshadowed anything that he could have done positively he was probably one of the lowest rated players today if i could say so myself looking at this tournament as a whole like why don't we do like a little uh letter grade thing like we've uh like we've done with the road trips and uh and other uh stretches of games in the past uh looking at, uh, the Boda Fogo, Atletico, PSG run of games in this group stage, holistically, uh, what grade, uh, what grade would you give
Club World Cup Group Stage Evaluation
00:36:07
Speaker
Seattle? You go first and then, uh, I'll give mine.
00:36:09
Speaker
Hmm. It's a tough question because it is you got to take in consideration, not just the intent, but the results, uh, you have to, um, compartmentalize each game,
00:36:26
Speaker
both individually as collective. So I'm going to play it safe here and I'm going to go with a C minus. And this is why I'm going to go with a C minus. I felt like the team played good enough to be at a B grade.
00:36:45
Speaker
um
00:36:48
Speaker
But at the end of the day, there were too many mistakes that were, were correctable that I do lay on the coach and the coaching staff for not getting them ready for the particular moments and those mental lapses that cannot continue to happen.
00:37:06
Speaker
You cannot have three goals with unmarked players on top of the box. Two against Atletico. One is the Barrios goal that ends up in the back of the net.
00:37:17
Speaker
In that same game, Llorente off of a set piece results by himself on top of the box. He shoots the ball that hits the post and he goes down and eventually Wetzel puts it in the back of the net.
00:37:32
Speaker
And then today, again, another time where it's just a ah guy completely by himself, top of the box. So too many mistakes that should be corrected for me to give you a higher grade.
00:37:48
Speaker
I'm not going to fail them. And I'm not going to go deep because the tenacity, the effort, the character, and this was not said by me, this was said by Hakimi, the best fullback in the world.
00:38:01
Speaker
He said, I thought that the team showed a lot of character throughout this game, and I felt like this team has shown a lot of character throughout the entirety of this tournament, whether it was after going down 1-0 against Botafogo and completely putting that game against the ropes that told second half, whether it was against Atletico,
00:38:21
Speaker
And when things went wrong, you were still able to play your game and pressure. And then here today, regardless of those two bad moments, you had spells of these games where you should have been um top But you could.
00:38:34
Speaker
So C is a little bit below average for me. That's the way I kind of see it in my head. i don't know if that's accurate in terms of grading. I'm not a teacher. ah But to me, it just feels like it was just slightly below the average simply because of the execution and the very...
00:38:56
Speaker
preventable situations that were made both by starting lineups, decisions and decisions on the field. Yeah, I would go, i would go slightly higher than a C minus. I think I would go more like C, C plus.
00:39:11
Speaker
um My barometer for success in this tournament, as I've said repeatedly, been saying the entire time was compete with dignity. Don't do anything embarrassing. Don't do anything that's going to set ah the club in the in the league back multiple decades.
00:39:26
Speaker
It would have had to have been really bad for that to happen. But people were saying that it was going to go that bad. They were saying it was going to go that bad, and it didn't go that bad. ah So for me, like a C is passing, and I feel like they at least met that barometer.
00:39:43
Speaker
So, I mean, ah I can pass them on that. But I think what you're saying is spot on. a lot Most of the goals that they conceded in this tournament were not the other club's quality, like overpowering Seattle's quality.
00:40:00
Speaker
It was mental mistakes and shooting yourself in the foot like they did it to themselves in a lot of these scenarios. I think the biggest one that will always kind of gnaw at me is New Who's in the Botafogo game.
00:40:15
Speaker
ah where he commits a foul away from the ball that he gets baited into by the opposing team and gives them a dangerous set piece that they score on. And, ah you know, we've talked about that sequence ad nauseum, but it's just that that's the type of decision, the type of play that you cannot make in a game like this. The margins are too thin.
00:40:39
Speaker
You're fighting too much of an uphill battle already to put yourself in situations where you have to overcome stuff like that. You can't do it. And he was deservedly benched for it, but it wasn't just him. ah Most of these goals, most of these goals could be kind of boiled down to something like that. I think news was the most egregious, but yeah, it's just like, it's positioning stuff. It's mental errors. It's a bad giveaways stuff that just doesn't need to happen. And to, to get a higher grade for me,
00:41:10
Speaker
You would have had to like not have ah as many of those. you have like one or two of those, all right, whatever. like Stuff happens in ah in any given game. But they had just a bunch of them. Today, i feel like the first PSG goal was... ah John Bell said it was like, he described it as like fluky, which ah to me, it's like you make your own luck type of situation. They get like a pretty ah good good shot off, or at least a shot off from a good area that's going wide. But, you know, if you're putting that in that area, ah youre you open up the possibility that it could take a deflection like that and deflect in.
00:41:48
Speaker
ah But that's more of one that's, I look at that and I'm like, all right, I don't, I don't know how much could have been done differently, but the reason that I, I can't give them like a, like a, an A would have been if I think I would have given an A if they had gotten any result in this, uh, in this group stage, that's, uh, that's sort of the other reason that I feel like I can't like, and that, that would have been an A, uh,
00:42:13
Speaker
if they're going to go oh and three and i'm still going to give them like a b or a b minus uh they would have had to it had it would have had to have been situations where it was just the other teams out qualitying them and not them shooting themselves in the foot so that's uh i think c plus is about about where i land yeah and if you take a lead it may be uh you know You had a game where you lost in the very last minutes. Like maybe those are the moments where you might go be ah when he came to this team. But once again, I feel like the bar has to be set high. And um it's not about like, we're not being unreasonable here because obviously all of these teams are more talented.
00:42:55
Speaker
No disrespect, obviously. ah They are worth a lot more money. There are players in both teams. PSG and Atletico that are worth more than your entire roster.
00:43:06
Speaker
So those are all things that should be taken into consideration. One player worth more than your entire team. So let's put that into context. But at the end of the day, because of the way he played out, I cannot get rid of the feeling that there were opportunities missed and
00:43:30
Speaker
it it makes me wonder, you know, what if it would have been a little bit better? What if you had been lot sharper? What if you had been more poised in certain moments, you know, talking about Nihu?
00:43:42
Speaker
So those are the things that make me just drop that to a C-. minus I also, again, i wanted to see a little bit more more continuity.
00:43:54
Speaker
And I know that's difficult with the, you know, rotating players and things like that. But at the end of the day, moving forward more in the overall concept. ah I really do think that the team is probably feeling pretty well, pretty good.
00:44:09
Speaker
um I think that they can all say, look, we worked hard. We did not get outplayed in any of these games. We did not get molly walked in any of them. I mean, you know, it it it was always a competitive game and they went toe to toe.
00:44:26
Speaker
They went toe to toe. And that's something that we cannot take away. Yeah, I do wish that ah we could have seen what would have happened if both Jordan Morris and Yaimar were healthy for this tournament.
00:44:39
Speaker
ah Like, i think both of them, obviously, the both of those absences loomed extremely large. ah Jordan, in the, just what he brings in terms of the runs he's able to make, but also... ah his his finishing ability.
00:44:54
Speaker
But honestly, the one that looms even larger to me is Yimar. Like, I feel like we really saw in this tournament, like how important that guy is to this team. We'll never know.
00:45:05
Speaker
But I feel like, if he's healthy and playing at his full capacity in this, in this tournament, maybe, maybe a couple of those goals, or those, those mental errors ah just with his leadership and with his intelligence and everything he brings to the table.
00:45:20
Speaker
And also just his physical presence is so valuable in a game like this, where you're going against these world-class athletes that are the literal best in the game, like missing a guy like that, your leader, your linchpin in defense.
00:45:36
Speaker
I don't know if it would have changed anything. I just would have liked to see it. It would have been, uh, it would have been nice. Uh, Nico, anything, uh, anything else you wanted to hit here? Anything on your mind that, uh, we haven't talked about with this game. We could talk about, uh, uh, how it could affect the season going forward here. Like, I guess, yeah, that's a good, that's a good place to go. Like, uh,
00:45:59
Speaker
so like when when When they're in Coggy have Champions Cup, sometimes you see, or Leagues Cup even, you see when they get back to league play, the fact that they've been playing higher level opposition actually kind of it does kind of transfer over
Learning from High-Level Play
00:46:12
Speaker
sometimes. And I will always say, for all the hate that Leagues Cup gets, I think the 2021 run, right that was the year they made the Leagues Cup final.
00:46:21
Speaker
I really think that that that those games... gave them like such a solid base to go on that 2022 run because they got so many more reps going against those teams and playing better competition ups your level. It just does.
00:46:36
Speaker
So to what extent, Nico, do you think that getting to play teams like PSG, Atletico Madrid and Botafogo, can help this team as they return to league play here on Saturday with ah Austin FC. It's it's pretty yeah funny, like going from PSG to Austin FC. But yeah, they're coming to Lumen Field on Saturday.
00:46:58
Speaker
Yeah, I think that the biggest hurdle will be mental. is ah You were getting yourself amped and ready and motivated to go against the best of the best. A lot of these games, you were coming in with a huge chip on your shoulder and being the real underdog and saying, look, it's a, you know,
00:47:16
Speaker
win-win situation. we have nothing lose. We're just going to be proud of what we do. And so you up your level. ah So can you keep that mentality? Can you keep yeah that competitiveness against Austin FC knowing that the level of competition just dropped ah whole lot, to say the least.
00:47:34
Speaker
um But I feel like in terms of Camaraderie, unity, team building, confidence, all of those things you're not going to be able to neglect because that's what happened here.
00:47:48
Speaker
And you have been on the road and on the battlefield with your fellow teammates and you have seeing the Rothrock effort and you've seen the Christian Rodan putting his body on the line and you see Stephen Fry just being the leader that he is.
Player Rotation and Health
00:48:04
Speaker
All of those things will cement into a much stronger unit and that I have no doubt about. But the mental component, is I feel like that's where maybe we'll see what happens. Also, the physical component.
00:48:19
Speaker
You saw Ovid and Christian once again go 90. And to me, that's something to watch. As much as both of those guys are as healthy and as strong and and dependable as he gets,
00:48:38
Speaker
You might need to rotate the pivots. You might need to just give them a weekend off. I mean, you you you have to go into this Austin FC game and say, okay, JP and Danny Leyva, your time is shine ah because you just don't want to risk two players that are so important for you moving forward.
00:48:56
Speaker
You've got to figure out what you got out of this eight, ten minutes from Jordan Morris. ah You've got to try to figure out where he is at, where Yehmer is at. So the the physical component is also something that you're going to have to figure out moving forward.
00:49:13
Speaker
But to your point, I feel like this team has done it quite often where they play a real tough Champions League game, a real tough League's Cup journey and all of sudden they are at a better level there pretty soon i think that you might see this with this team if they can keep the mental component in check Nico, I know you said you had until about 6.15, so if you if you need to to jet, feel free. ah
00:49:45
Speaker
I do. it so I don't know if you got any any guys on the queue. I have not. i can I was just going to do that. Yeah, go ahead and do that while I give you my final thought of— Okay, this I'm going to drop the ah link in the chat for anyone who wants to call in and lay down some takes with me when Nico vacates.
00:50:04
Speaker
ah Pedro from Glorious Boda Fogo is in there. He says, too bad to see you all about ah the about
Botafogo's Strong Performance
00:50:10
Speaker
the tournament. Much love. I mean, hey, man, I think we're we're all just happy for you, man. like that beaten psg like the what botafogo did in the on the uh global stage honestly man i'm about to drop this link in chat yeah i would love to have you hop on if you can and uh we can ask you just about what you've seen from the team in the in the tournament and how you're feeling after beating psg and all that but link is right there for anyone to q in and then nico go ahead and uh lay down your final thoughts uh
00:50:39
Speaker
I have been very encouraged by this tournament. I grew up watching the Club World Cup because it was the one and only opportunity that South American teams got to play against European teams.
00:50:51
Speaker
And for those of you who don't know, if you're South American, you've always grown with this level of competition against the Europeans. ah They say they created the game. We say we perfected it. ah We said that we have the the best players in the world, the five-time World Cup champions.
00:51:08
Speaker
um And therefore, there's always been that competition level. So it was always amazing to see. But it never quite felt like a club World Cup because it was four games, because it almost felt like a preseason exhibition tournament for the European teams.
00:51:26
Speaker
This one actually felt like a World Cup from the group stage to the competition level. And watching...
00:51:36
Speaker
the Flamengos beat Chelsea 3-1 and in watching guy like Arrascaeta just kill it with that team, ah watching ah Boca Juniors go toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich and they had him on the ropes.
00:51:51
Speaker
And they played a fantastic game, and then they lose it there at the end 2-1. ah Just the Monterey game against Real Madrid was – I mean, no Monterey, Pachuca. Pachuca against Real Madrid. It was a fantastic game.
Club World Cup Format Excitement
00:52:04
Speaker
Salmon on Roldón, pushing Real Madrid with 10 players – for the majority of that game. ah i mean, it was amazing. Every single game that I've watched, the Benfica bocas, I mean, all of these games have been such quality that I'm looking forward for the next club World Cup. I'm truly looking forward to what this tournament can look like in the next go about because I know it's the first year. There's a lot of wrinkles that need to be ironed.
00:52:33
Speaker
I think that they will in terms of ticket sales and marketing and all of these things. But the product on the field, man, it has been amazing. So I am extremely pleased with it. I want to see it continue.
00:52:44
Speaker
ah The Brazilian teams have been amazing. ah the The South American teams in general have been very good. So, man, I'm just encouraged about what this thing could look like next time around.
00:52:56
Speaker
And I think the Sounders should be proud of what they did. And although MLS teams probably just might have – Inter-Miami might be the only one that's still alive.
00:53:07
Speaker
Yeah, no, they're playing they're playing right now. And ah they I think they – I'm not exactly sure what their scenario is, but I know they're at one draw, one win. So um yeah a draw would put them through 100%. And then if they lose, then then I think we'd have to start looking at the tiebreakers and stuff, which I don't really think.
00:53:27
Speaker
The LSDs have done fine. It's their first time around as well in this sort of tournament. So I think that they will learn from this. I think the tournaments have been very good. I think that the venues have been very good. The attendance has been on and off.
00:53:37
Speaker
ah They have been some really good ones, some really bad ones. But I think that next time when this tournament is more known, ah man, I think it's going to be very well.
00:53:48
Speaker
So I appreciate you for having me on, Ari. It's always a pleasure. ah Thank you to all the guys that are out here. ah Maybe I'll hop back on if I just got to do something here with my canine that ah I never brought back in from when he was outside and i'm a little bit worried about him. But I might just come back in for a little bit. But if I don't, always a pleasure. i hope you get a lot of ah callers because the audience is simply fantastic. So thanks a lot, man.
00:54:19
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Thanks, Nico. Appreciate you. And I'll be hanging out for a bit. So if you do want to hop back on, ah feel free. All righty. Take care. ah Always great talking with Nico on Lobbing Scorchers kickoff.
00:54:33
Speaker
One of my favorite things to do. Inter-Miami have just scored. They have taken a 1-0 lead in their in their matchup with Palmeiras. Allende looks like got on the score sheet.
00:54:44
Speaker
So, yeah. Look, ah Miami just is in great position to go through. ah But right now, folks, this is exciting. We've got ah Pedro from Glorious Botafogo, returning guest, bringing him back to the stage right now. ah Pedro, excited to talk to you, man. You got to be on cloud absolute nine.
00:55:04
Speaker
um How are you feeling? ah Well, OK. All right. I want to start with ah this PSG game. Yeah. i didn't I actually didn't watch it. what what What happened? How did the boys get it done? that's the gotta be one of the i know the Copa win was great, but this is this even better? like God damn.
00:55:23
Speaker
ah Well, first of all, good luck to Palmeiras because it looks like they're going to need it right now. Good night to the chat. Good night to everybody. Good night, Ari. Thanks for having me on again.
00:55:36
Speaker
I just actually, I just got back home from, uh, my own, uh, U14 team that I coach. We had a little Monday night sesh right before the, uh, the club world cup. And it's my duty as a, as an educator of the sport to tell the boys, Hey, after practice, you're going straight home and you're going to watch the club world cup.
00:55:55
Speaker
So ah hopefully, hopefully they, they listened to me. Um, but man, uh, that PSG, you know, there's, I don't think there's going to be much of a, Greater glory than winning the Libertadores, to be quite honest with you, except for winning the club World Cup title.
00:56:12
Speaker
I think that'd be the only title that would ah surpass it. ah Winning against PSG.
00:56:18
Speaker
it was not a greater feeling than winning the Libertadores, but it was a feeling that let us know that, you know, if if we if we're given a chance, we can prove that we can hang.
00:56:35
Speaker
and and um And that's what happened, man. We were... ah obviously Paris Sérgio Mata the better team um on the paper right you look at look at ah how how much they spent on Kavarskali alone yeah it's probably more than the whole Botafogo team it's definitely way more than than any like than Seattle's whole team So, yeah, ah I mean, of course, on paper, it looks like were we're the weaker team. But I told you before, man, in Brazil, we have a saying that the shirt has weight to it.
00:57:11
Speaker
And the Botafogo shirt is heavy, bro. Botafogo shirt is heavy. And you got to be a big player. You got to be a player with a lot of a lot of mental fortitude to to be able to to play for this team and perform the way that we did. I think we just performed very obedient, man. We were such an obedient team versus PSG. you know um And we played like any team should have played against PSG. We just congested the middle.
00:57:46
Speaker
we didn't We didn't let Vitinha play. We congested that middle. We played with three holding mids, and we forced them to go out. And every time one of their outside mids, either Douay or Kovar, Celia, every time they got the ball, they already had two or three people on them.
00:58:05
Speaker
So we just didn't let PSG play. We just didn't let them. I mean, you can look at the shots. And shots on target and and the expected converted shots into goals was like zero, even though they had a lot of shots.
00:58:20
Speaker
You can take all the shots you want. If they don't go on goal, they don't go on goal. Right. you know And then a moment of brilliance from ah our center attacking mid-Savarino, which you got, you know, Savarino from Israel Salt Lake. yeah A moment of brilliance with a beautiful through ball. It's as as clinical as it gets from a number 10.
00:58:39
Speaker
And Igor Jesus takes a subtle touch. ah He's got Boraldo coming in from the left and Pacho coming in from the right. And with the little subtle tap to the right, he nutmegs Pacho and then he shoots and deflects off the heel. I think of Pacho as he tries to turn around to recover and it kills Donnarumma's momentum as he was going one way and the ball went the other.
00:59:02
Speaker
And then we just defended for our lives and played smart. I don't think we parked the bus. We just defended well. You know, there's a difference between parking the bus and just defending for dear life.
00:59:15
Speaker
Yeah. You know, uh, uh, and, and, and being, because it takes like a lot of focus, dude, to be able to play the perfect defensive game without making mistakes, because even we were defending, we were trading passes. not like, it's not like we were getting the ball and just booting it up the field and giving the PSG the ball say, here you go. Try again.
00:59:39
Speaker
That wasn't happening. You know, we defended the ball, recovered the ball, and we were playing. We were trying that, what I told you, like that's a quick tiki-taka sort of thing, trying to find the outside fullbacks or mids for a pass. and And one of those with loose balls, we got to the ball first. We we battled for it.
00:59:58
Speaker
Pass, past past pass, pass, pass. Savarino threw ball, goal. So that that's how it happened. Yeah, obviously an incredible win. And, you know, i I was talking about it earlier on this show, but to me, one of the ah biggest storylines of this whole tournament has become how how how Brazilian football has, like,
01:00:20
Speaker
sort of like taking over this tournament in terms of like exceeding expectations and and like not not just hanging with it, but beating these teams, like not just taking ah the result of a draw, but winning. Like, I don't think many people thought that Botafogo was going to be PSG. I know not many people thought that.
01:00:41
Speaker
I don't think many people thought ah Flamenco was going to be Chelsea three to one And I was watching that game. And ah that that that to me, I don't know if you agree, but like at least the portion of the game that I watched, that looked like Flamenco was like the actual better team. And they were. Yeah, like the and like especially at the end when they got the ah third goal. It's like you like felt like it was coming.
01:01:03
Speaker
ah What do you make of just how Brazil has kind of like does it does Do you agree that it's like it's almost like it's made a statement in this tournament that the work that they've been the whole league and country has been putting in to going into situations like this and being able to compete, this is like it feels like this is it coming to fruition in a way that the outside world didn't expect.
01:01:29
Speaker
Again, if this proves anything, is that...
Brazilian Football's Competitiveness
01:01:34
Speaker
we're not so far off as some might have made it seem, especially probably the press from Europe being a little bit more condescending in the way that they just didn't know better.
01:01:49
Speaker
right? It was like, we have all the best players. We have all the best teams. We're just gonna, this is a, this is a post-season tournament that we're all going to win with ease. And, and that's it. You know, all these other bums from the other continents, the North America, Central America, South America, what do they got? They got nothing.
01:02:08
Speaker
No. And, and, and we showed up, man. Um, I mean, God, Flamengo and Chelsea, yeah I hate i hate to to admit it because Flamengo is Botafogo's biggest driver, but I hate to admit it, but they were the better team. They were. They were the better team.
01:02:23
Speaker
you know And um people are saying, oh, Chelsea won the Conference League. So we're in Brazil. So even at the highest moments of like... of Brazilian teams doing well, we still find ways to nitpick at each other, right?
01:02:36
Speaker
And people are saying, ah look, this is how the discussion, the level of the discussion went, okay? They were saying, which win was bigger? Flamengo 3-1 over Chelsea or Botafogo over PSG? And they nitpicking at each other.
01:02:50
Speaker
That's how, like, that's to the level it got because we we think that we belong and in these kinds of competitions. And not only do we belong, we we're made to perform and in these competitions. Just look at Botafogo. If it wasn't for that goal, the atletico score, we would have gone in first.
01:03:08
Speaker
Flamengo is in first place right now. Fluminense is in first place right now. Palmeiras is bottling it right now, but we'll see what happens. um It could be that we have a Botafogo and Inter-Miami matchup if if it stays like this in the quarterfinals. But, you know, it's...
01:03:26
Speaker
We are here to stay. The South Americans are here to stay. And I think the reaction from the world and the press of other countries, for example, when Botafogo beat PSG, the French press was saying PSG was knocked the pedestal.
01:03:42
Speaker
off the pedestal And then the the newspapers in Spain just saying how perfect and how applied and and and and solid in defense Botafogo was praising perfect defensive game versus saying, oh, they just parked the bus because that's not what happened.
01:04:00
Speaker
Yeah. ah Yeah, so if there's anything that this proves is that you know the Brazilian League might not be as far off from the top four or five European leagues than people thought.
01:04:13
Speaker
you know I would even go a step further. I'd say the Brazilian League... in terms of obviously if you're going to look on paper and how how much these teams are are the net worth of the squads like players wise obviously Bayern Munich is going to have a much higher squad in terms of ah money how expensive it is than the other Brazilian teams but I'm talking like You put a Flamengo, you put a Palmeiras, a Botafogo.
01:04:44
Speaker
um i think Fluminense are doing very well with the hand that they've been dealt in this tournament. I do think they are the weaker of the four teams, ah but they're doing well regardless.
01:04:56
Speaker
ah But you think you, and then I'd go even say like other teams that are not playing right now, like and in the top five in the Brasileirão, you put them in a Bundesliga, they're going to be hanging with the first, with the first five.
Botafogo's Cinderella Story
01:05:08
Speaker
the like Yeah. yeah And the Portuguese league. I think one of these Brazilian teams topped the Portuguese league. No, I agree. um the vibe The vibes with Botafogo right now are just like like incredible. They've got that sort of... I don't even know if it's like Cinderella at this point, but it's like... ah Vibes actually matter so much in ah in a tournament like this. like And wins like the ones you guys are getting right now, those those create... they that They galvanize that belief, and it's a powerful thing. It can take you on a ah on a pretty big run.
01:05:43
Speaker
Just how are you feeling right now about the tournament? ah going forward like are you feeling like this is just like a magic carpet ride that could come crashing down at any moment or is the mentality of the of the fan base right now like no let's go like make a run ah at winning this thing i think the fan base definitely think thinks that we can move through at least one or two more rounds depending on our matchups for sure i think the fan base is starting to get really excited about it and and i honestly like the If we fall in that bracket, I rate our chances against Inter Miami.
01:06:17
Speaker
I think so. I think so. rate our chances against Palmeiras. We know them well. They know us well. We play each other all the time. I rate our chances against them. You know, if we go on the other side, we play a Porto or whatever. I'm not scared of a Porto.
01:06:34
Speaker
You know? Okay, then after that, you know, you beat... Maybe you play like a Flamengo. And again, we also know each other. But then you're talking about a different caliber or of team, right? Like Palmeiras is a different caliber of team.
01:06:46
Speaker
ah Flamengo is in a different caliber. So you play those teams, although we we know them. It's not going to be like... It's different playing Palmeiras than playing PSG, obviously.
01:06:58
Speaker
Or playing a Men's City or playing Real Madrid. like The feeling is going to be different just because we're playing a team that we're not used to playing. So if we are playing Palmier, if we are playing Flamengo, I don't think the mood changes. I think it actually becomes more, but think it it becomes more, the players have an extra incentive because then you have bragging rights inside your own country against a team, right? So if you play and then you beat them, not only do you knock them out of a world tournament, you're like, you have bragging rights for the rest of the year, you know?
01:07:29
Speaker
ah But i I don't know, man. I think that any of these Brazilian teams, it would not be strange to see them in the semifinal. Yeah, it seems like that's the ah direction that it's headed, honestly, with how well, not just Botafogo, but like how ah a whole handful of these teams are doing. Again, like to me, it's become the storyline that I'm paying some of the most attention to is like i think it's I think we can say that it's real at this point. like When you have the teams beaten beating PSG, beating Chelsea, like you can't really question that. And honestly, if you can beat PSG right now, you can beat anybody. Honestly, man, I think the only team not taking this competition seriously right now is Borussia Dortmund.
01:08:12
Speaker
I think the all the other teams in this competition taking it very seriously. You see at Atlético fans today, ah so the the players after the match was over, some of them were crying. Some of them had the shirts over their heads.
01:08:26
Speaker
Like they were gutted. Yeah. That they lost. They're gutted that they lost. Gutted that they're going home. So they are taking it seriously. I think right now the only one that's not taking it seriously Borussia Dortmund.
01:08:39
Speaker
And it's starting to feel like ah not only the supporters of other teams are catching on to that. I think maybe the other teams are catching on to that too. And going back to what you said about Botafogo and how the vibe is going, it sort of feels like the whole world is kind of taking Botafogo into like this little brother kind of vibe.
01:08:58
Speaker
i'm I'm rooting for you guys. like I'm ah i'm a second-hand Botafogo fan like right now. so proud of you. like you beat You beat the bad guy. We're so proud of you kind of thing. you know and ah it To me, it just kind of seems like if I were to put into like actual perspective, imagine... like ah like a former world champ being retired for so long. And then 20 years later, he decides to come back at the game and he he takes out a promising youngster that's beaten everybody. And then he claims is he gets a win back they're like, oh, old man can kind of hang. All right. Okay, let's go.
01:09:32
Speaker
That's kind of the vibe that I get too. um Yeah, that's that's kind of the vibe that I'm getting, man. All right. Well, I got i got a caller in the queue behind you, Pedro, but ah before ah before we move on to our next caller, ah i mean, I get just congratulations on that win. Thank you, brother.
01:09:50
Speaker
That was so sick. And again, I'm i'm a i'm definitely, i'm I'm rooting for Botafogo. And honestly, ah how Botafogo has been doing in this tournament makes me feel even like more proud of how Seattle played against Botafogo because that was a pretty good game, and i thought they showed well anyway but then you look at at botafogo going to be going on to bpsg and looking like a dark horse to make a real run in this tournament i'm like damn like it's pretty cool that like the team i cover actually went toe-to-toe with a team like that so uh yeah no i'm i'm i'm hyped for you man uh any other any uh takes or thoughts that you wanted to get out there about the about the tournament or uh or your squad
01:10:34
Speaker
No, man, i think ah I think now everybody's starting to appreciate the tournament, right? If they didn't before, I think everybody's starting to see the good that this tournament's going to bring.
Fan Satisfaction and Experience
01:10:45
Speaker
I saw some kind of news saying that, you know, they'rere they're thinking about doing it every two to two years now, and I don't agree with that. I think keep it in the same format as the World Cup. Making sure it happens the year before the actual World Cup is like ah as a like ah you know a taste of what's to come next year or the national teams. Keep the the club World Cup the way it is every four years.
01:11:04
Speaker
Have the team wear the patch for four years is bragging rights, especially if you're from South America. That's huge bragging rights. But now if you guys um guys want to support Bata Fogel in this run,
01:11:15
Speaker
ah he will We will welcome any support. I'm on the bandwagon. I'm on the bandwagon. Any support, go follow me on YouTube, Gorespotafogo on X if you have it on Instagram. I'm there as well because I'll be keeping everybody to date.
01:11:29
Speaker
ah i'm on ah I will bow out. I just want to news and analysis with Arturo to explain. I can't support Botafogo because bris Brazil has a bad lifestyle.
01:11:40
Speaker
LAUGHTER
01:11:43
Speaker
I don't know what that means, Arturo, but it's cool, man. That's all right, too. I was happy to see the African and the Asian clubs perform well as well. All right. Well, Pedro, thank you for calling in again. You're welcome on the show anytime. And I'm going to bring you back on because Botafogo is still in this thing, and there could be some more shock results in store. Yes, sir. There will be some. I'll be hitting you up for those. But thanks again, and have a great rest of your night.
01:12:12
Speaker
Congratulations on the whole ah on the whole run. All right, buddy. Thank you. You guys have a good night. See you later. Take care.
01:12:18
Speaker
Great, ah great. Check it in there with Pedro from glorious Boda Fogo. I mean, the the guys rightfully on cloud nine right now with how this tournament's going for that team. And like I was saying, like it kind of made me look at the ah at the Seattle game against Boda Fogo a little differently. I kind of I knew that ah they had increased investment in all that.
01:12:43
Speaker
And yeah. that they they're considered a league on the up and Botafogo in particular has been considered a club on the up. But if you asked me if they were going to be psg i would not have ah I would not have called that.
01:12:56
Speaker
And it's not just them too, like we were talking about. Flamengo beat Chelsea three to one. And the part of that game that I watched, they were clearly the better team. But all right, we got James in the queue, but his video isn't on. So I'm not sure if he's ah if he's ready.
01:13:12
Speaker
James, ah if you can ah give me some sort of sign. I think he might be like away from, okay, there he is, there he is. All right, gonna bring him to the stage right now.
01:13:24
Speaker
James, i got you I got you on stage. Can you hear me? James, got you on stage. Can you hear me? Yes, I can. Can you hear me? Yeah, it sounded like my voice was coming through your feed, but now it's not, so I think we're good.
01:13:41
Speaker
Oh, yeah, there it is again. I think we're good. Yeah, sorry. There's some kind of delays there. If you've got to boot me, you got to boot me. Well, yeah can you close the... ah Like, do you have the stream open on a tab? Can you close the... ah Like, do you have the stream open on a tab?
01:13:58
Speaker
I don't think so. I came in the way I usually do. All right, I'm going take you off real quick and then bop back on when All right, going you off real quick and then bop back on. That was crazy delay, hearing my own voice.
01:14:12
Speaker
Like, twice, back to back. Um... I'll drop the, I'll drop the link in chat one more time. Probably not going to stay on like all that much longer guys. Um, I do, uh, do have some stuff I wanted to do this evening.
01:14:26
Speaker
So not going to go all night, but, um, Link right there if ah if anyone wants to hop on, lay down some takes on the PSG game or the Club World Cup season going forward.
01:14:39
Speaker
Feel free. I'll take ah take a couple more you guys want. um How are you feeling, chat?
01:14:48
Speaker
it seems like the vibes It seems like the vibes are... People are decently happy. Not as much. There's there's a fair amount of crashing out in our chat in the after the Atletico game.
01:15:01
Speaker
That was weird. There was like a coordinated ah RBW crash out group that I wasn't exactly sure where it came from.
01:15:15
Speaker
So at least none of those people are here. Yeah, Hakimi I mean, he, God, he's good. All right, we got Kenny in the queue. ah Kenny, gonna bring you to the stage right now. Looks like you're on audio. Can you hear me?
01:15:29
Speaker
What's up, Ari? What's up, man? what ah How are you feeling after two zero versus PSG, the best team in the world? ah what did you What did you think?
01:15:41
Speaker
I thought we looked better than Atletico Madrid. Yeah. um No, you know, um watching on the broadcast, um all ah everybody in that studio said 6-0, 4-0 was the lowest anyone said.
01:15:58
Speaker
And but it but against these big European giants, that's all I wanted. and Just don't get blown out, like you were saying before. Just get a C+, plus C- minus in some of these games and look solid in a group of death.
01:16:15
Speaker
Don't give them anything for free. There was some sloppiness, but, and the new who thing was kind of a, you know, a letdown. And in Christian Roldan's postgame during Vodafogo, he was in tears still because i'm with his experience in big competitions, he knows how important a first game is.
01:16:33
Speaker
He knew that was the most winnable game. And credit to him, you know, after that disappointment, he didn't he didn't falter at all. They said on the broadcast he's the heart and soul of the team, and that's never been more true to this competition.
01:16:51
Speaker
i think this this tournament has proved that, if it if that wasn't proven already. i mean, God, he was he was fantastic today, wasn't he? like it was It was just great. all All credit to, all respect to Nico Ladero and Ozzy Alonso, but that header against Botafogo might have to be the statue.
01:17:11
Speaker
but Falling back header, ugh. Yeah, it was ah it was a great goal, but honestly, that would for like that was just kind of icing on the cake for the tournament that he had. like ah But especially today, there was a lot of scenarios where PSG was kind of getting out in transition, and the dude is just...
01:17:31
Speaker
absolute dead sprints. Like this guy is not gonna, not gonna get in behind me. I'm gonna track his ass down and he did it every time. And just his ball winning is so good. And that's, that's the type of stuff that I think Sounders fans can be, can be proud of even in a, in a result that didn't quite go how ah we all would have hoped in an ideal world.
01:17:55
Speaker
And similar to that Roth rock was just a menace today. wasn't perfect, but, you know, he's got that same DNA. He's got that same DNA as Christian does.
01:18:08
Speaker
He does. And his ah his pressing was giving these teams trouble, like, in all these games. I thought the team's press in general was almost, like, more effective at times than it usually is.
01:18:20
Speaker
Like, even even at times today, I was like, the press the press looks kind of nice right now. Jesus Herrera is excellent at leading that press. I don't know if he's... workhorse like that to really give people trouble.
01:18:32
Speaker
Like Paul Rothrock gave Donnarumma trouble. ah i You don't see Jesus Ferreira getting into those kind of challenges. But he's really pacey, and he's smart as fuck. So he'll lead that press really well, even if he doesn't do a lot of the things I want from my striker all the time.
01:18:48
Speaker
And that's another thing with his game. He was pissing me off in the first half. I think this was the first game where we looked starstruck. I guess Obed did a little in the last game ah in ah for spells.
01:19:02
Speaker
Wasn't his best game against Madrid because it's his favorite club and shit. But in this one, I think some ah some of the team was blinded by it. Maybe it was the early start, too. I hate these early starts.
01:19:14
Speaker
In a tournament like this, there's nothing you can do. They got to play at the same time. But even the crowd from the broadcast was... A little bit slower to fill in and yeah ECS was still waking up, it felt like, but big crowd didn't feel like it at first.
01:19:30
Speaker
um But they woke up in the second half and I think the team played a little bit. and lifted It gave the team their second win when they when they felt the crowd. Yeah, 50K in the building was the announced attendance.
01:19:42
Speaker
And I honestly thought it was going to come in a little more than that, which too I think I would i would say i was ah i was pleasantly surprised at how full the building was in all three games.
01:19:54
Speaker
There was a lot of talk about ah ticket prices and how they weren't selling as many as ah they were anticipated, and then they had to drop them. And then it just sort of, there was all these reports of just general lack of interest, lack of...
01:20:08
Speaker
So I was kind of expecting white crowds for all the games, but no, they were they were packed. And the the atmosphere was great in all three, including including today. I think people were just enjoying the the novelty, the spectacle of watching Seattle get to play teams like this, which they don't normally get to do.
01:20:28
Speaker
Kenny, i got ah i got James in the queue behind you, ah but ah any any other takes you wanted to get out there about this tournament, this game, or the the season as a whole? Man, I love the Seattle freaking Sounders, man. Wasn't that fucking fun?
01:20:44
Speaker
That was one of the most fun weeks, week and a half of Seattle soccer of all time. I agree. to Tell me different. No, I agree. And it's I love that we get to say that even in a tournament where they went oh over three. But like I like most of there was times where I was kind of had nerves or was stressed watching the games.
01:21:05
Speaker
But for the most part, I was just kicking back. And if they were under pressure and it looked like they were going to concede, I was like, whatever, you know, it's PSG. It's Atletico Madrid. You know, the there's no pressure on Seattle in this situation other than to just not totally lay an egg and crash out.
01:21:24
Speaker
Every single game. though yeah Every single game, i before every game, I said, oh, God, they're going to blow us out. And then in the middle of the game, like 10 minutes, and I said, we can play with these fucking guys. Yeah, yeah exactly, exactly. right Appreciate you, man.
01:21:40
Speaker
Yeah, thanks for calling in, Kenny. Appreciate you, and ah we'll ah we'll talk soon. We'll talk later. Take care. Okay, i I just switched right to James. I was trying to remove and then switch, but we got him on right now.
01:21:54
Speaker
his His audio sounds good. Glad we got that squared away. James, always good to catch up with you. two zero against PSG in the Club World Cup group stage finale. what did What did you think of what you saw in this game today?
01:22:11
Speaker
Oh, you're on mute. Okay.
01:22:20
Speaker
This is going to work. This good tech.
01:22:26
Speaker
No, you're still on mute.
01:22:30
Speaker
All right, I'm going remove you real quick and then ah hit me with the hit me with the thumbs up on the ah on the feed when you think you when you think you got it fixed. um Yeah, no, ah like what what Kenny and I were talking about at the end there, like I really it was exceeded my expectations in terms of just just the vibes, the attendance, the atmosphere, the quality of the footy.
01:22:54
Speaker
It was ah it was honestly a lot of fun to just watch pressure free from my perspective.
01:23:04
Speaker
Like, I don't know, maybe you, got maybe some of you out there felt about it differently and you were like, really got to win these games. I didn't really, was trying not to view it like that and just enjoy it for what it was.
01:23:14
Speaker
And I'm satisfied from that perspective. All right. We're going to try James one more time. Can you hear me? yeah I got you now. All right. Oh, thank you. Sorry about that.
01:23:25
Speaker
No, you're good. Patience. You're in the clear. Yeah, so first off, shout out to the MVP of Group B, Deflection. I believe that was our third consecutive goal in which Deflection, third consecutive game in which Deflection had a goal.
01:23:41
Speaker
ah So well done there. And, you know, in terms of the tournament itself, I think our major goal was to not be humiliated. And we came, if you know, if we're using the scorecard from earlier, a plus on that account.
Player Selection Strategy
01:23:56
Speaker
I think that was a resounding success. um I think our second priority was put Obed in the shop window and try to invite some bids. Little less convinced on that one.
01:24:08
Speaker
um I don't think that he ah showed anything we hadn't really seen before. ah The effort was all there. He was all action. ah But I don't know that he got to the level it's going to lead him to lead other clubs to invite bids.
01:24:23
Speaker
um Third priority, get some memories, get some goals. Did that. so So all well there. um the the The one thing that I'm kind of nervous about is, you know, we talked a little bit we've talked at previous calls about using this as a platform to convince some people to come and play for us.
01:24:41
Speaker
And i don't know that I don't know that Schmetzer's selections ah helped in that regard. What do you mean? Well, I think that having Paul Rothrock out there for 90 and Pedro De La Vega gets no minutes.
01:24:55
Speaker
I think that aspiring young so South American players might look at that and and say, well, I'm i'm clearly not going to have much of a future there. I think that might dissuade them.
01:25:07
Speaker
um I don't quite know what was going on with Pedro there, ah but apparently Schmetzer was unhappy with Nico asking about it. so But I think it's a fair question.
01:25:19
Speaker
it's your It's your club record signing and he's he's not getting in against the European champions. But On the other hand, he didn't really do anything in his previous appearances to earn a spot.
01:25:30
Speaker
so Right. I was glad to see Rothrock start. i'm I'm sort of slowly getting to a place where I'm just like, I'm pretty sure the best offense is when it's just Paul Rothrock starting.
01:25:41
Speaker
I mean, we'll see if that continues to be true, but I didn't mind him starting. De La Vega not playing at all in this game. that's i mean that's going to invite scrutiny because like you said, yeah this is a $7 million dollars designated player in a situation where you kind of need those guys.
01:25:57
Speaker
So I don't know. What do you what do you think about like ah why De La Vega didn't get into this game? If you had to ah venture a guess? I think he just had a bad tournament. um you know he he He whiffed a couple of very presentable chances against Botafogo.
01:26:13
Speaker
He didn't i didn't performed particularly well against Atletico Madrid. um And I think that Schmetzer anticipating PSG trying to play it out of the back, that having Rothrock's not just willingness to work hard, because I think Pedro has that too, but having Rothrock's stamina, I think Pedro tends to gas himself out a little bit, trying to do too much.
01:26:39
Speaker
And so perhaps in that regard, having Rothrock there, is the better option. But now I'm getting a little nervous that, you know, Rothrock's contract is up at the end of the year. Maybe some European team is going to try to get him on a free now.
01:26:52
Speaker
know They should. They probably should. Like, it's kind of funny to think about that because there's still this sort of perception of him as like the gritty MLS next pro up-and-comer who's like punching above his weight and he's scrappy. He's a grinder. Like, you hear all that stuff.
01:27:09
Speaker
I'm pretty sure he's just good at soccer. Like, I think he's at Yeah, I think he's one, if, uh, if you're, uh, you know, Belgian league, Dutch league, uh, maybe two Bundesliga, uh, why not take a chance? The guy guy's free. He's out of contract. He's only making hundred K right now. So don't have to pay him much to give him improvement over that.
01:27:30
Speaker
Uh, so yeah, he might've, uh, I, I hope that, you know, for his sake, not for ours, that he played himself into some interest. Um, but, uh, Yeah, i mean I do think that it it's unfortunate that I tend to agree with you that he's our best offensive option ah because he's clearly more limited than what De La Vega could be at his peak or what Kent could be at his peak.
01:27:59
Speaker
ah But When you have teams that like to pass around out of the back, which not just PSG, but Houston ah does that. ah San Diego, plenty of teams in MLS are trying it.
01:28:10
Speaker
ah Just having him there wreaking havoc ah might be what's needed in some of these games. Yeah. I have one additional theory on the De La Vega the thing in addition to all the stuff you mentioned, which I think all that stuff is playing into it. But remember that play earlier in the season where he had the ball like around midfield and he he started just absolutely cooking. Like you he tried to like get it over the guy's head and run around him and yeah and he was doing all this like fancy stuff.
01:28:41
Speaker
And Schmetz literally like called him out after the game and was like, someone Because I think he had like a pretty good game other than that in that one. And someone asked about it, and Schmetzer was like, well, he needs to not do like what he did on that.
01:28:53
Speaker
it was like It felt like a really random thing to point out. And then I went back and watched it, and I was like, I mean, that he that was not necessary what he was doing. And I think there was a couple times in the tournament where it was like not as like glaring as that.
01:29:09
Speaker
play but just kind of uh not playing simple trying to get flashy when he shouldn't and it seems like there might be i don't know i'm just speculating but i think something about that particular thing like when a player does that might just really get at schmetz because uh like i don't know i just i was surprised that he didn't play at all like i was pretty i was pretty surprised i mean there is an opinion that uh you'll you'll see going around sounders discourse that schmetzer ah tries to turn all of his wingers into Rothrock, make them all work rate, no flare.
01:29:45
Speaker
ah De La Vega's work rate isn't that like bad, is it? I feel like he I don't think so. I think he runs hard. i just i don't think he's ah I don't think he has the stamina to keep up with the level of effort. And the other thing, God love the guy. He's a bad defender. you know it's there's there's There's two options when Pedro tries to track back.
01:30:06
Speaker
He either hacks the guy. or gets blown by. So he's trying, ah no no faulting his effort, but he isn't really very good at it. um And that's, you know, I've always been sort of ah defensive of Schmetzer, even as some of the criticism has started to mount, because I think he's got limited options with his roster. I think that he knows that the attack, it's not the 2014 attack or the 2019 attack.
01:30:33
Speaker
And so he prioritizes keeping a clean sheet, And ah that does lead to guys like Kent and Pedro De La Vega not showing the same flair that we've seen from them the past.
01:30:47
Speaker
um But, you know, the the anecdote that you brought up does make you think that he's just trying to turn all these guys into cogs into a machine, which would be um I don't really want to watch that.
01:30:58
Speaker
yeah Yeah, that was kind of my thing at the at the time. Like, I can see why a coach might not necessarily want him to do that in that specific scenario. But I don't think you should try and coach that stuff out of him. That was part of what like makes him fun and good. So, yeah, I was thinking that at the time, even though I could see where Schmetz was coming from.
01:31:17
Speaker
But ah there there was just a couple instances in these games where that sort of came into my mind. I was like, that kind of seems like a similar scenario to what got him in the doghouse earlier this year. And then the next game he doesn't play at all, which...
01:31:32
Speaker
I don't know if that that's like like, if it was punitive, I have no idea. But it kind it feels like that. And if it was, it's like, ah he he got the same punishment as Nuhu for that, for Nuhu making horrible mistake that was super selfish and actually like tangibly hurt the team. I don't know if that's like in a court scenario.
01:31:53
Speaker
yeah Yeah. I mean, the first one the first one was the worst. But yeah, like the the the horse collar red card. yeah but her Yeah. oh Actually, I meant I meant the ah I meant the second one because oh yeah because of the circumstances. Yeah.
01:32:06
Speaker
Yeah. No, that's fair, too. I will actually one of the things I wanted to do was defend New Who in this game. Oh, OK. Well, I and and um maybe this is what Nico is referring to. The Hakimi goal, ah leaving him open at the back post, the second PSG goal.
01:32:23
Speaker
I think Nuhu had two bad options there. um He could either stay at the back post, track the run of Hakimi. If he does that, he's leaving six foot six ah Jackson Reagan, who's not exactly fleet of foot, one-on-one with Barcola.
01:32:41
Speaker
I think those are both bad options. I think if he doesn't cut over to cover the middle, then Barcola just skins Reagan and scores anyway. And so I think that he...
01:32:53
Speaker
You know, maybe Nuhu, because I know I'm a broken record, but when Hakimi made that run up from the counterattack, ah Rusnak had about 20 yards in front of him, and he's kind of late to notice the Hakimi run. He starts coming back with him, and then instead of following Hakimi, Rusnak cuts towards the near post, which leaves Hakimi completely open at the back. So maybe Nuhu expected him to track that run, um but I... i didn't think knew who I thought there were two bad options for him.
01:33:26
Speaker
I don't like Jackson Reagan's chances. One-on-one with, with a P with a 45 million Euro PSG player. Yeah, I was, you know, it was not a great new who tournament. the ah no The dumb foul against Botafogo stands out. And, you know, I somehow unwillingly became like the new who defender because I've just always been able to take that the discourse around him is like,
01:33:53
Speaker
disproportionate to how big of an issue it actually is.
Young Players' Potential
01:33:57
Speaker
And so I was getting like, Noah was like texting me like, Oh, you're going to defend him today. Like stuff like that. And I'm like, my thing is just like, uh, my, my opinion on the topic is not going to change like on the most recent game or the most recent set of games. Like I have, ah I have my take on it. That's based on a track record that's already happened, which is, you know,
01:34:21
Speaker
ah Sometimes he does dumb stuff like like the red card and and the foul against Botafogo. Other times he is undeniably an asset defensively for the team. And he he gives you ah like advantages in certain match matchups against...
01:34:42
Speaker
like super athletic attackers that other options at the position position might not have. And that can be beneficial in some instances. ah But with that being said, it was not a good tournament for him. And hopefully he, hopefully he can like use this to get his head on a little straighter because that the like the, it was not good.
01:35:03
Speaker
I didn't think he was that bad in the PSG game. I mean, he had that clearance off the goal line. and he actually did save two goals in the PSG. Yeah. And I mean, i and again, the one that people really kind of hung him out to dry for, I just don't think he had good options on that one. I think he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.
01:35:19
Speaker
um But I agree with you that I think that the the discourse around him goes to extremes. Yeah. You know, it's either people saying he sucks or it's people begging him to shoot from 45 yards, um ah which, you know, not wouldn't be my preference. But, um you know, we know what New Who has been for a long time.
01:35:40
Speaker
yeah the the The frustrating thing about him is that when he he breaks in as a 20, 21-year-old, it seems like he's got all the potential in the world. And and here we are seven, eight years later. ah The things that you liked about New Who when he was 21 are the things you like now.
01:35:55
Speaker
the things that you hated about knew who, when he was 21 or the things you hate now, uh, there's been, there's been basically, um, you know, with fits and starts, it's, it's the same thing. It's always been, there's been no development there. And I don't know how much of that is on him.
01:36:10
Speaker
I don't know how much that is on our training. Uh, my, my preference would not be to have a young defender learn from Jimmy Traore. Um, although he, he's, he appears to be,
01:36:22
Speaker
held in some regard as a coach, but I do think that a lot of the things that annoy me about new who probably came straight from Jimmy Traore. Uh, he, he reminds me a lot of him in that he looks like the best defender on the field because everything he does is so dramatic and so spectacular.
01:36:42
Speaker
Whereas you'd have somebody like a Chad Marshall or a Yamar who just kind of quietly doing the right thing all the time. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Um, and, and so I, I sort of see that, uh, that coaching tree come down from Traorid and Nuhu. But but i was you know I was a little disappointed that KKR didn't keep his place in this team.
01:37:03
Speaker
um I think much like Nuhu, we've reached the peak of what we can do with Alex Roldan, and it's time to start looking for other options. ah Maybe that's Baker Whiting, maybe it's KKR, but we're not going to know if they don't get consistent minutes.
01:37:20
Speaker
And I thought KKR was certainly ah I didn't think Baker Whiting was was as bad as I feared against Atletico, but I thought KKR had a perfectly solid game, and so I don't know what it does to these young kids when they go in there, have a decent game, and get dropped immediately.
01:37:37
Speaker
i thought I thought KKR had a decent tournament. like He wasn't ah amazing, but he had some good moments. and i just i like his game. like I like how he's able to kind of dribble out of pressure. I feel like he's pretty smart about like the space he dribbles into and keeping possession, ball progression. and so I continue to be impressed with him. even wasn't like ah He wasn't like a breakout star of the tournament, but no yeah I thought he did pretty well.
01:38:05
Speaker
Yeah, and I think he's been, you know, i was looking at his ah and MLS stats on FB ref today. I think he's maybe fourth in goals per 90 on the team right now. ah So he's been productive. he's He's got more goals and assists than Alex Roldan does in fewer minutes.
01:38:22
Speaker
He definitely looks like a more dynamic ah attacker. Yeah, I think Alex just kind of plateaued. yeah I don't know if that's because, you know, he's sort of reached his limit. I don't know if that's because we've been sort of so reliant on our defense that it's taken away some of the offensive output that he had. And think he had like eight assists, 2022. Although that wasn't a good season, so who knows what that means. But um yeah, I would just, ah you know, we've had this academy, this youth pipeline ah for so long now, and it just feels like so many guys get in there and just fits and starts.
01:39:01
Speaker
um after 10 years since Lagerwey remade the academy, ah however many millions of dollars injected into it. And in some sense, I think that's been prioritized over, you know, that money's been prioritized over external signings. That's what Lagerwey said in the past a few times.
01:39:22
Speaker
and And we've gotten really Obed as a regular starter out of it. um And I do wish Schmetzer would just sort of throw a caution to the wind a bit Because I think if, you know, Baker Whiting and and ah ah KKR can come out of a game against Atletico Madrid with a fairly creditable performance, they deserve more starts.
01:39:43
Speaker
Yeah, i I definitely agree with that. All right, well, I got and i got Noah in the queue, actually. So I'm going to bring him on to ah see what he would see what he thinks of all this. Noah. James, any ah any last takes on the on the Club World Cup, PSG, the season going forward that you want to that you want to get out there?
01:40:03
Speaker
I think there's got to be better communication between Schmetzer and Weibel. um I know that somebody asked Nico on your show a few weeks ago, what what the relationship like is is there when they're trying to sign players.
01:40:17
Speaker
And this one to me really drove home that there's just not communication there. ah Schmetzer's not playing the the biggest signing in Sanders history. He's playing Jesus Ferreira in a role that we kind of know really doesn't suit him.
01:40:32
Speaker
And it just doesn't seem like there's much of a game plan between ah coach and GM. hear Nico talk on...
01:40:43
Speaker
The Sound at Heart podcast, he seems a little ah little skeptical that ah that a significant U22 deal is going to get done. But if we're going to do that, I hope that Schmetzer and Weibel have hammered out what they want it to be and how Schmetzer is going use them.
01:41:00
Speaker
Yeah, it's an interesting point. And that's that's definitely something that we're going to be tracking for the rest of the season here. And as we get closer to when they're ostensibly going to sign this U-22, that'll be a subplot. But ah all right, James, thank you as always for calling in. Sorry for the technical problems. I appreciate it. Yeah, you're good. i'm I'm not one who can ever be judgmental on technical problems. So you're you're fine. Fair enough. and Have a good afternoon. Talk next time. Yeah, you too.
01:41:28
Speaker
Take care. Always good catching up with James. All right, we'll bring on our next caller. Looks like some some guy. i don't know who this is, but I guess we'll have him on the show. in Anyway, Noah, how's it going?
01:41:40
Speaker
How are you? You're on mute, I think. I can't hear you. Can you hear me now? Yeah, I can. Oh, look at that. Beautiful. That's good tech. ah Yeah. How are you feeling, man? The PSG game ah lost 2-0, but it wasn't that bad. It was pretty fun to watch.
PSG Game Impact and Tournament Importance
01:41:58
Speaker
Yeah, two notes. First one, thank God this tournament is over. It's been a personal hell of mine that I will never legally be able to talk about, unfortunately. um But that's a whole separate thing.
01:42:11
Speaker
I didn't get to go to this game because of certain reasons, ah which again, we cannot disclose legally ah for the Saudi government may come and take me out ah with a ah strike.
01:42:22
Speaker
But regardless of that, i actually I watched this game on our favorite network, DAZN, DAZN.com. It was a great stream. And, you know, shout out his zone yeah it was a great it was a great partner.
01:42:34
Speaker
um And I ah thought one thing and one thing only. Holy shit, was I right? Holy shit, was I right? Because it was a fun game.
01:42:45
Speaker
All of these games were fun. And I was right in two ways. I said going into the tournament, I said, this is a showcase tournament. Let's have fun. Let's see like what we can look like against these people. We're probably not going to get a win.
01:42:56
Speaker
we do, hell yeah. And just have fun. And I had fun. I had fun watching this team compete. I had fun you know getting to argue with people online.
01:43:08
Speaker
i had fun you know getting to see ah just all of the all of the insanity that went along with this. And my second point that I wanted to say that, wow, I was correct on ah was...
01:43:23
Speaker
Paul Rothrock, okay? I have been saying this. I've been saying Paul Rothrock needs to start, whether it's over Kent or over De La Vega or whoever it is, and I think today that performance is the perfect example and the acquittal that I have been trying to say, and it's just really like...
01:43:42
Speaker
Rothrock may not be the best technical player in the world. I think he's pretty. He's got techers, ah but I don't think he's anyone would say he's the world's most creative player or like the, the you know, i don't know.
01:43:57
Speaker
Do you know what I'm saying? um But I think what you can say and you have to say about him is he's a dog. He's the hardest working player on this team besides Christian Roldan. And on in this specific setup, this is exactly what you have to do and who you have to play.
01:44:14
Speaker
And it showed today that he legitimately... could have been on another Ligue 1 team. It looked like he had been playing against PSG before. yeah i mean, he looked he was not scared.
01:44:27
Speaker
He played with confidence and passion and energy the whole time. That was incredible. I think ah Schmetzer deserves props for this match. I think he him and Precky and the whole gang ah created just such a good game plan and were able to manage...
01:44:45
Speaker
you know, the best team in the world and hold them to two goals, which one of them, let's be frank, was an insane deflection. Obviously, you make your own luck, but that's like a one in a million goal right there. And then the second one is a defensive error from Nuhu, which, you know,
01:45:01
Speaker
That's what I want to know, Ari. That's what I want know how you feel. I've missed the whole show, so I'm sure you've probably talked about it. I did i literally did just talk about it. okay so I know. I mean, I think ah it it was not the most Banner New Who tournament. i'm i'm more pressed about I'm still more pressed about the foul in the Botafogo game than I am about ah about anything else.
01:45:22
Speaker
He had a classic game. He had a classic game today. He had some gaps and then he had some theatrics and he also had some bangers. It was kind of like like the goal line save, but then also like... He actually did save two goals. Yeah. I will say that. So it's like, and it was a full Nuhu experience.
01:45:38
Speaker
It was. What I would say is that like nothing that happens in any one game or any one tournament is really going to change my baseline take on the topic. Yeah. on the topic But it wasn't it wasn't a great tournament for the guy. And really, like the stuff that happened today to me, it's kind of whatever.
01:45:58
Speaker
ah But the one that the the one that boils the blood for me is the giving away the goal in the in the Botafogo game, because you actually like you had a chance in that game. You had a chance in that game. But the prerequisite of. ah of being able to capitalize on that chance is just not doing stuff like that and it didn't need to happen. So I'm fully i'm fully on board with whatever critiques people want to make on that on that note.
01:46:26
Speaker
But as for if it like... changes the initial takes that I've given on the topic. Not really. Like I base those on like entire career of body of work that we have. And also like, I think not, and not enough equity gets given to the fact that like, to me at the end of the day, it's a question of, are the guys on the field able to like get you wins and get you trophies?
01:46:50
Speaker
Yeah. The answer to that question has been yes, historically then I'm, I then I'm going to give like some equity to that. But ah with that being said, it was frustrating. Like it it was just kind of frustrating. Like I was talking about it earlier, but just the fact that ah most of the goals they gave up in this tournament were like, shoot yourself in the foot mistakes that they did to themselves.
01:47:13
Speaker
Sure. And if there's one thing I come out of it frustrated with, it's like, what if, what would have happened if you had just like not done that? you know Yeah. Or if you're in an easier group, what happens? you know what I'm saying? like I'm not going to lie. I was feeling like that, too. But like tell me what you think of this, because it's like, yeah, they probably have a better chance of I mean, they easily have a better chance. Yeah, statistically speaking.
01:47:35
Speaker
But like we wouldn't have gotten like the fun and the novelty of getting them to getting to see them play like the best in the world. Like PSG is the literal best in the world. Atletico Madrid is always one of the best, most reputable clubs in the world.
01:47:49
Speaker
I was ah I was happy to see them like get to play those teams, even though ah it made it pretty like actually advancing pretty much impossible. Yeah. But we got Jeremiah on, so we're going to do a three-man panel. Triple box. Triple box right here.
01:48:08
Speaker
Sounder at Heart, Overlord, Jeremiah O'Shan. Wait, can we change the the layout so we can all see in like in three? ah i want to be able to like turn and kiss you guys. Okay, we can do me as the biggest one. There we go. Oh, there we go. All right.
01:48:24
Speaker
We're going to have the the three split. Jeremiah, how's it going? ah I'm taller than all of you. This rocks. yeah
01:48:35
Speaker
uh what did you think of uh this psg game jeremiah two uh two zero and it felt like to me we were i was talking to nico about it earlier kind of felt like psg never got out of like second gear but uh what did you think of just the this game as a whole they couldn't because of they couldn't because of paul rothrock that's why yeah You know, i'm an i'm inclined I felt the same way. Like, I didn't feel like PSG ever gave us the full PSG experience.
01:49:02
Speaker
But I think you've got to give the Sounders some credit for that. I don't know why psg wouldn't have been interested in – like, I think the Sounders started really strong. I think they played – you know, I think they stayed true to their principles of play.
01:49:14
Speaker
They were pressing, especially in the first half. And – I thought the Sounders did a good job of of not letting PSG overwhelm them. You know, there were some stretches in the, especially at the start of the second half, first 10 minutes or so where PSG really was on top of the Sounders, but they, they weathered that. And that wasn't when the goal, you know, that wasn't when the goal came.
01:49:37
Speaker
And in fact, the goal came in one of the moment, one of the more bright attacking moments that the Sounders had where ah Obed probably, you if he Maybe he takes that shot instead of cuts it back.
01:49:50
Speaker
I mean, cutting it back, it was it looked very nice just sitting there in the middle of box. He was going for a clip. He was clip farming. He was clip farming. Yeah, yeah. that's right.
01:50:02
Speaker
But it was – I mean, I thought they held their own. You know, I early on in the tournament or before – when the draw came out, I said I'd rather have the Sounders draw than Miami's draw in part because i didn't think Miami was going to get out of their group either. Now, of course, they're getting out of the group, so I guess I look like a dum-dum.
01:50:21
Speaker
but i I said the same thing. But I do think – The novelty of hosting Botafogo, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions, Atletico Madrid, and the reigning UEFA Champions League winners is pretty cool.
01:50:36
Speaker
And I think it brought a lot of attention. And i don't know if functionally the Sounders are, I mean, they would have a lot more money. So I guess that would, that would be good, but. purely from a ah gameplay perspective, I don't know if they're really that much better off if they had advanced. It would have been cool to win that. vote I mean, i think the only one that really bugs me is the Botafogo match.
01:50:56
Speaker
I think that was there to win, let alone get a tie. And they sort of like, shot themselves in the foot on that one. So that was, that one's frustrating, but I was really happy with how they held up with Atletico and, and PSG. I don't think the centers have anything to feel bad about.
01:51:12
Speaker
It is kind of funny to think they're, they're on a five game losing streak and it doesn't feel like they're on a five game losing streak because they've played well. If they play this well, down the stretch, they'll be contending. I mean, honestly, they'll be contending for the supporter shield. Like that. I don't even think that's hyperbolic ah because they, they've played that well.
01:51:30
Speaker
If they played this well, then the two games leading into this tournament, they would be probably right in the supporter shield, right at the top of the support shield race. So it's kind of, i don't know. It's, it feels hopefully the the lessons they took from this are good.
01:51:44
Speaker
and and, and it's a motivating thing and not like a letdown. Cause I do think there's some potential for this to be a letdown. where they were at this high level. They were playing these high level opponents.
01:51:54
Speaker
They were on grass at home, which I know it seems silly, but I think that was, i think that is ah a mental thing. Like it just showed what a big deal it was. And, you know, I think the Austin game will be really important.
01:52:08
Speaker
What did you, I'm interested. about What did I was going to just say quickly? Sorry. I'm going to just, I'm just going to go for it. I'm to go for it here, folks. um I think you bring up a good point, Jeremiah. And,
01:52:20
Speaker
I think that it comes to like, what does this tournament mean in the long term? Would 9 million, $12 million dollars mean a lot? Absolutely. But you're doing it against like, i mean, Inter Miami is playing like interesting clubs. Like we know Ali is a great club. We know they're, they have pedigree.
01:52:40
Speaker
in their own ah place. and And, you know, Palmeiras is a great team too, but you're not playing Botafogo. You're not playing Atletico Madrid you're not playing PSG.
01:52:51
Speaker
And I think the reality of the way that I always saw the tournament as a showcase, if you're able to go toe to toe with these teams, you're, Your pedigree on the international scene, it's raised. And really, at the end of the day, for Major League Soccer teams, that is so much more important, in my in my view, than money that you literally might not even have control over.
01:53:13
Speaker
I do think that there's something to be said about, from an outside observer perspective, I think more people are probably impressed with how the Sounders played it against Atletico and PSG then yeah while losing than people are impressed with Miami beating Porto, who frankly looks like the worst team in their group.
01:53:34
Speaker
They're not good. And it's it kind of underscores why I don't think in the future this tournament needs 12 European teams. It would be one thing if it was 12 European giants, but if we're bringing in Porto, Benfica, and Salzburg into this thing...
01:53:50
Speaker
Why not just give those spots to, I mean, i don't know, maybe there should be playoffs for the, for final spots or something, but I don't, I just don't see the point in, in like excluding more Japanese teams or more African teams, or frankly, more CONCACAF teams.
01:54:10
Speaker
If it's just so you can get in more, you know, third tier European teams. Yeah. i'm I'm glad you brought up Salzburg specifically because we had a Salzburg fan like randomly in chat earlier. Oh, crashing. Yeah, that makes sense. Like crashing out because he was mad that you predict it was because you predicted them, Noah, to finish last when we were doing. Remember that random prediction show where we were like, I don't know, put them through. ah And I guess one of us put Salzburg in last.
01:54:41
Speaker
So he but he was like heated about that. Brother, but your club is owned by an energy drink. Chill out. I hope he's still in there in that he and that he heard that because you're right.
01:54:53
Speaker
Ain't no reason for them to be in this. I mean, and they might I think they they might be leading their group and they might, I mean, they may, whatever. like it's not It's not totally about merit, I think, with some of these things.
01:55:05
Speaker
And if we're going to try to spread this out, it needs to be spread out more. like I just think it's ah kind of a waste to have 12 European teams in here when... you know two Do we need two teams from Portugal in this tournament?
01:55:16
Speaker
i I don't know. I i don't know. what I mean, whatever. i guess I'm sure someone would say, do we need three teams from Mexico? Or whatever the... how many teams are No, we don't. And they all sucked.
01:55:28
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know. i just think it would be... I think there's ways to make the... It was... My biggest takeaway from this thing is I think the tournament was more interesting and more exciting than um than i expected it to be.
01:55:41
Speaker
and you know i I hope that the Sounders can ride some momentum on that. It was funny. i I was in this conversation with Ryan Rosenblatt, who is ah he sometimes writes for yeah ESPN. and He's a pretty well-known soccer writer.
01:55:54
Speaker
and he was asking, well, what do you think the Sounders really got out of this tournament? and It sort of forced me to think. like i I think it was a little bit of a dog who caught the car situation where they had been aspiring to get here so long that they didn't know what to do once they actually got there.
01:56:08
Speaker
But now that they've gotten there, I think MLS in general can maybe take some learnings from this and and sort of like understand what the opportunity is, how to maximize it. You know, FIFA does make it tough because they control so much of it. But I do think one of the things that came out of this was think a of fans...
01:56:28
Speaker
a lot of fans we're reminded that going to Sounders games can be fun. And that's something that I think we've lost in recent years, really since COVID is that going to games felt more like almost like a chore sometimes and less like just a fun thing you like doing. And I do think all three of these games just was like, just really fun things that people like to do. And it was good to remind people that it can be that way.
01:56:55
Speaker
And, you know, I don't know how much of this exactly they'll be able to repeat. Like, can they do these festivals before games? Probably not every game. That doesn't really make sense. But they could do some of that stuff. And they can, I think it was a reminder that activating the spaces outside the stadium is really key to creating a ah fun environment.
01:57:14
Speaker
And I think there was, you know, you can drill down. And I think there were, you know, I heard you talking about Kalani Costa Rienzi and Reed Bigger Whiting, I actually thought both of them were two of the bigger, ah you know, I think they both rose their, saw their stock rise ah considerably.
01:57:29
Speaker
Like I think Reed could end up being the starter coming out of this at left back. I think I don't know that Kalani is the starter or not, but the fact that he played in all three games that that he was one of the first subs in this game, I think speaks very highly of it.
01:57:43
Speaker
I think the only reason, you know, read didn't start this game was it looks like he picked up some sort of injury in the last game. And he was available, but he didn't train like he didn't train yesterday. So I don't think that was a ah coach's decision. And i I'm sure he'll be starting against Austin because Newhu's out.
01:58:01
Speaker
And, you know, I think we're going to see a lot more of Kalani going forward. And and he at no point this for a player who was literally on the defiance at the start of the season for him to be.
01:58:13
Speaker
you know, starting against Atletico Madrid in a competitive match to be playing against PSG in a competitive match. That's a big deal. I think, you know, I think it was a really good, a good learning experience for both of them, especially.
01:58:28
Speaker
Do you think they'll be bold enough to actually play on that momentum moving forward? I mean, I think one of the things that I've been a little frustrated about this season is it seemed like last season, the willingness to shake things up,
01:58:43
Speaker
um and really like like follow the momentum, I would guess, is is the right way to do it, that Brian had ah with you know benching Raul, playing Paul, and and all of these kind of things, and just kind of riding what was working.
01:58:59
Speaker
I think that it's like kind of um maybe because there's more choice on this roster, there just is so much depth that like it's a little harder to feel like You know, you're fighting your way through it, but I think it made them successful last season. And I don't know, maybe maybe this is like a total aside, but I feel like that's how I'm feeling with ah playing Jesus at the nine. Like they consistently keep trying to do this.
01:59:23
Speaker
And for me, like I see it and I'm like, well, this I understand, you know, why you would keep trying this. But, like, he, to me, feels like a better 10. Put him behind Rusnak. If he has to sit, he has to sit.
01:59:34
Speaker
You did that to Raul when when Jordan broke out and was playing incredible. You sat you saw a DP to play him. And it's the same thing with, like, the Alex and KKR competition has been awesome.
01:59:45
Speaker
And I think they both give different things. And I think it's sick that they both are going to get minutes. The Reed and Nuhu debate now, right? Like, that's that's very... I mean, I think it's kind of clear that Nuhu might need a little bit of less run here or there.
02:00:00
Speaker
think he played fine in this game, but I think if you look at the run of the last four matches, like, you know, it's it's you might need to try something new, and he won't be able to play in Austin. i Yeah, I mean, I would like to think that Reid's going to get more of and a genuine chance at left back, just because Nuhu is – I just think he makes too many – totally avoidable mistakes, you know, and he, he just, and don't think you can put up and I know I, I do think you you kind of have what you have with him.
02:00:31
Speaker
i don't totally agree with the idea that he's hasn't progressed since 2018 19 whatever, but i don't think He is getting better at this point either. Like he's, you know, he he is he's a limited offensive player who can play a role defensively, but it needs to be a really narrow, specific role. And as soon as he gets outside of that, he gets, you know, he creates problems ah for the Sounders.
02:00:58
Speaker
And he needs to almost be perfect defensively to be valuable because he's just not doing enough. like you can't He can't just be giving away dumb – he can't be committing dumb red cards and giving away dumb fouls off the ball and doing things that are i you know counterproductive because he's not doing enough to – to justify being on the field. Otherwise, um you know, I will say the thing with Jesus, I, I understand. I actually kind of got the decision for Jesus today. I think they wanted someone that was going to be a little bit more able to help in possession than, than Misofsky was. And I thought that it played out well, it would have been nice for him to put that shot on frame that he had, ah you know, I'm getting it. That tattoo is coming. It's just, it's already, I'm already getting the tattoo. It's going to happen.
02:01:48
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's I will be interesting to see what happens to him now that Jordan is healthy, because I don't I don't think he is a starting winger on this team. I think between Kent, you know, he's probably the fifth the fifth winger, ah really, like, I think Pejo should be ahead of him.
02:02:05
Speaker
i think Manungu probably maybe should be ahead of him. i mean, I def I still like De La Vega. ah you know, I don't know. No one, I guess it's, it's funny. It's a funny problem to have Rothrock right now is the most stable winger they have.
02:02:19
Speaker
ah Why do you think, why do you think De La Vega didn't play today? today I mean, I just it just didn't I could see how maybe it just wasn't a game like they won. They they think they just rather would get Minungu on there. And they thought Kalani was was had dessert, you know deserve to get ah get the minutes.
02:02:35
Speaker
So really, those it was one of those two, I think, that he was choosing between. will be, you know, I don't think Pedro did anything wrong in the two games that he played.
02:02:46
Speaker
um i don't think he really did anything. He didn't, I mean, wrong or right he didn't do enough. i mean, I think that's, that was maybe what it was is like, why not give a shout to Manugu? Cause it's not like, like Pedro's doing and a ton with it, but I won't be shocked if Pedro starts against Austin and you know, we'll see.
02:03:06
Speaker
um i will say that I see Pedro in training a lot and I really do believe he's one of the most talented players to ever suit up for the Sounders. It hasn't come good, obviously.
02:03:18
Speaker
like He hasn't produced as much as we would all like. But i I do think he he can do things that... I don't see a lot of players doing. What do you think that is? Do you think it's a positional issue? Like, do you think he's maybe just not a winger or like, is it the way that like the sounders play their wingers?
02:03:39
Speaker
It's just cause I do. I hear this all the time that he's like this stud and he's a training practice guy. And we see that we see the flashes, but then it's like, Oh, you know,
02:03:51
Speaker
I mean, I think he, he hasn't had a lot of consistency around him, but that's the same thing with, you can say the exact same thing about Roth rock. Right. Um, so I, I don't have a good answer, ah for that. I, I wish I had a better sense of why it's not clicking more often, but at the same time, I'll, you know, he had that, he had a nice assist to, to Kalani in the Minnesota game.
02:04:14
Speaker
Um, So I don't, I don't know. I don't, I don't have a good answer for that. ah I wish I did. You do see it sometimes like ah the assists that he has gotten this year have been good. And like the goal in the Nashville game, that was, that was a, that was a great moment. and But yeah, just we'll see if it comes together consistently down the stretch of the season here. That's going to be a big story.
02:04:38
Speaker
Yeah. I have a question for you both, or if you don't have one, but if you do, go for it. Well, I was just going to give the Inter-Miami update. They've scored again, Luis Suarez in the 65th minute.
02:04:49
Speaker
That puts them up 2-0 on Palmares. And what i wanted what I wanted to bring up is that ah Seattle did not do the worst of the MLS teams that are in this tournament. Inter-Miami is obviously doing pretty well, really well.
02:05:02
Speaker
lafc had a way tougher tournament than uh than seattle did they lost to uh es tunis i think is their name of the experience the tunisian side and uh you want to talk about uh unhappy fan base that is coming out of this feeling like high-key embarrassed their fans are not happy with that game because The post-match reaction after the Tunis game from Happy Foot Sad Foot was one of my favorite videos to ever go on the YouTube platform. c incredible but It was incredible. But even even outside of just ah our friend Travis Helwig, their fan base is like pissed because not just that they lost to the Tunisian team,
02:05:41
Speaker
but it it felt like they, like I was watching that game. It kind of looked like they were like mailing it in, which has been like this issue for that team. So they're coming out of this just down and insanely bad. Whereas I feel like even with Seattle, not taking any points in the group stage, ah the team and the fan base are both coming out of it. Like, you know, that was a, that was a dignified showing. So, yeah, I mean, real, I think for LAFC, it's very much a worst of both worlds situation.
02:06:08
Speaker
Like on one hand, they got that high of getting in, which is great, but they didn't get to host games. They didn't get to play really very many games in front of their fans. ah they They kind of got embarrassed in both games that they've played so far. They obviously have one more chance to to get a win, but it's it's against a tough opponent, right?
02:06:26
Speaker
ah Who do they have left to play? I would have to look that up I can't remember off the But anyway, they i mean even if they they're they're out of the tournament either way. yeah oh they have Flamengo. They have Flamengo.
02:06:39
Speaker
Who's insanely good. Insanely good. right so they that they beat chels They beat the shit out of Chelsea. Right. So this is a, it's, it's really, you know, I think it's, it just, it's a good reminder to, if you're the Sounders to just look across the LFC and go, this was not a ah given that we were going to come out of this thing feeling good about ourselves.
02:06:58
Speaker
And i think they, they shown, they did, they they didn't get embarrassed, you know, whatever. If you had told me the Sounders were going to, Once you saw this draw, if you told me that the centers were going to lose seven to two on i aggregate and never trail at any point by more than two goals, I think I'd take that.
02:07:17
Speaker
you know like It's frustrating that they didn't get a result out of Botafogo, but the other two games, they were plausibly in... um I don't know. like i I hope people aren't too upset about it because i I feel like if they can do this, go if they can take momentum out of this, momentum will be taken out of this, I guess is what I'm saying. No no one ah no one in their right mind is like super upset or crashing out a about this and I think you could what you were talking about earlier Jeremiah of like the the atmosphere in the games being fun again like you could feel that from the crowd my favorite. ah
02:07:55
Speaker
I think my favorite memory that I'll take from all three of these games was when the halftime whistle blew for the athletic at the at the Atletico Madrid game. And the whole freaking crowd just standing O for a 1-0 behind at halftime.
02:08:09
Speaker
But it was just you could just feel this like energy in the crowd of like, good job, guys. like Come on. like You're down 1-0, but like this you're in this. like We're behind you. like Get it done. And I just loved that moment. like it was such yeah that was and I'm going to always remember that.
02:08:26
Speaker
yeah That was good. I'll also say one of the things I appreciated today especially was basically every time the Sounders had like a defensive stand, like every time they forced a turnover or or whatever, they got the ball back.
02:08:40
Speaker
The crowd didn't like erupt, but they cheered. And I just thought it showed some appreciation for the task ahead of them. Yes. And i was also a little surprised at the announced attendance.
02:08:53
Speaker
I don't know what the Westside 300 section looked like, but to me it looked like lot people. Don't go up there. Don't look up there. Don't go up there, Jeremiah. that's my That's my – I don't – don't even wonder.
02:09:07
Speaker
right the ah like From where I was sitting, it looked like a much bigger crowd than Atletico, but don't know, whatever. I was surprised it was – what was the announced for Atletico attendance?
02:09:18
Speaker
It was 51 and change it was like about a thousand more people than we're in tonight. Yeah, you guys were saying that this felt like more. I was thinking it felt like roughly equivalent. So I don't know. Well, it was you know they were very close.
02:09:30
Speaker
exactly Yeah, but... ah It was just way higher turnout for all three of the games than I was expecting. yeah like I went into this being like, is anyone even gonna freaking come to these?
02:09:41
Speaker
And they were all packed. The crowd was going on. Even Botafogo game was like sounded great. Yeah, I would agree. And I made a joke. like There was ah a tweet from ah Sound Transit saying, or i think it was Sound Transit, saying like there might be three Seahawks. Oh, the three Seahawks game. It was like a Cairo 7 tweet, yeah.
02:09:59
Speaker
Yeah, six Seahawks-sized crowds ah during the next two weeks. And I made a joke about how it might be six Sounders games. And I said, or maybe even six rain games. And it was it was it was closer. It was actually ended up being closer to you know ah somewhere between a Sounders and a and a Seahawks game. ah Noah, you got any? Yeah, I had this specific... ah player question here because when we came into this tournament uh i we made a video and we talked about on our podcast who we thought this tournament was the most important for and i wanted to kind of check in on a few of these players i wanted to start one
02:10:42
Speaker
Maybe we can give them a rating or like a vibe check coming out of the tournament if they raised or lowered their stock. um The first person that's coming to my mind is Ryan Kent, ah who I was kind of the last tier where I was like, I think I think this will be important for him because like if he does well, it's awesome. But if he does bad, that's really bad.
02:11:01
Speaker
ah But it's not like he needs it. But if he plays and it plays poorly, that's going to be a bad thing. So Ari, I'll toss or Ari, I'll toss it to you.
02:11:12
Speaker
They got to get that situation back on track, man. it was It was one of the most incredible three-game stretches of footy I've ever seen to start his career. like I think because it's cooled down so much, we're getting a little bit of a hard time of like, oh, this is the guy that you guys were hyping up so much.
02:11:29
Speaker
I fully stand by like how hype we were based on what we saw in those games. like It was incredible, and I still... Like the fact that we have seen him do all those things in those multiple games at the start, ah still like I still believe that that ah that is the quality that he does possess. And that's a level that he can tap into.
02:11:50
Speaker
But I mean, let's be real, like pretty much since that really hot start, he has they haven't been able to tap into that pretty much at all. ah And I think, you know, Noah, you were talking about how fatigue could be playing into that. I think that might be ah be part of it. I've given my take on how they haven't sort of counter-adjusted to the adjustments that teams have made now that they've scouted them up and have the film.
02:12:12
Speaker
ah But for me, if I'm looking at how he did in this tournament, it felt like he was struggling in much the same way that he had been in the league games of ah sort of being isolated out wide and being like He wasn't really able to moss his defenders like in this tournament because ah these teams, are all three of them, are extremely good at defense. and He just wasn't able to do that. and i left it I come out of it kind of feeling the same way of like, ah they need to, like I don't know how to do it.
02:12:45
Speaker
but they got to figure out how to unlock, untap that level that he showed. Because I know, we know that that level is in him. Like, we saw it. We saw it. So, ah I think, I don't think his stock is down, but it's not any different. didn't It didn't get higher, or I didn't come out of it thinking like, oh, he's like back.
02:13:04
Speaker
So, that's just what I want to see. One of the biggest things I want to see down the stretch of the season is just... ah He doesn't have to be playing every single game like he did against St. Louis or at Houston, but they got to figure out how to get that out of him more consistently than they have.
02:13:21
Speaker
Unfortunately, we can't allow fence sitting. You have to pick up or down. So Ari, make a decision here as the arbiter of truth. Did his stock rise or fall, even if it was a little bit? I mean, i would I would have to say fall. like okay and not and i Like I said, I think it's neutral, but if I'm picking one, it definitely didn't go up.
02:13:39
Speaker
Got it. Okay, fair enough. Jeremiah, how are we feeling? Ryan can. I'll put a marker. I think his stock went down a little bit. and Not a lot, but I agree that he, this was an opportunity to sort of show his class.
02:13:53
Speaker
I actually thought against PSG was, he had moments where he was close to, he was very close to like having a special moment a couple times. He dribbled out of trouble.
02:14:03
Speaker
And like he had one where I think he he had Ferreira streaking and he just sort of left the pass a little short. And then he had another one where he he made a nice move and he just wasn't able to complete it for some reason. i'm i'm forgetting what it was.
02:14:16
Speaker
But he was closer today than he was in the previous two games where he was really a no factor. And so he was, but overall, this is a player who looked to me like he could potentially be a difference maker in this tournament specifically. And he wasn't.
02:14:32
Speaker
So I think you got to say his stock went down. Yeah, I agree. i think it's i'm I'm right with you, too. I don't think it was this traumatic, you know, like we're we got penny stocks now. We're never going to be able to unload this guy type thing.
02:14:50
Speaker
But I do think i agree with you. I thought he played. I thought he played fine in this game. I think that this was the best showing that we've seen since the the last time he looked like a demigod.
02:15:00
Speaker
Yeah. I think, yeah, I think it's figuring figuring out where he is. It is funny how many people were just like, we got to get him a DP contract now. Yeah. Which, I mean, honestly, like, here's but might my take on it.
02:15:13
Speaker
Here's my take on it. I think it doesn't matter because ah he plays in MLS. Like, he his archetype can play in MLS because... yeah. Yeah, like i think he'll be fine.
02:15:24
Speaker
but Yeah, like, it's not, it's not you know... It's not that he's like some, you know, going to leave for Europe tomorrow type of talent. But I think that he's a very effective piece if he can if he can lock back into that and then maybe kind of I think get his fitness up a little more ah because we've talked about this. Major League Soccer is the opposite of where he was playing.
02:15:50
Speaker
Like this is not a technical league. This is smash ball like you're going to run. You're going to be physical. and I just don't think that that's like in his bag right now. I think he's still working on that. And so that's that's where I land. I think it went down a little bit. Number two, um Obed Vargas.
02:16:09
Speaker
the the The man, the $57 billion dollars man a child. I don't know. he's ah he's He's a man now, technically. um How did we feel that his tournament went?
02:16:21
Speaker
Ari? Ari? ah i don't think I don't think his stock skyed like skyrocketed through the roof, which is something that had the potential to happen if he had just like a crazy good showing. But I'm i'm going to say up up a little bit just because ah the first hurdle that he would have had to clear for it to go up was just go out there in these games and look like he belongs, looks like he can play at the at this level against these teams and And even if he did it, it wasn't like incredible and look and dominant.
02:16:55
Speaker
He definitely showed that he belongs and can can hang at that level and can have good moments at this at this level. So I don't think we got the outcome we were hoping for as far as like him being super dominant, like he has been in MLS at times and really all of a sudden having cool like imagine if he went out and scored like an insane banger today.
02:17:16
Speaker
against PSG. Like all that. If he doesn't do that cutback and instead finds the the top ends. Yeah. So like that, that would have, that would have been like skyrocket just on its own. So we didn't get like a moment like that, but I thought he had a good solid tournament.
02:17:31
Speaker
that if i'm ah if I'm a team in Europe that had been looking at him or maybe was like, oh, who is this guy? I'm looking at him. I would look at that and be saying like, he very much looks like he belonged and was playing pretty well at ah at an extremely high level.
02:17:48
Speaker
So that's why I would say up even if it's not like skyrocketed.
02:17:55
Speaker
I'd say up. Yeah, I'll say up. ah I think up. Maybe even – maybe not significantly, but up. I mean, I think the big question around him was what's he look like when he is – when he's asked to play at a higher level and he looked like he belonged. Like he's a – he looked like he was at – you know, I thought there were moments in various matches where he looked like the best midfielder.
02:18:20
Speaker
You know, he was never – didn't have a complete game where he, you know, was – dishing out assists and and scoring goals or anything, but that's not really his game. His game is really dribbling out of trouble, being so you know strong defensively.
02:18:34
Speaker
he doesn't progress the ball probably as much as you want ah with his passing, but you can see he doesn't make dumb mistakes. he He's in the right place. He doesn't get moved off the ball easy.
02:18:46
Speaker
I think it stocks up.
02:18:49
Speaker
Colton says, this is what we get for hyping of an ex-Rangers player. As much as we did, we got to hit the film room. We'll be better next time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. All right. Go Celtic. ah But what I'll say about Obed is I think that we're underselling how important these games were. And I really do think that his stock went up.
02:19:07
Speaker
He did. He had a lot of really good defensive actions. um He made a lot of great stops. He had a lot of great turns and dribbles out of trouble. And the thing that I will say that I think is the most important He was almost invisible at times. He was almost like that player that you just knew was going to be on the ball, make the pass, move on.
02:19:28
Speaker
There was no time where I was like, oh my God, Obed. Like, I didn't have any of those moments. Maybe there were some here or there, but I really think that's like what, like Jeremiah was saying, that's what we were looking for. Can you hold your standard against a top European team, against a top European,
02:19:47
Speaker
South American team. And I think he did that. And I think that that's just another feather in his cap to what we already know. And the reality is, is like, Yes, he he he wasn't this like superstar. And I do think that some of the pressure was in his head, like some of the decisions that he made to try and go for it and try and like make something out of this this tournament, ah you know, with that cutback or whatever it was like, I was like, there were some moments where I was like, OK, I see like you're trying some shit.
02:20:20
Speaker
Good for you. you know Do your thing. But I really do. i think I think his stock went up a decent amount. And I think that this is going to be... There there are were eyes on him in this tournament, marketing or not, that weren't on him previously. And that is really...
02:20:36
Speaker
what he needed in this moment so i'm gonna say stock up i'm above both of you i'm going up up not like skyrocketed but like but like tesla or what is it spacex but like it like explodes after it takes off kind of thing you know mean does that make sense kind of followed i was trying to do a bit there it didn't really work but um i respect the uh the effort is good but the i'm trying i'm You know, um okay, let's ah who else did we have on this list? Petro De La Vega. thats
02:21:11
Speaker
we We hit PDLV, so maybe we can hit it quickly. But um Ari, we were very down on Petro De La Vega to start this tournament. We were saying it might be time to pull the cord, hit the eject button, and take that offer that Craig was alluding to from whatever team it was.
02:21:30
Speaker
Well, we should clarify. he didn't say there was an offer. He said that they were team that was interested in before the Sounders got him. So okay what i think that was it was maybe misconstrued a little bit as to how active that interest was. It was pretty. Craig's not the most eloquent. I will say I love Craig. Great guy. i would drink a beer with him. i don't think he's eloquent. Yes.
02:21:54
Speaker
Yes. um Well, I'll clarify my my stance in that. like i don't i don't think ah I don't think I'm i'm ah i'm not at ah there at eject button yet, but as for whether his stock is up or down coming off this tournament, he didn't he didn't play to today.
02:22:12
Speaker
oh it's it's nice yeah It's hard to go up when you don't play in one of the games. you got it. The first thing that you have to do to to have your stock get affected positively is play.
02:22:24
Speaker
Famously, that's been a problem for him. It's not playing. Honestly, I don't know. Maybe you guys are on a different page than this. And like Jeremiah, you were saying it was it might have been more tactical. I think it's a little weird he didn't play at all.
02:22:35
Speaker
i think i felt it the same way i think that's kind of weird don't know like i think like you it doesn't play that's your seven million dollar dps your seven million dollar dp i don't know i think i know i think it's i'm i'm i'm speaking on vibes right well okay vibe it out what what do you what do you think it was uh well we were talking it through earlier on one of the calls but uh
02:23:02
Speaker
Like he he he didn't have a very good tournament when he did play like in the Botafogo game. He he whiffed the one from the penalty spot that. ah Yeah, he was the one that sticks in my mind most is the is the whiff. But then he had yeah the lunaity and sound effect one. he yeah yeah Yeah, exactly. But then he had ah he had the other one where it was like a pretty goddamn clean link look on goal that it was just like right at the keeper type situation. so And then there was there was other moments. I don't know i don't know if ah you guys had the same feeling at all.
02:23:40
Speaker
But there was a couple moments that like brought to mind, remember when Schmetz called him out harshly for like ah cooking too hard when it was unnecessary at midfield?
02:23:52
Speaker
There was at least one instance in the Atletico game where I was like, dude, don't do that at that area of the field. That's like what you got in trouble for. Don't do that. And then the next game, he just doesn't play at all. So I don't know. I have no actual idea if that there's anything to that. But that is something that like organically came to my mind even before this game today. And then it's just like ah just the principle of you're playing PSG, the best team in the world, ah in in a Club World Cup showcase group stage. and you nothing to Nothing to win.
02:24:25
Speaker
Yeah, but but but then your $7 million... dollars DP doesn't play at all? Like, at all? Not even, like... I don't know. it I don't know. It's definitely not a good sign. It's definitely not a good sign. I will absolutely acknowledge that.
02:24:41
Speaker
I just am... You know, and if he doesn't play against Austin, then then you start going, whoa, what's going on here? I'm just not... And then Schmetz got all... Schmetz was like very tilted at Nico for asking about it, so that even kind of adds to the, like, well, I mean... Yeah, I mean, I just think my my read on that We all know that that he doesn't like Nico. You don't have to pretend. But like when Nico asks a question that's like not unfair, he'll you know indulge it at least and not like snap at him like that.
02:25:11
Speaker
i My read on it on that was... that Brian just couldn't, he was, I think he was genuinely a little surprised that they had just played PSG and Nico's question was, why didn't you play Pedro Deleuze? It wasn't literally the question, but I just think he was sort of like, what are we talking about? You know, what do what is it that, why, are like, why is Pedro not playing the most, and like the most relevant thing to talk about? that like what led off the the presser?
02:25:42
Speaker
No, it was like the third question. Oh, okay.
02:25:47
Speaker
I mean, I don't know. Was there a Paul Rothrock question? Because I wasn't there to ask it, so you never know. i think there was, actually. Okay, good. I was going to say, because that's normally my beat.
02:25:58
Speaker
I'm the Paul Rothrock beat. When I can sit in that chair and I raise my hand and I get that mic, he knows what's coming. He he just looks at me and laughs. He knows. He's like, put this on your podcast. It's great. I'll give my take on the De La Vega thing, because I know that's what everyone's been holding their breath for.
02:26:14
Speaker
I think ah I kind of I kind of said with Jeremiah on this. I don't I don't think it's as surprising. You had Paul Rothrock balling out. You are not going to take him off the field by any means. You know, I think if you look at who had a more interesting tournament, there was more interest in Georgie in general.
02:26:31
Speaker
um I think that he had a better tournament, like in the brief moments that he got minutes. I think he just showed out better. i mean, that's what I think. i don't think. i didn't think I didn't think Georgie was great. He had some moments.
02:26:44
Speaker
I thought today was his most encouraging. He had one really good moment today. He a really good run. Yeah, he had one really good play today. I'm famously the Georgie disliker, apparently, after one of our streams where I said that he's too raw and he shouldn't really probably – he's not ready yet.
02:27:01
Speaker
But I just think, like, for for a player like that, you might just want to run him. at the end of the day, like the end of the the end of the game, like see what you can get out of it and Maybe it's not anything personal.
02:27:14
Speaker
I'm sure De La Viga wanted to play. When we were going back and forth on the Georgie thing, my thing was like, I think he could actually bring something to the table in a game like this just because has very unique pace and power.
02:27:31
Speaker
where like it does like His type of physical gifts, it doesn't really matter who you're playing against. and like and As far as his ability to just build ball through people or he's really good at like getting around guys and then keep that his end line move is and then still undefeated and then accelerating and yeah and he did that today he had a phenomenal play where he was one-on-one with uh whoever it was from psg but whoever that is is like one of the best players in the world and he got he got fully around that dude and was making was proactively moving like into a dangerous area
02:28:04
Speaker
And I thought it was great. And it was only like one play. But that's why i i was like, i wanted I wanted to see him get at least some run in this tournament because i do think for how raw he is and for how unpolished he is, ah he's got those he's got those physical gifts that no one else on the team really has. And that kind of transcend who you're playing against. Like he he's going to get around you like that sometimes, no matter what team you're on.
02:28:29
Speaker
He's just not to have the end product from that. like ever well call me caitlin kyle the way i'm about to get this this show back on its tracks uh pedro de la vega i'm gonna say stock down i think he had a poor performance i think i think he's reeling a little bit he's gonna have to pick it up in this later half of the season we'll see what happens jeremiah up down i mean uh up or down i gotta say down
02:28:58
Speaker
That's it. He said, that's I'm done. think we covered it. Yeah. 10 minutes it. 11. We need 11. need 12. Got hit the monetization. And then last, think we most of eleven we need eleven we need twelve gotta hit the monetization um and then last did i think we hit most of um um I don't think I said anyone else. Is there anyone else who it's like ah it's relevant for? we could right because so here's Here's what I'll tell you. The people who I thought helped themselves, Kalani Kosarienzi, Reed Baker Whiting, John Bell, at least in this game, was the first game where I thought they didn't miss Yamar.
02:29:33
Speaker
like This was the first game where he was as good. like Nothing he did hurt them at all. I thought Jackson Reagan actually him. Jackson Reagan in this game was insanely good.
02:29:44
Speaker
yeah yeah shout yeah We should shout out a J bell and Jackson Reagan for their performance today. Yeah. i thought but thought they all, I think helped themselves. Christian rolled on. If we're going to talk about one person who's stuck, maybe through the roof.
02:29:58
Speaker
christian This is a U S men's national team call up performance. This was, this was his like signature type of, what are you guys doing over there? Get on the phone, call my people, let's make this happen.
02:30:12
Speaker
he He said as much. He did say as much. I asked him and ah that and he he was out there campaigning, I think, ah to the degree that he's able to do it. He basically said, you know my number, poach.
02:30:26
Speaker
poch and to be fair we call him poke on this show yeah yeah to be fair to my guy poke who i have been clowning on a lot lately ah he has it seems like he's not like uh like what league you're playing in doesn't really affect no i don't think while you ninety i don't have any real problem with the way that poch is running the national team uh i i think it's good to give some guys kicks in the butt and Canada's not out there.
02:30:54
Speaker
if if If guys aren't turning down call-ups to Canada, who why are you people turning down call-ups to the United States? Yeah, well, I think... People aren't turning down call-ups to Mexico.
02:31:04
Speaker
I'm biased, but I think Christian Roldan is ah clearly playing like one of the best players at that position in the pool. And I think anyone who is ah arguing that at this point is pretty deluded and just blinded by They're You got to, you got to certain point, like put stock into what happens in the games.
02:31:24
Speaker
And like ah the great thing about him playing this well in this tournament is like, you can't be like, Oh, well that's against Minnesota United. That's Dallas. It was against PSG and Atletico Madrid.
02:31:36
Speaker
And here's the the reality. This is the truth. is that PSG is better than literally every national team on the planet. That's not like, that's a, I don't even think that's controversial.
02:31:49
Speaker
I think Atletico Madrid is probably better than almost every national team on the planet. I think Botafogo, is at least as good as every national team in CONCACAF, if not most teams in it ah more than half the teams that will be in the World Cup.
02:32:06
Speaker
but The reality is that the better quality play is at the club level, not at the national team level. And these are and if he's performed if he can do this against Atletico and PSG, absolutely he can do it at the national team. This is not even a question.
02:32:23
Speaker
yeah Patrick Ajiman. Call him in. Call them in. Call them in. I'm so ready for the tweets from ah all of our favorites. Oh, my God. Could you imagine? That's really, like, obviously, I think we all agree Christian has earned it, and it could actually actually benefit that team.
02:32:43
Speaker
But the crash outs and reactions, I would also be in it in it for that. You know what's great about it? They don't play soccer. they they They can't. They're not allowed to leave their basement. They are legitimately... They are house arrested, okay?
02:32:57
Speaker
They're not allowed. They were at the Capitol, and they're not allowed to leave their basement, okay? Like, that is... That's what happens. ah So we don't have to worry about them. But, no, Christian Roldan...
02:33:08
Speaker
uh Paul Ross I just I like this I said it at the top of the top of my call this was a fun tournament we showed out really well we we played well there were moments where we felt you know like there were there were mistakes like but everything felt like just a mistake like every goal felt just like a mistake it didn't feel like a overarching like Wow, you look like shit. There was couple, like the first Barrios goal in the Atletico game. I was like, okay, that's, I mean, that was a good shot.
02:33:41
Speaker
Yeah. I don't know. I just, I think if you look at it, this you have to feel like this tournament's a success. Like, you have to. Yeah, I do too. Agreed. Did we have any other stock up, stock down? Albert Rusnak stock up.
02:33:55
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Albert Rusnak scoring against Atletico Madrid. Where is the brigade? there There is the brigade. There's no way they're going to count that one because they lost the game.
02:34:06
Speaker
ah But he did score a goal against Atletico Madrid.
Christian Pulisic and Goal Challenges
02:34:10
Speaker
You know who hasn't? Christian Pulisic.
02:34:15
Speaker
Zero Club World Cup goals this year. Christian Pulisic, zero Club World Cup goals. Christian Pulisic, 2025 Gold Cup goals, zero. Patrick Ajiman, one.
02:34:26
Speaker
I was glad that they got a couple goals in the tournament because it was good that the crowd got to celebrate those. We'll always have the 38-second span in the Atletico game where it was 2-1 before they conceded the third. Where it felt like they could get a result. It like, oh my God, a result against Atletico Madrid. They scored one. This is now on the table. Oh my God, they just conceded again. That was basically I think they could have scored against PSG. I really do. I think that had they had Jordan Morris in that game, I think they might have actually cooked. I think that freaking team might just be impossible to score against. I don't know if they've ever conceded a goal. Ask Fodafogo how to do The funny stat that I dug up today was played 61 now this year.
02:35:14
Speaker
one matches now this year They never even trailed at any point this year by three goals, and that's what the Sounders would have needed to do to to jump. jump um there ah I was talking to Nico about it, but ah what did you guys think of PSG? Because I was just – I was looking at it – just through a lens of like what I was trying to watch it of like, what differentiates this team from like a, from a great team to an elite team to the best team.
02:35:45
Speaker
And to me, it was just like the, the control they had over the game. Just so poised, never a moment, even when it was only one zero, i really never felt like they were out of control of the game. And I, yeah there was never, there was never that vibe of like, Oh, the gold is coming. Like Seattle is like,
02:36:05
Speaker
pressing on them like maybe a little bit at the beginning but the whole second half when it was 1-0 to when they got their second goal I was sitting there and i was like I just I never felt like they were really sweating it or in danger at all I'll tell you what makes the difference 980 million dollars well yes
02:36:25
Speaker
I mean, I truly believe that. Like, yeah you just went, you just put up basically the thrift store dress versus the Mew Mew dress. Like, you went designer versus thrifted.
02:36:36
Speaker
And it it looked fine. Like, you both looked good. um I don't know. i think that... I think you said it too. like PSG didn't get out of second gear. I would fear playing this team at full strength with Dembele and everyone. like That's horrific. But also... 10 of 11 guys from the Champions League. But I mean, Dembele is uniquely the best player in the world. the best player in the world. And I understand. And Hikimi played... He's an...
02:37:08
Speaker
I, Kimi's one of my favorite players in the world right now. So that's like, that was sweet. um But I don't know. I just, it's, ah
02:37:18
Speaker
I don't know. I guess this is a bigger question to ask.
MLS Teams' Financial Challenges
02:37:21
Speaker
Like if MLS wants to compete in this, in this tournament going forward, this is always the question is, are we going to lose in the spending rules?
02:37:29
Speaker
I mean, I'll, I do think it's, it's, there's two things can be true. and MLS can be better equipped to compete in this tournament. And there may never be a time when an MLS team going to get out of a group that includes the Copa Libertadores champions, the number one team in the world, and another top 15 20. I mean, so far behind them terms we are so far we are so far beyond behind them in terms of spending and talent acquisition that we're not going to close that gap considerably like this draw was uniquely bad but i don't see why we can't be in a group like lafcs and hope to advance out of that there's no reason that miami shouldn't be able to advance out of their group and maybe even win a a they are tied to two right now i believe let's go come on pal made us
02:38:25
Speaker
Oh, no, it's full-time 2-2 finals. So my ah Miami goes through because, yeah, a 1-2 draws. They were already – weren't they already through? Were they not already through? they were already through. might have already been through. can't remember. No, I think they could have – Oh, maybe. thought if they lost by a certain number of goals, they were going to – They did. Oh, classic Inter-Miami, honestly. Ahead 2-0 in the 80th minute. They give up the 2-1 to Paulinho and then 87th minute equalizer to Mauricio.
02:38:54
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I agree with you, Jeremiah. There's no way that, like, and that's fine. I always say this to people. I'm like, listen, if you want, like, an open league and all spend as much money as you want, like, you can they that's available. You can watch that. and I do think it's relevant for MLS to ask itself, though, where do they, like, okay, so we want to be a top 10 team in the world or league in the world. What's that mean? Like, what's...
02:39:19
Speaker
What why like what do we want out of that? What do we want this to look like? and i And I don't think it's – it doesn't seem like it makes a lot of sense to just be like, well, we want to play in the Club World Cup.
02:39:31
Speaker
Right. like you got It's got to be something more than playing in the Club World Cup. It's got to be – there's got to be a point to it. I feel like for me, if you look at it, you've got – there needs to be a a tide shift in in Champions Cup wins.
02:39:47
Speaker
And like, how do you, how do you figure that out? Because you've got to start at that. Like you, you got to be a intercontinental champion before you can be a world champion. You know, you've got to be, you know, I don't know. I mean, more relevant in their own local markets. Sure. But I think they've been doing a pretty good job at that. I don't know. That's, that's what I feel like.
02:40:08
Speaker
i mean, I do think that, that, that is a thing that, the Sounders are better at than almost everyone else in terms of being relevant. I do think, and whatever, we're getting far afield at this point, but hu I think that there are improvements that can be made internally that are separate from the club world cup. As far as the club world cup goes, i think it, it, it both shows that there is the the, the, the, the levels aren't quite as distinct as maybe we thought they were.
02:40:41
Speaker
like but the teams at the top are still, like, you can see it. You can just see how much better the teams at the very top are, um like, kind of 1 through 20. Yeah. $980 million.
02:40:55
Speaker
Yeah. $1 billion dollar valuation versus ah whatever it was for us, like, 20, 20 million. i wish i wish ah fifty i wish they I wish they had played Dembele.
02:41:08
Speaker
Yeah, they were cowardly for that. What the hell? Yeah, come on. It was hurt. He didn't play at in the gold tournament. He hasn't played yet. Well, maybe get him healthy. Put him out there.
02:41:19
Speaker
We played Jordan Morris. Yeah, put him out there. i mean, it's... It is crazy that, like, what did you say? It was 10 out of 11 of the UCL final start. That's their big dogs. Like, that's not a... and You really, like, got to think about and appreciate that the fact that Seattle was, like, going up against a lineup that ah every single player in PSG's starting 11 is one of, if not the, like, best at their position in the world.
02:41:50
Speaker
Their fullback... duo is uh is the best in the world like by far and it was kind it was fun to like see those guys in action today just because like you know i was watching them because uh talking to uh my psg guest uh he was really highlighting that and the more i kind of looked into them it's like that's actually like uh the super super power of that team is those two guys in particular and uh it's just It is fun to like just get to watch world-class players do their thing, which we got to do that today, so that was kind of cool.
02:42:21
Speaker
And I will say, my final take on the Club World Cup before I leave here and go ah into the woods behind me at my undisclosed location.
Club World Cup vs World Cup
02:42:30
Speaker
ah i was saying this to Colton, actually, yesterday. and As much as I've actually really enjoyed the Club World Cup, and I think that this is going to be a really fun tournament going on, especially as they you know logistically figure more things out,
02:42:45
Speaker
It's never going to be the World Cup. like The World Cup is the great equalizer, right? like There is no money involved in this. that it's like It's simply just where you were born World Cup.
02:42:56
Speaker
I'm talking about the World Cup. I know. There's a lot of money involved in that. Absolutely. i I mean the teams itself. Like, if you look at, like, the the disparities, right? like Oh, you're saying, like, in the salaries of the players.
02:43:07
Speaker
Yeah, there's – yeah, exactly. ah You know, like, if you're born in Argentina and you're good enough to make the Argentinian national team, you're going to play for the Argentinian national teams, you know, whatever. There's politics involved in it, absolutely.
02:43:19
Speaker
But, you know, generally speaking, that's, like – there's a much more of an equalizer there with this tournament. It's like, yeah, you've got to play with a team that's worth a hundred times, which you are and right yeah has different rules and and whatnot. But I think that, you know, that creates fun drama where you get to see, you know,
02:43:40
Speaker
Esperance beat LAFC or you get to see you know, Botafogo beat PSG and all of that. And I just think that's been fun, but you know, it'll never be perfect.
Switching Allegiances to Botafogo
02:43:50
Speaker
Uh, God knows, but, uh, I, I enjoyed it and, will definitely be tuning into the later stages and praying on Miami's downfall.
02:43:57
Speaker
I'm on, ah I'm on Botafogo bandwagon. I'm, I was talking to ah Pedro from glorious Botafogo earlier. He tapped, he tapped back in and was ah given the lowdown on the PSG win and all that. So that's the, that's the one where I'm going to, now that Seattle's out, I'm going hop onto a, Now you have to learn how to pronounce it right.
02:44:16
Speaker
What? Bocha Fogo? I don't know. i'm not on I don't speak Portuguese or whatever. Bocha Fogo? Something like that. I don't know. There's like ah there's like a thing. I'm going to get out of here before we get canceled. I'm not going to cancel. There's like a way to say it. All right. um You know what?
02:44:30
Speaker
The woke mob's after me. I got to get out of here. All right. I think that's a good place to, uh, I'm planning on getting out of here too. I'm at two hours, 45 minutes. So yeah, that's pretty long. i say thats i think i was there for an hour What am i doing?
02:44:45
Speaker
Yeah, I know. yeah I just stopped working to hop on here. ah well, appreciate you, uh, hopping on Jeremiah. It was good to get your takes on everything. Yeah.
02:44:56
Speaker
Anytime. Yeah. yeah Well, and what were you saying? I just realized that my reflection is in your, is in your, uh, yeah, that's been an ongoing issue that gets a lot of commentary. We put those up for like background vibes and then it's like blatantly just reflect. And I'm not going to move that. Cause I don't, uh, I mean, maybe I will, but, uh, either way, uh, let's get out of here on that. Uh, thanks for tapping in J O. Uh, everyone who's still watching, which is actually a lot of you, uh, like the video, uh, sub, sub to the channel.
02:45:30
Speaker
And we will be back at it this week with ah God, it's kind of now I got to prepare for an Austin FC game.
02:45:44
Speaker
That which is fine. That's I love doing that. That's what I'm used to doing. But it's it has been ah but a but fun experience for us to.
Overall Tournament Enjoyment
02:45:51
Speaker
um get to like do our shows like we normally do them, prep for them. Like I find my guests to have on, ah but it's about like PSG and Atletico Madrid. That was fun for me to get to do.
02:46:04
Speaker
I think the tournament itself was, the footy was fun. ah The Seattle crowd showed out. Everyone who went to the game did amazing to, make it a Make it a fun time, great atmosphere.
02:46:17
Speaker
And, you know, even FIFA's ah questionable logistics, oh that's what I'll call it, even FIFA's questionable logistics at the start of the tournament, I actually figured out there their system by the end and had minimal issues.
02:46:32
Speaker
So... Good stuff all around. Appreciate you all tuning in into the shows and subscribing and calling in and all that. Appreciate all your guys' support.
02:46:44
Speaker
Couldn't do the show without you. And... Keep an eye out for more to come this week. We'll have a podcast coming out. We'll have Under the Lights on Thursday.
02:46:56
Speaker
And time to get rolling for our coverage of the of the second half of the season. Shout out to the Club World Cup. RIP to the Seattle Sounders campaign in the Club World Cup.
02:47:09
Speaker
Didn't make it out of the group, but competed with dignity. I'll ah catch you guys next time. Thanks for tuning in. Peace.