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Fans react to Seattle Sounders meltdown against LAFC
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We react and take calls following Seattle's matchup with LAFC at Lumen Field in Matchday 16.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a production of Just Once Media.
Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Promotions
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Lobbing Scorchers was previously recorded and streamed live on youtube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers. If you want to listen or catch these episodes live, see the video, and see all the rest of our content, go to youtube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers or LobbingScorchers.com slash YouTube.
00:00:22
Speaker
Well, sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be real scorcher today. What, the scorcher today? Well, it's gonna be a scorcher.
Did Sounders Impact LAFC Coach's Fate?
00:00:45
Speaker
Ladies and gentlemen, did we just save an LAFC head coach's job? Ladies and gentlemen, did we just witness the greatest fumble of all time?
00:01:00
Speaker
We will take your calls
Sounders vs LAFC Game Recap
00:01:02
Speaker
tonight. The Seattle Sounders unfortunately lose 1-0 to a late goal against LAFC. We are here at the Lobbing Scorchers headquarters in the International District.
00:01:16
Speaker
I'm not quite sure what just happened. Um... We have a lot to talk about. We have a lot to call about. We will watch our beautiful Brian Schmetzer break it down. Make sure you like the stream, you lobbyists. That's exactly what I was going to say. we are at the studio. So like last time, i don't know what happened with the internet. We are all still on the same internet. So if it happens to have bad quality, I'm just going to let you know. that's That's really like I can't do anything. I moved the router.
00:01:48
Speaker
Closer to the window. So hopefully that helps, but a bad, bad day to be a Seattle Sounders fan. Let's just start
Lineup Changes and Reactions
00:01:54
Speaker
right here. The Seattle Sounders lose one nil. They had basically their normal starting lineup, except to Sonny Dotson slid in for Snyder Brunel.
00:02:06
Speaker
And at center back, we saw Kim Kihei instead of either Tino Lopez, which I guess technically is not a starter, ah or who has been playing there, which is Alex Roldan.
00:02:20
Speaker
I didn't mind this lineup when I saw it. I was a little bit questioning of Kim Kihei, considering he's played absolutely no minutes. And I'm just generally not a Kim Kihei believer.
00:02:34
Speaker
But here we are. ah It was not Kim Kihee's fault. It surely was not Jackson Reagan's fault. It seems as though it may have been Nuhu's fault, which I hate to say, but this did feel like a Nuhu crash out game. He had some interesting tackles, some interesting plays. ah But man,
00:02:54
Speaker
Man, six and a half week break in that, that is how we end it. I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm happy about that. I'm not going to sit here and say that I feel confident in the way that the Seattle Sounders are playing because here's the deal.
Offensive Struggles and Missed Opportunities
00:03:11
Speaker
The Sounders deserve to win that game. They were on the front foot for the majority of that match. Yes, they were defending. They were absorbing pressure, which is not unexpected in an away game, but they are unable to finish.
00:03:28
Speaker
They are absolutely unable to find the back of the net. Jordan Morris hits the crossbar. Unfortunate for him. I thought he looked better tonight, but... ah Yikes. I mean, i really, i don't know what else to say. What is the option at the number nine? We've been talking about this for two years.
00:03:50
Speaker
We've been having this conversation for two years. I don't necessarily know what to do. I don't necessarily know if I should be frustrated. I don't necessarily know if I should just give up all hope and understand that all of our production is going to come from Paul Rothrock, which guys, I hate to bring it back to the first ever episode of Lobbing Scorchers, but God damn it, Paul Rothrock needs some help.
00:04:13
Speaker
He needs some help. He does. Okay. I, I, I really, don't, I don't know what to say. Paul Rothrock needs some goddamn help out there. He seemed to be the only one who was grinding it out, trying his best. I thought Jesus Ferreira looked good tonight as well. I thought he played pretty, pretty damn, pretty damn well.
00:04:34
Speaker
He had some really nice defensive play. Um, and Albert Rosanac had a couple of looks that I was like, all right, you know what? That's, that's classic Albert Rosanac. We see him. We love him on this broadcast, but they just couldn't get it done.
00:04:48
Speaker
They just absolutely couldn't get it done. I mean, if you believe in XG, the XG to this game was 1.35 to 1.89. So I guess technically l LAFC should have won this game, but pretty even possession stats as well.
00:05:02
Speaker
LAFC outshot the Sounders by seven shots. I would have loved to see Snyder Brunel in this game earlier. i would have had his ass on at halftime because he is by far, by far the best attacking spark in our midfield. It is so clear to me. It is absolutely so clear to me.
00:05:25
Speaker
Another thing. that I wanted to note that I talked about. Listen, KKR, I love him. i think I thought he played pretty good most of the game. I think he got a little bit tired towards the end there, which he was definitely a part of ah kind of the defensive breakdown on that side.
00:05:45
Speaker
But it seems he's won the job over Alex Roldan. And I would love to know what you guys think about this because seemingly to me, That would not
Team Performance Concerns
00:05:56
Speaker
have been the case, but, you know, um that's that's just the way it is.
00:06:02
Speaker
So, yeah, I think we're going to have a lot of Jordan Morris discourse today, which I'm i'm definitely willing to have. I won't say that I'm excited to have it, but I am willing to have it.
00:06:14
Speaker
And um yeah, I don't really know what to say. So ah let me let me let me scroll through some comments here and take these while we wait for the post-match press conference to happen. I assume that might take a minute because I don't think Brian Schmetzer is about to let these guys off the hook quite too easily. I saw a comment about Paul Rothrock or something on here that I wanted to hit. I think Kenny said it. I'm literally trying to find it. Oh, okay. Nope. There's Matt.
00:06:44
Speaker
We will hear from the Sounders here soon. Um... I'm literally trying to find it. Paul lowest rated player here. Guys, I i don't necessarily... ah I wouldn't take a lot of stock in a thought mob rating, generally speaking. I think that they're kind of stupid, but I mean, the kid the kid was... He passed... I don't know. like he he was He was doing what he was doing when he was on the ball. I don't think that the ball got to him ah quite enough, but...
00:07:18
Speaker
It's just we are back to Seattle Sounders of two years ago where simply we just can't score. How did this happen? We went from the team that was scoring five goals every single match to now it's like, hey, um could we could you spare a goal, please?
00:07:37
Speaker
Could you spare a goal? Like, we're just back to XG Merchanting. And i'm I'm just, I'm not necessarily...
00:07:49
Speaker
i'm just I'm just not having it, guys. I'm just not having it. um New Who highest rated sounder. Paul lowest rated sounder.
00:08:00
Speaker
Cope, bud. Okay. um Rothrock looks like he's been running in the sand the last three weeks. The break will be good for him. I think that's true. I think the break i think that is a larger Topic here. I think the break will be good for a lot of these players and in this team in general. um It is quite frankly,
00:08:23
Speaker
They have just looked sluggish. And I don't know. Listen, I'm i'm just going to chalk this up to last game of the season. and They're tired. But also, the Sounders have played three less games than every other team in the in the damn league. Like, why why are we so why are we sitting here saying that they're extra tired? Like, they've played...
00:08:48
Speaker
I don't know. league League-wide, at least. um Yeah, Joey P's got a note here. He says, we sold all of our attacking depth and a DP hasn't touched the field this season. Seems straightforward. I mean, that is that is essentially like my cope and my rationalization that I've been talking about with Ari for a long time is like, I guess when Pedro comes back, like,
00:09:11
Speaker
Please, maybe something will happen. And, you know, that's going to be a big deal. And, you know, our attacking depth that we sold was Georgie, you know, who I don't necessarily think he would have.
00:09:26
Speaker
I mean, does Georgie change the calculus on this game? Some people might say he would, but, you know, I don't know. What's what's he been up to lately? I'm just going to look that up. What has he been up to lately?
00:09:38
Speaker
I can't spell guys. I really can. I'm i'm i'm looking them up on follow up. He has two assists in 700 minutes this season across all competitions, including the Sounders, I believe.
00:09:49
Speaker
So, yeah. Oh, he's got a goal.
Could Georgie Have Made a Difference?
00:09:51
Speaker
he's got He's got a goal for the Pids. He's got a goal for the Pids. I think that was in ah Open Cup, though, was it? I don't know. doesn't matter. Whatever. had an assist. He had an assist yesterday. He had an assist yesterday, and he had that goal against the switchbacks that ah helped them beat them. He had the game-winning goal, whatever.
00:10:11
Speaker
So, yeah. maybe Maybe Georgie comes on and changes this game. Sorry, guys. I i didn't watch any of the games yesterday yet. But... um Yeah, he also gave up a pen last night. So, you know, could Georgie have changed the calculus? Maybe.
00:10:25
Speaker
that's That's definitely possible. But I'm i'm just... um I'm tired. I think the team's tired, and I don't really want to necessarily harp on it that much. But it's like, yeah! You know what? You know what? I'm going to say it. I'm going to say it, guys.
00:10:44
Speaker
It's exhausting not seeing this team score. Like, what happened? What happened? All right, let's pull it up. Neil, we've got a five-year-old donation here. He keeps cooking in chat. All right. ah Sorry, they're they're they're yapping on the on the ah on the, what is it?
00:11:04
Speaker
Presser. Okay, hold on. Hold on.
00:11:19
Speaker
Okay, sorry. I'm just listening to them them chat. um ah Sorry, Caleb. Caleb, I'm reading your comment. I'm going ADHD mode a little bit. Ari's not here. We're off the rails tonight. This is going to be an entirely ah scary stream. I promise you. Caleb says, has the nerve to talk about Thorrington when Craig really needs to be talked about? Did I say it in a... Did I... did i um I don't know how much of this is on Craig because I feel like in the summer, if they make changes, we all know that like the beginning part of an MLS season just doesn't, it just simply doesn't matter.
00:11:57
Speaker
Like, unfortunately it simply doesn't matter. The positioning that they're in, they're out of the shield race. Absolutely. They're dropping points here is sad and embarrassing, but it's like, all right, there's still, they're going to make the playoffs. Yeah.
00:12:11
Speaker
I would like them to stay up higher in the table, get that home field advantage. But I don't really know what Craig could do here. I think if he's in the summer, if he doesn't make any moves, sure. But ah we can talk about that when we get there.
00:12:25
Speaker
um let's Let's hit the... i'm I'm sorry, guys. I'm watching for the presser. I'm making sure we don't miss it. It's going to... We'll hit it. Don't worry. World Cup Sounders crash out. I'm here for it.
00:12:39
Speaker
ah Crashing out about the World Cup or crashing out about the Sounders? And are you a part of the crash out? Are you witnessing the crash out?
00:12:55
Speaker
Tino?
00:12:58
Speaker
Oh, wait. Why are they putting out Snyder and Tino? They're putting out the subs. they're They're putting out the subs. Guys, come on. What is this, guys? Give us to Snyder and Tino.
00:13:09
Speaker
You're telling me the second half sub guys, you're putting them out? Come on, guys. Come on. Don't do that. um I'm heated on this one. this one's This one pissed me off. I hate losing to LAFC. I hate losing to LAFC.
00:13:24
Speaker
I hate it. Let's talk about Snyder, Snyder was far. You know, he, he, he, he oh, oh, and speak of the devil. Thanks, Kevin. Snyder, Tino, thanks for joining us, guys. Appreciate the time.
00:13:37
Speaker
We'll get right into questions here. I'll let you guys get on your way. So go ahead, Media, if you'd like to ask a question, please use the hand raise function in Zoom. We'll start with Masvidah. Masvidah, go ahead and ask your questions.
00:13:50
Speaker
Hey guys, obviously it's a disappointing loss here, but looking at the positive when you both came in the 63rd minute, he seemed to change the game. What was working there and you almost scored the 75th minute. What was working there?
00:14:04
Speaker
um I feel like the team started off great in the second half. Like, as soon as we came on, we just carry the momentum and we just try to do our best, keeping the shape, the structure. i felt like we were really trying to just create chances overall, get that first goal before they did. So overall, I thought that we were just coming on and just trying to help the team win. All right. We'll go next to Jeremiah Oshan.
00:14:27
Speaker
Jeremiah, go ahead and ask a question. Yeah, I guess this can be for either one of you, but you know, you you guys started the season great. You've hit sort of a rough patch here in the last five or so. What, i don't know, what how does it feel momentum wise going into this break? And and i have to imagine it's a little frustrating to to know that it's going to be two months before you guys play it again.
00:14:49
Speaker
Yeah, i mean, obviously it is a little bit frustrating not coming away with at least a point. But we know we're a good team and we know when we show up on any any given day, we can beat anybody.
00:15:01
Speaker
So, yeah, I mean, right now it's a really bad feeling. We've been to a point at least, but we know that we need to get back to it and it's not just going to be just a break and vacations and everything like that.
00:15:16
Speaker
We guys are going to put in the work. So when we do come back, we you pick up.
00:15:22
Speaker
right, next we'll go to jada evans jada evans go ahead and ask your question
00:15:36
Speaker
Jada, you're muted still? Jada. Jada, it's your question.
00:15:45
Speaker
All right. We'll circle back with Jada. We'll go to Jorge. Go ahead and ask your question.
00:15:54
Speaker
So um this is more for Snyderberg, also for Tino. You are a very young man, but you have a lot of confidence when you get on the pitch. Where does that come from? Is that like present in all aspects of your life or is it kind of just on the soccer field where you you feel confident in your skills? And also to do you know, like you got into the the team after a while in Tacoma, but you're very confident on on the field as well. So wondering how you guys feel your confidence.
00:16:26
Speaker
I feel like the confidence comes from the trust in our teammates. I feel like the more I trust my teammates, the more I can lean on them, the more that I feel like I can get the best out of myself. I think I can speak the same for Tino.
00:16:37
Speaker
um No, I mean, it's like being confident in every aspect of your life.
Player Confidence and Media Responsibilities
00:16:42
Speaker
you're not confident, you know, you're not going to be out 100%. So every time I step on the field, I'm going to give it my all. So if I don't play with confidence, you know, why am I out there?
00:16:50
Speaker
I got to just go give 100%. Go and try and help the team win.
00:16:56
Speaker
Jay, we'll circle back to you. You hear me? You're able to ask your question now? I think so. can you hear me? Yep, all good. Okay, great. Thanks. um Well, yeah, I wanted to ask a little bit about like after the match, like in the locker room, what was kind of maybe messaging since you guys won't see each other for a while here. So, what you know, what was that mood like or any kind of messaging that you guys had after the match?
00:17:23
Speaker
We're obviously disappointed. We were mean, if we would have walked with three points, it would have been completely different situation. So in a game like this where we could have maybe gotten at least a point out of this game, there's a bit of a sour taste in that.
00:17:42
Speaker
in our mouths right now. But so, yeah, i mean it's just a little bit of we knew we could have done and gotten better results than what we did. Yeah. And to add on to that, I mean, obviously, like the locker room very, very like why, you know, people are upset.
00:17:57
Speaker
But we know that whenever this break comes around, you know, you have to reset and find find that form that we were once in. And overall, that we just have to improve our game and be able to first of all get the first goal and then be able to keep going from there.
00:18:14
Speaker
we'll go to tasimm ali tosim i just You pleasure to talk, going to ask you question. Hey, guys. So obviously, you know, 85 minutes of solid defense, you guys came on ah midway through. But, you know, what was working to kind of keep this this more explosive, maybe not the most informed team, but keep this kind of explosive team off the board early on?
00:18:37
Speaker
mean, I think when we had the ball and we kind of forced their wingers and some to go back a little bit deeper into the half, more than what they probably wanted to. I think that makes it a bit harder for them because now they have to sprint an extra 15, 20 yards.
00:18:54
Speaker
So it kind of gives us a little bit of advantage there. And I think that was a big part of why they couldn't necessarily break away like you should have do so many times.
00:19:04
Speaker
I am not seeing any other hands in the queue. So last call for questions for Snyder or Chino. All right, guys. Hey, thank you for your time. Appreciate it Safe travels home.
00:19:18
Speaker
Oh, right. Snyder and Tino.
00:19:22
Speaker
Check, check. Can you guys hear me? Is this, is this mic working?
00:19:28
Speaker
Is this working? Can you hear me? Let me know, chat. Okay, there it is. There it is. It was like hidden. and I think there was no audio level. All right. Listen. Okay. let me Let me post that we're live on our Instagram here.
00:19:42
Speaker
ah Beautiful. Thank you, guys. um Look at this. ah Not to jinx it, but you know we're we're we're looking okay right now. Wow. You know, let's roll out, uh, let's roll out Snyder and Tino. That's a choice. Um, I personally would not have done that. You know, someone in here said you should roll out your DPs in this situation. Yeah, you you should.
00:20:04
Speaker
You should. i would love to see Christian rolled on, uh, you know, talk about this game. I mean, he he's someone who who's gonna not shy away from this kind of stuff, putting out there,
00:20:16
Speaker
ah
00:20:19
Speaker
I don't know. Putting out there. Sorry, guys. I'm really, I'm multitasking here. I have no, I have no, no assistance. I'm just trying my best. I don't.
00:20:32
Speaker
It's just so tough. Like,
00:20:36
Speaker
i think that.
00:20:40
Speaker
Someone just commented on our on our blue sky and they said, you know, how are you guys going to defend this one? i don't have a defense for this one. I'm done defending this. oh Coach, thank you for joining us. Would you like to open with a statement or go right into questions?
00:20:56
Speaker
No, let's go. chance We'll go to questions. Maz Vito, why don't you lead us off again? Hey Brian, obviously disappointing loss. I'm just wondering how deep of a dive do you do now, you know, kind of in the next three, four weeks or
00:21:17
Speaker
To to. I'm sorry Brian, let me rephrase the question coach you've got a break coming up here and so you're going reevaluate your team, do you look at the first part the SEC, you know how what's that process going to be like for you as you evaluate this first half of the season.
00:21:35
Speaker
oh Well, we'll. Will let this you know moment pass because everybody's pretty disappointed I think the players put a lot into the game.
Coach's Season Analysis and Future Plans
00:21:46
Speaker
I think the adjustments when we made at halftime worked great. And we'll digest this game. And then, of course, as a coaching staff, we've got ah another preseason where we'll have to get them physically right. It'll be a test for you know what that looks like for future seasons in MLS, having the break in the summer.
00:22:07
Speaker
Adam Santofani, best trainer in the league, best fitness guy in the league, is going to give the guys programs to go home with, make sure they're physically fit.
00:22:18
Speaker
And then obviously the coaching staff is going to revisit, you know, the good things that we've done this year to get 7-3-3, which isn't a bad record. But it just feels really poor or, you know, feels bad right now because, you know, starting with that Sporting Kansas City game,
00:22:36
Speaker
you know we drop points there you know San Diego at home we drop a few points. J. You know, then the galaxy game, and now this so you know we'll we'll do our normal.
00:22:49
Speaker
J. revisiting of this game and certainly try and write the ship when we come back against portland.
00:22:58
Speaker
James Meeker, Norcal PTACO, As well as well as the Jeremiah go ahead.
00:23:03
Speaker
Yeah, I guess kind of to that point, ah what do you feel like there's any anything that you can point to that's really changed over these last few games? Obviously, you came into that homestand feeling like you were in a really good spot, but to only get you know four points out of it and then to drop this one. Well, the margins, look, Jeremiah, you know as well as anybody, the margins in this league are so small.
00:23:29
Speaker
I mean, they are so small. ah What I would tell you is that in the beginning of the year, you know, that's game in San Jose. you know, they pummeled us with a bunch of shots, but Paul was able to make a one goal lead and we didn't,
00:23:45
Speaker
Stood firm. We got three points. This game, you know, again, we we we took some heat in the first half, made some adjustments, evened the game out, and then, you know, just couldn't find that, you know, Danny Mososki crossbar, you know, the scramble with Albert. I don't know why he doesn't pass the ball to Paul or shoot, you know, whatever.
00:24:06
Speaker
You know, at the beginning, look at the beginning there when when when the kid, when Snyder hits that ball and ricochets off someone, you know, early in the year that might have ricocheted the goalkeepers lead in one way, it might have gone in the net.
00:24:19
Speaker
So there's a little bit of part of me that, you know, once again, stay calm, stay steady. We're a good team. Again, you know, this, this hurts, but you know, overall we'll try and you know, execute on the margins. Like we were in the beginning of the year.
00:24:40
Speaker
Jada Evans wants to to and ask the next question. Great. Thanks. Thanks for that time, Brian. With that, can you kind of walk us through what what kind of happened on that goal? I mean, it seemed like Nuhu and Kalani just were a little bit ah slow to react, or was there something more as far as them being able to slip through hit that goal?
00:25:00
Speaker
Well, look, Jada, at the end of the day, I could i could you know look at Kalani, but the kid matched up against one of the best players in this league and shut him down.
00:25:12
Speaker
So on that particular play, it actually started before that in our possession sequence where we, you know, against a tire team, Gino Lopez gets stuck on the sideline because we don't have guys in a the number eights demanding the ball, wanting the ball off of a young player.
00:25:31
Speaker
So he's got a launch a ball up there. They win possession. They come down the field. You know, yeah, new who goes out there to block across. He actually gets a touch on it, changes the trajectory of the ball, slows it up a little bit.
00:25:47
Speaker
And then, you know, Tino Lopez goes, it flips over Jackson's head. Tino Lopez was, you know, watching a guy in front of him and, you know, the guy sneaks in front of Kalani. So, you know, overall it's a disappointing goal.
00:26:03
Speaker
But again, for me, where i you know, I'm going to focus some of my energy is why after such a good second half, we couldn't score the first goal.
00:26:16
Speaker
Why we haven't parlayed three-plus expected goals. And you know even this game is 1.35 or whatever, depending on what you see. But Jordan Morris has another breakaway in the first half. Their goalkeeper makes a good save. you know Again, Danny Mososki in the crossbar. i mean, we need to score for us to win games. Simple as that.
00:26:40
Speaker
and And then if I may, um with the with the team, you said that you guys are going to have a break. I mean, what do you expect to read regroup are start training again? like Well, that's a mandatory union ah
00:26:57
Speaker
negotiated term. We are going to give the players 18 days off and then we'll have a block of training. And then we'll go back for another block of four days off because they are guaranteed via the union contract 22 days off. You could have given them 22 days in a row or 18 and four. we elected to go with 18 and four.
00:27:22
Speaker
All right, next we'll go Jorge. ahead and ask your question, Jorge. Coach, all indications are that Christian Roldan is going to be called for the the World Cup, but looking historically like this, under that three players, 2010, two players, 2014, three players, 2018, four players, 2022. It looks like it's going to be only one player for this World Cup. Is that you concerning in terms of the roster that you're losing steps to force the rest of the teams in MLS?
00:27:55
Speaker
No. I mean, we're going to celebrate if Christian makes the squad. We're going to celebrate that achievement. He deserves it. He's earned it. He's had a heck of a year and a half starting back with the club World Cup.
00:28:11
Speaker
ah And then look, we have a lot of talented players on the team and it's my job to make sure that those players perform at their best level. And that's what we're going to focus on. That's what we're going to work on.
00:28:24
Speaker
All right, next we will go to Kasim Ali. Kasim, go ahead and ask your question. Coach, you know you mentioned Kalani matching up with Buanga. What worked about this defense throughout the first 85 minutes before the concession?
00:28:39
Speaker
Well, look, we knew that Martinez and Bowanga on either side of Son who drops into midfield at times. Those are the danger guys. And we wanted to make sure that we double teamed them.
00:28:50
Speaker
Wanted to make sure that when the ball changed the point of attack, we would shift over quickly enough to provide support. But look, there were a bunch of moments where Kalani was on his own there against Bowanga and he did great.
Sounders' League Position and Ambitions
00:29:04
Speaker
right, we'll go next to the
00:29:09
Speaker
felipe go ahead and ask your question. Thank you Alex. alex Coach Brian, Seattle Sounders finished this part of the season in sixth place in the conference and then in 10th in the support shield.
00:29:26
Speaker
Do you think that or you're you think that the the team still in good position to keep fighting for the support shield? Thank you. Well, we're a bit off and we should have collected points against, you know, again, homestand where we lost to the Galaxy and dropped points to San Diego. Felipe, we can't hide from that. Those are facts.
00:29:46
Speaker
You know, the road game against Kansas City. But 7-3-3 is a respectable record. Again, we're going fine tune it. We're going to work. We're going do everything we can to help the team start this second part of the year the way they started off the first part of the year. And then we'll see where we end up.
00:30:08
Speaker
All right, we'll go back. I see a few more hands in the queue for follow-ups. So we'll go to Mazvita. Maz, ahead and ask for follow-up. Hey, Brian, just a quick injury update. well When will Pedro be back be back for the second half?
00:30:19
Speaker
we'll be back. we'll'll There's not a timeline on that. We'll get him up and operational after the break, and then it might take him a little bit of full training before he steps on the field in a real game.
00:30:32
Speaker
Thanks. Jeremiah? You know, you kind of alluded to this a little bit, but as far as the offense goes, but, you know, you look at the the top paid players on the team and their goal and assist numbers. And I'm just curious if that's, if you're getting enough production out of your your top players right now.
00:30:54
Speaker
Well, Jeremiah, I don't know if you had a microphone in the locker room, because again, what I challenge the team with is that in that second half performance I needed one of those senior players, veteran players, if you want say the money guys has to step up and make a play, sure, we we need to score more goals. We've done a great job defensively and we need to you know, pick the pace up as far as scoring. But, you know, it's not just Jordan and it's not just Albert. It's got to be Jesus. It's got to be Paul Rothrock. It's got to be Snyder. It's got to be Jackson, the one, you know, look, he gets shoved over. He gets back up on his feet. But, you know, I've seen Jackson score from that position when the ball was recirculated on that on that on that one chance.
00:31:42
Speaker
So it's got to be everybody. I'm not going to just sit there and pick on one or two guys. It has to be a team effort.
00:31:51
Speaker
Alrighty, Jada, why don't you close us out? Thanks. This is a little bit, a you know, sharp turn here, but I wanted to see, Brian, if you could think of like the Sounders players in the past that have made World Cup rosters. If there's a, you know, a favorite of or a good game or a match or something like that, that you kind of think of, of a former Sounders player that, you know, kind of stands out as a cool World Cup moment for you.
00:32:19
Speaker
Well, we were, look, if I'm going back in my memory, Jada, i Jordan got to touch the field in Qatar. We had Clint Dempsey who played many, many, many big games for the United States. We've had international players that have played for their national teams in World Cup matches.
00:32:41
Speaker
So the history of the players on this franchise playing in World Cup, I'm sure if I thought about it, if I had my computer in front of me, I could i could get that list or the crack staff over here could give me an answer for you. But again, we've had some big players at the club.
00:32:57
Speaker
Some have played in World Cups, others have not. We've had a lot of success as a club. You know, we're going to, again, try and regroup both mentally and physically after this particular World Cup and come out again in the second half of the year against our arch rival.
Upcoming Match Against Portland Rival
00:33:15
Speaker
Couldn't Couldn't think of a better way to start the second half of the year than playing Portland. If the guys aren't up for that, then you know then I'm doing something wrong.
00:33:26
Speaker
All righty. Thank you, everybody. Coach, thanks for the time. They've traveled home. Enjoy the World Cup, and I hope Christian's on the team.
00:33:35
Speaker
Thank you, everybody, for joining us.
00:33:44
Speaker
All right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right. That was Brian Schmetzer saying to us Seattle fans, we need to score more to win.
00:33:57
Speaker
We need to score more to win, and we have heard that a few times now. But yeah, I mean, that's the truth. ah my My takeaways from from that press conference, and listen, guys, you know, I'm going to be honest. I was crashing out a little bit before I'd started this.
00:34:16
Speaker
And, you know, I'm coming down to earth. This is this is like the the working through the depressive states. You know, you start with the crash out. And then you go to the to the bargaining, and then, you know, we're going land on acceptance.
00:34:34
Speaker
um I just, you know, the one thing that irks me a little bit, because I do agree with the sentiment that Brian said about luck, right? Like sometimes in soccer, balls bounce your way and you're really lucky. Or sometimes you're super unlucky. That's like the beauty of the game.
00:34:58
Speaker
But also your team shouldn't have to rely on that luck to be getting results. So to say that on one hand, and then to also say, well, we need to score more. We need to be more goal dangerous to be able to convert our chances.
00:35:12
Speaker
That's those don't really, those don't really, yeah those don't really coexist to me as much. You know, I think someone said it in chat and I agree with it. It's like the Sounders are one inch away from, from tying that game.
00:35:27
Speaker
Yes, that's true. But I don't want to have to rely on that one inch. You know, I want that goal. The LAFC had not won at home in two months.
00:35:39
Speaker
LAFC was not a good team. The LAFC was reeling. Their fan base was incredibly upset. Hyunmin Sun has been vulnerable. in and Denny Bawanga, who has been one of the best players in Major League Soccer over the last...
00:35:56
Speaker
what, five years, has not looked exactly like himself this year. This is your opportunity to go down there and get your first ever win in their home. I mean, right before a World Cup sendoff, right before all of this, and it's like, yeah, i you know, did they defend well?
00:36:17
Speaker
Yes. I thought they looked really good defensively. That said, i don't think they looked good in attack. And you just, unfortunately, you need to make those opportunities count. You need to look good on the attack. You need to have a varied look other than, oh shit, blast that ball off to Paul Rothrock. Oh, play Jordan in behind. But he's a little, he's like half a step slow and Russnack's like...
00:36:50
Speaker
taking one too many touches and not being, it's just, it's discombobulated. And yeah, well, listen, I have my crutch here, Jeremiah. I invited him on. Are you ready to come on the stage?
00:37:04
Speaker
All right, Jeremiah Oshan of Sounder at Heart, who pays for this wonderful studio that we're sitting in. Well, I'm sitting in, not him.
00:37:14
Speaker
He also pays his rent, so technically he pays for both rooms that we're sitting in. But Jeremiah, how do you feel about this game? You know, i think in some ways there were...
00:37:25
Speaker
some I suppose, yeah i mean, I don't think the Sounders played badly. I thought they looked good in the second half, but, you know, I think Brian said it best. it Like, you can get frustrated over the goal they gave up.
00:37:36
Speaker
It was a tough goal to give up, but I think they they need to find a way to score in that, especially with the way that they were playing for the first 40 minutes of the second half. I mean, they were the better team, I thought, in the second half for the most part.
00:37:50
Speaker
They had three or four good looks, um and that they weren't able to convert any of them is is real problematic. you know I thought you know Jordan had one good look in the second half or in the first half.
00:38:03
Speaker
you know I thought he did well to create a couple other their chances in the second half. but they need someone to put the ball in the net. And, you know, I think the numbers just, you know, for a long time, I have argued that their goal scoring looks worse than it really is because of the, you know, you can't just look at the raw goals. You got to look at the, you know, goals per game, I think. And, but these last two games, you know,
00:38:29
Speaker
knocked them down the charts quite a bit and, and they're struggling to to find chances. I mean, not struggling to find chances. They're struggling just put the ball in the net. And I don't think it's as easy as like, Oh, they need a ah clinical number nine, but look, they went 13 games. They started the season 13 games without getting a single goal from a starting goalkeeper. That's a, problem I mean, starting a striker. That's a problem.
00:38:50
Speaker
ah You know, I think you can go down the list and every top paid player on the team is having a underwhelming, start to the season offensively. And that's, you know, that's bad. And you need, you know, it's like, it's great.
00:39:04
Speaker
Rothrock, I think has been off to a good start, but I mean, he didn't really get too involved in this game. But you just go through the whole attack. And I don't think that anyone has been really up to the standard that you would ask.
00:39:18
Speaker
You know, that question that you asked Brian about, are your highest paid players performing enough I mean, is that the reason? Like, where are we at? Because I feel like the beginning of this season, they were they were scoring, they were converting, and they were doing a lot of that on the back of not really their starting 11. Like, it was not necessarily, like, those high-paid guys. So, I don't know.
00:39:45
Speaker
the I think the the the community question to all of this is, like, Is it time to make some big moves in this summer and shake up the roster? I mean, i I would love to say, yeah, I mean, I don't think you would be, i think this would be an appropriate time to do that. You know, there's been, some people have expressed some frustration that we aren't, I guess, banging on tables and demanding that they do more with the, you know, with the assets that they have.
00:40:14
Speaker
My concern is that they need, at some point you need ownership to be, willing to spend money. And right now ownership does not seem willing to do that. And i don't put that on Craig. I think Craig is doing what he can.
00:40:27
Speaker
ah Craig Weibel is doing what he can to generate assets so that they can make moves without spending money. and man, they i mean, they really do need to, people are going to rightfully lose their minds if they spent the whole off season trading away pieces And then don't do anything to bring in reinforcements. Now, is is the difference between where they are right now and where they could be Georgie Manungu? I don't necessarily think so. Is it Reed Baker Whiting? Probably not. Is it Danny Leyva?
00:40:58
Speaker
Probably not. I mean, I wouldn't even say that. He looks good in Liga Mechies. He was by far the best player on that Nekoxa team this season. I mean, sure. And he had three, is he had two assists, three assists. That team though, I will say I watched all of their games. They were fucking abysmal. That is one of the worst clubs I've ever watched in my life.
00:41:15
Speaker
target but it it they think it's my le is they Is he going to be doing more than like, do we expect, would would we have expected him to outplay Snyder Brunel for time? um No, probably not. or nor ha use ferrera Right. we're We're talking about on the margins here. And so they, if they're going to make a move, they probably need to bring in a starting quality player. Someone who's going to,
00:41:36
Speaker
you know, force Paul Rothrock to be into a more of a ah backup role to, to push Jesus Ferrer, to push Albert Rusnak, to push Jordan Morris. yeah You know, they, they need someone to push these players to have to earn their time more than they have been.
00:41:52
Speaker
you know, i you know I hope that they they do it. It would help if they had a little bit more real cash to spend. i think there are viable ways where they could open up a DP spot if they were willing to spend the money to do it.
00:42:06
Speaker
I just don't know what I'm you know realistically, i don't I want to set expectations at the same time. Well, let's let's let's ah let's dabble in a little bit of the ah the fantasy for a minute. How would they open up that DP spot? What do you think they would look for?
00:42:22
Speaker
i mean, I think the the most straightforward way that they can open up a DP spot probably is signing Albert Rusnak to an extension where, you know, because he's got an option due next year. So it would seem pretty straightforward. to sign him to an extension that isn't for a DP spot.
00:42:39
Speaker
You open up a DP spot that way. You have to use some allocation money to to take him, you know, on him at that point. But then you have, you know, you have cash to spend ah on the market if you wanted to do that.
00:42:51
Speaker
You could potentially, I think you could probably extend, ah do this do something similar with Jordan or Pedro, although I don't know how much. Isn't Jordan already going to be... On a contract till he's like 37. Like how how much longer can you ever re-extend Jordan Morris? i mean, he's only signed through 2027.
00:43:10
Speaker
Only. Well, that's just next year. That's true. ah yeah' go be like i be a seven but i'm go be watch i don't I don't know that the math really works there anyway. But Pedro, I think if you signed him to an extension, you could probably get him off ah of a DP contract. But then you're and you're then you're committing to Pedro for a longer period of time.
00:43:28
Speaker
which you know and And I think there's there is something to be said that there's a world where Pedro comes back this summer, maybe not immediately after the World Cup, but shortly after the World Cup. And if he's able to return to the form that he was in before he got hurt,
00:43:43
Speaker
you know, that somewhat solves some of your problems, but I think that's ah a dumb, honestly, a dumb thing to rely on as your plan A. Yeah. I think you need to at least have, and and the thing is that I think we can sometimes get too focused on who is going to be your starters, but the reality is that you've,
00:44:02
Speaker
You just got bolster the roster. You need to bring in more talent to compete for more time and and let Brian figure out who's the starter, you know, but give them more talent to work with. They've got a lot of players who I think are good on the fringes, but like, you know, they haven't gotten enough out of Pauli or Areola. They haven't. You can just go down the list. i don't I don't know that there's a single offensive player aside from maybe Rothrock who you're getting a sufficient amount and amount of. And I think even with Rothrock, if you look at his per minute production, it's probably not what you want out of a starter.
00:44:36
Speaker
It's evened out. It's evened out, especially over the last like four games. It feels like he's, right he's, he seems like his role is kind of like exhausting him. Like he's not necessarily playing that super sub role. He's not necessarily getting at all. He's not, he's not asked to be a super sub. He's, He's starting, and he's... I mean, I don't know that he was involved in a single good chance in this game. I'm trying to think. Maybe he had a cross that was... Did he have the cross to Reagan that he missed?
00:45:08
Speaker
Okay, so he had... that He was fine on... he But he had... Dude, he he had Let's see here. He had 27 touches. Yeah, I mean, that's not that's not enough for... i mean, it's one thing if he's stretching the field and, ah you know, like if there's I'm not saying it's it's not as easy as like, well, how many touches did he get? was he But he he wasn't involved enough. He wasn't stretching the field. He wasn't able to get, and that's not necessarily on him,
00:45:33
Speaker
ah but I mean, I was not worried about Albert Risenak a few weeks ago. I'm more worried about him now. I wasn't worried about Jesus Ferreira a few weeks ago. I'm more worried about him now. I wasn't worried, you know. I'm not as worried about Jesus. Like, I feel like for me, Jesus has looked more goal dangerous. He played well in this match to to my for my...
00:45:57
Speaker
I mean, I'm not looking at this. I haven't looked at his numbers from this game. I'm basing this on an eye test, but like, I thought he was putting in the work defensively being kind of a more like, like,
00:46:09
Speaker
what you want out of a sounders player like paul rothrock-esque or like a you know someone who's just running and going for it i mean he had a lot of you know times where he kind of dove in and in one challenges that no one else was really going for well um i mean i will even say i don't even it's not even this i actually i wasn't super frustrated with any one player's performance in this game I think that the Galaxy game was more frustrating.
00:46:38
Speaker
i think those drop points to Sporting Kansas City ah look a lot more frustrating right now. sure i mean, I just think, you know, you look at the table and the Sounders just aren't where you would think they should be after the start of the season that they had.
00:46:52
Speaker
And, and I think you just have to sort of look at everybody. And it's not that they're not trying, you know, I saw someone was really upset about Jordan Morris's defense in this game. And it's like, man, he also created three of the best chance, you know, he was involved in three of their best chances. So look, I mean, I,
00:47:10
Speaker
I don't want to beat anyone up for this game necessarily. I just think on the whole, they need to bring in, they need more talent and they need the players that are here to perform better. i mean, I just, there's a lot of reason to be frustrated. I think not so much at this game, but just at the last, you know, the, the body of work, the last five games where they only claimed five points from their last five games, which isn't enough.
00:47:34
Speaker
Yeah, i have i have two I have two more here and then I can let you go or you can stay on up to you. But my I do want to pick on one player ah because I think, you know, it's ah it's a community talking point.
00:47:47
Speaker
But Jordan Morris in this game, I think a lot of people didn't like the way he was playing. They didn't like his output. I don't know if that's based on a statistical reality or him not him being dangerous. They just don't like.
00:48:04
Speaker
Him at the nine, they they they feel like he's sluggish. He's not able to finish those chances. I think the one of their prime examples or an example that I can think of is he's one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and all he really needs to do is lift that ball off the turf, and that's going in the back of the net, like actually get the chip off. He's not able to do it. The goalkeeper does come out and make a pretty good save, but it's like i mean someone who...
00:48:25
Speaker
He feels he is. It's not a feeling. He is a step slower than he used to be. He is not the same Jordan Morris. And I don't feel like he's necessarily adapted his game to that yet.
00:48:38
Speaker
And maybe that comes with taking more time in the number nine position. But I don't know. Where where are you landing on Jordan Morris right now? I mean, like I said, i think he I think if you look at it, he was probably involved in at least... No, he was involved in in probably three of their best chances in this game.
00:48:58
Speaker
So he certainly wasn't the biggest problem. I think it's fair to be frustrated at the number nine production as a whole, and he is absolutely part of that.
00:49:09
Speaker
ah I didn't really... And I think similarly to the the chance that he had against... ah was it the, thing I guess it was san Jose that he had the chance saved. I mean, he's, i mean, look, he's, he's getting himself into dangerous positions still, but look, if he's going to be your starting nine, you need more production than one goal. That's,
00:49:35
Speaker
I mean, that's that's it and it. And so it's like if they want to go out and sign another number nine, I think it makes sense. I've also heard the argument that the money would be better spent going out and signing a dynamic winger. And i I think that's a fair a fair point.
00:49:51
Speaker
ah I just, I mean, I do think that they need to get more production out of the players that they have. I don't have the magic wand to do it. The easiest thing to do is to say,
00:50:02
Speaker
They should sign more players. And so maybe that's what I'm defaulting to. But I guess what I'm saying is I i think people have a ah right to feel frustrated. And it's very easy and not wrong to look at the lack of spending and be frustrated at that. Because seemingly there's money out there to spend and they just need to go spend it.
00:50:25
Speaker
I think that also we can look at in this same same place. LAFC fans are fucking pissed off at Sun. Sun hasn't scored a goal, and they' they're like, I don't care that he's scored 27 assists. It doesn't matter. like There's a whole lot of people who are... then There's a whole lot more money being spent on even less productive...
00:50:46
Speaker
strong I mean, I still think, I don't think it's a bad roster ah at all. I mean, I think that, but I do think it's fair to look at whatever their top five paid attacking players and recognize that not a single one of them is having what would be deemed a good season.
00:51:03
Speaker
No. And I don't think, I think that that seems pretty predictable when you looked at the roster from coming into this season, you were like, okay, you have a coming off of an injury. Jordan Morris, who's another year older. You have Danny Musavsky who it's questionable if he can replicate exactly what he did last year, which just seems so incomprehensible to completely replicate. And then you have De Rosario who, while we've seen flashes, it hasn't been consistent. You know, I think, I think it's a situation have an obvious starting number nine. I think that's no, say Yeah, 100%. All right. Well, this is my this is my last question, and I can let you go and write your recap because I'm sure that the Sounder at Heart Nation needs to hear but those pontifications. Which, guys, listen, if you're not subscribed to Sounder at Heart,
00:51:51
Speaker
sounder at heart.com slash ls go there you can get i think it's a free month or 10 i don't i don't know what the discount is but it's great we love sounder at heart because they let us bum in their studio we literally sometimes let's just sleep here guys when my girlfriend kicks me out of the house she's like go go go sleep on the sounder couch just kidding uh but yeah go check it out sounder heart go subscribe we love them Final question here. I've been pontificating on this Jeremiah because I just watched one of the most MLS matches of all time. ah Inner Miami versus Philadelphia Union, which was a I believe that game ended 27 to 35. so um yeah yeah so
00:52:35
Speaker
Here my take here. If the Sounders, if the Seattle Sounders in their roster, in their form, were in the Eastern Conference, they would be in second place easily.
00:52:47
Speaker
There is a shitload of terrible teams. I mean, just a shitload of terrible teams in the East, a lack of defense across the board. It is truly a heartbreaking situation to just how strong the West is that I think this Sounders team,
00:53:06
Speaker
is better than they're showing. Obviously, they're not performing to what they should be, but I also don't think in the grand scheme of MLS, they're still probably a top five team.
00:53:19
Speaker
Are you asking me if I agree? Yeah, yeah. What's your words? Do you agree? Like if they're in the East, they'd be they'd they will be looking a lot better? i mean, I think they'd be looking... ah i i feel like they match up well with everyone in the East.
00:53:32
Speaker
period i I don't think that there's anyone in the West. I mean, the funny thing is that for all the frustrating results and where they are, I mean, the Sounders are four and O against the top two teams in the West.
00:53:45
Speaker
And they looked good in this game. They looked like they could have won. It's a frustrating answer, but its it is true. i mean Brian said this in the press conference. like The margins in this league are really small. In the early part of the season, we were on the plus side of those margins.
00:54:01
Speaker
And for the last five games, we haven't been. And that's frustrating, but we got to figure out how to just sort of like make that slight adjustment to get on the other side. And that's a really unsatisfying answer.
00:54:13
Speaker
No one wants to hear like, we just got to be 5% better. i mean, this is like this kind of stuff that Mariners fans have been losing their minds over for 20 years, but it is, there is truth to it.
00:54:26
Speaker
I don't, I don't love saying it, but there is some truth to it. And you know, what are you going What are you going to do? Jeremiah, thank you for popping on. I'm going to take some calls now.
00:54:39
Speaker
I'll see you tomorrow. ah But everyone, Jeremiah Oshan, Sounder at Heart. Bye. Okay. I'm dropping the call link in, guys. Let's get these calls going. We're about an hour in, so we're going to do them quick. We're going to get through them.
00:54:54
Speaker
Tap the phone lines. the The link is in the chat. We are pinning it right now. We will take your calls. 1-800-LOBBBING SCORCHERS. not actually We should get that phone number. does that Is that enough?
00:55:09
Speaker
does that Is that how it, you know what I'm saying? Number-wise, does that work? I'm not sure. Oh, they're filing in. They are absolutely filing in.
00:55:19
Speaker
Look at us go. Look at us go. All right. Hey, Seuss. I see you I see Caleb, Sticks, Timbo, James. All right. Hey, Seuss. You don't have your camera on and your mic is muted. So let me know if you're ready. to Okay. You unmuted here.
00:55:39
Speaker
We'll add you on the stage. Hey, Seuss. How are we doing? I'm just... frustration and um this probably practically i think one of the worst offensive showings i've ever seen um i was at that san diego game a few weeks ago and i had good seats but the offense was not showing at all and that's all i have to say That's it.
00:56:04
Speaker
Nothing more. just just i got i got something else to say. We need a false nine, and that's what we truly need. Who would play that false nine for you?
00:56:17
Speaker
i'm Like a really DS type player. Like a player who's hungry to score more goals. Like like ah more of a more of a guy who's going to sit there, kind of just find the right moments and pounce. Good on the ball. Lethal striker. Something like that.
00:56:32
Speaker
Yeah, like I still remember that goal against Toronto FC, I think was like the chip shot over that yeah goalkeeper like that was practically one of my favorite goals. And I was like, I think the goal I screamed the most and then obviously the one in CONCACAF, which is still one of my favorites. And then obviously, he's like, I think the second top goal scorer in the club and one of my favorite players.
00:56:55
Speaker
That's I mean, listen, if we could find another Rui Diaz, I think that would be amazing. I don't know how much this club is ah willing to spend transfer fees nowadays, but maybe maybe we can get like a yeah a free agent from MLS or something. Does that satisfy you?
00:57:14
Speaker
Yeah, it satisfies me. But the only part, like, I think a Wilford Zaha type player, like two. Yeah, saw some people saying that. What do you think? Would you would you want to crash out Snapchat legend Wilford Zaha at Seattle Sounders?
00:57:29
Speaker
Of course, I would love to have Wilford Zaha on the team. And I know he is well known for being the crash out on Snapchat, which I saw the Snapchat actually, and I just found absolutely hilarious.
00:57:40
Speaker
I mean, I love him. I feel like he should have a podcast. Like, I think yeah he should podcast with me. That would be the greatest day of my life. It would. And if you bring, like, other Sounders Legends onto to that onto the podcast, it would be greater, too.
00:57:53
Speaker
Like Brad Evans or any. yeah Or, like, Freddie Montero. would be dope. Exactly. All right, Jesus. Anything to close it out? Any final thoughts? Win or lose, win or draw, sounders till I die. We'll always be there at Lumen regardless to support. There we go.
00:58:10
Speaker
Yes, sir. All right. Thank you for having me on here. And hope one day we get to meet up at Lumen. There we go, man. If you ever see me, say what's up. All right. have Thank you, Jesus, for calling in. Next up, we got Caleb. I see him.
00:58:24
Speaker
Is he ready? All right. He's ready to go. All right. Caleb, how are we doing, my friend? Ladies and gentlemen, um if you haven't yet liked the video, comment, share, subscribe.
00:58:40
Speaker
i big You'll have your QED coffee morning show with Nico and Ari discussing this particular matchup. And ladies and gentlemen, just like, you know, yeah, just all around, like, you know, just, just get into the sounder and hard content. There's content dead for days.
00:58:58
Speaker
this stuff We don't even pay him for that, folks. We don't even pay him for that. um But now that i got that out of the way, um i mean, I watched the game.
00:59:11
Speaker
It was very just, yeah, nobody stepped up. everybody like was Everybody was And I really look at Craig.
00:59:23
Speaker
I mean, as much as I was listening to so much ah media about John Thorrington and Thorrington and Thorrington and Thorrington this and Thorrington out and Thorrington this. And i'm like, why why isn't Craig getting any of these kind of like this kind of heat?
00:59:41
Speaker
And it's just a respect. And yeah I'm just coming at this service as in a respectful perspective. So. No, i I hear you. You know, I know that's been not just your perspective. There's definitely been other people's perspectives that feel that way. Question to you, I think, is do you believe that it's more on the ownership's unwillingness to spend money or it's more on Craig? Because like my perspective, I feel like Craig is...
01:00:14
Speaker
locked in to whatever amount of money he can spend. It's like, you know, whatever budget he has, he has to follow and he can't really deviate on that.
01:00:25
Speaker
And I feel like sometimes that can make him look worse or better or whatever, however way you want to categorize him, that sometimes it might have more to do with ownership. So are you still pinning it fully on Craig or do you do you also feel that the ownership has some accountability to that?
01:00:43
Speaker
ah There is respectfully both. um I think, but but to for me, if there's a little bit more on Craig because of how I've um seen his past work, especially against a former club ah that he's worked at. So,
01:01:03
Speaker
it's It really just really opens up the gap of just like, dude, like, like you know, like, dude,
01:01:14
Speaker
Like, you know, you you're doing it again. like you know, like if everybody ah if you haven't seen that new movie obsession with the no, no, no, no. Don't do that.
01:01:27
Speaker
you Don't do that. And that's that's what I'm doing. That's that's how I feel like when I'm watching the game now these days, because I'm like, Craig, don't do that. You're doing RSL 2.0 things again. Like you're doing it again, Craig.
01:01:41
Speaker
like and Like, you need to stop it. But, you know, like, what what what can I do? I have no, I can't, you know. But like I think, you know, there was, that I think, yes, Schneider Brunel, he played very well.
01:01:55
Speaker
He was hungry on the field. um And again, to answer your question, like I said, I think it's, for me, it's 65% Craig, the rest is ownership because the ownership, they definitely have to take accountability into wanting to find something because ah if you, and since we're all talking about Moneyball, like I said before,
01:02:18
Speaker
um do you remember when everybody was talking about when uh in the movie about jason giambi mean you know how jason giambi was such a was such a big thing and that was such a big thing of getting gutted that was chris henderson that was our jason giambi and his brother sean henderson is the jeremy giambi and i don't like and any of that because it's just like look yeah you're money balling this like like sean like what are you doing for these people to sleep at night because what are we looking at like what what are we looking at like what are we scouting like what are we like seeing that's making this thing right here want people to come
01:03:10
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I think they are scouting pretty well amongst the youth ranks. You know, I think you can, ah we can, we can hang our hat on the fact that we've developed some incredible players, including Sider Bruno, who you just mentioned. And I think the next thing I want to ask you about here is, sorry, I'm doing rapid fire today. Cause I,
01:03:27
Speaker
i want to go of course of course of course but uh what i want what ah my final question to you is this match how does it how is it sitting with you in the grander scale what do you want to see when the sounders come back out of this multi-week break for the world cup well i would like to say well if you if anybody's ever watched the movie cool runnings i'm gonna just quote you know one of the like you know like the they did the head coach for the bobsled team you choked gentlemen like they they they the they like the the the dog was there to be put down and you choked like you had the chance to literally
01:04:14
Speaker
poet this like you know like you know put put put the fist like you know to to to to the to to the anime of like slow motion that and then that like you know whatever and to like you know literally put the dog down of lafc but you just didn't do that and you need to really look at what like this method of why we're doing things of, of, of wanting to win again.
01:04:43
Speaker
That's, that's, that's ah out of respect to that. And we need now it's literally, we need to get all eyes on Phillip and George now because George is going to be a ah big fricking thing coming back like to like you know, like for, like for us, like coming into this, like, you know, the the second wave of the season.
01:05:06
Speaker
Because we got to win George. Like, I don't care. we need to show dominance. We need to just show that, hey, maybe this is just maybe we just needed a break because now every point is precious.
01:05:20
Speaker
And if we really want to have an absolute celebration in the Emerald City, we need to get this one done against Portscombe.
01:05:32
Speaker
I agree. We got to take out Portscom. I think that's going to be a good match to come back on. And we look forward to seeing you back for that post-match after hopefully a ah happy one.
01:05:46
Speaker
Thank you so much, my boy Sticks. And ah but ah ah before it before anything... or finish Final word. Go for it. Go for it. My final word, ladies and gentlemen, the reason why I'm not behind drum kit is because I've just I've taken it down because now I'm getting ready for the absolute amazing travel because there is going to be in June 6th. I will be in city of Ballard.
01:06:19
Speaker
and i will be there for the grand double header with salmon bay fc and ballard fc and against the and against the arch rivals of a double header so please ladies and gentlemen get your tickets and come out to see one of the grandest games for local soccer if you can't afford ah like in a world cup tickets just come see come see a ballad fc game so there you go like and i will be there I agree. All right. Thank you so much. We're going to keep her pushing. go to a Ballard game. Ballard rocks. go to Go to support your local soccer team. It's way cheaper than going to a World Cup game. And um dude, you can still get like a dollar hot dog. It's sick. have you where Where do you see a dollar hot dog anymore? God, this the game has been gone, but not for local soccer. All right. Timbo, I see you. Are you ready to go?
01:07:15
Speaker
Beautiful. Timbo, how are we to Whoa. That's like, ah that's, i feel feel like I was just jump scared there. Happy happy World Cup, everybody. Yeah, seriously. Why don't why don't you fill those in ah who do not know what's happening behind you? What what is? This is Diego Madrana losing his absolute mind on various substances after scoring a goal. and Allegedly. Allegedly. no he didn't pass the P test, but but there's a whole thing it. but they could have alleged. Allegedly.
01:07:44
Speaker
You know, we're journalists here. Everything is alleged. But but the one of the last goals he scored in his career, you can kind of tell he's he's lit. That's kind of how I was crashing out tonight watching that 87th minute goal.
01:07:59
Speaker
Yeah, so ah lit scale. ah you you were You were up here. You were you were exceeding the the the frame that I have. You were exceeding it.
01:08:10
Speaker
What was so tilting to you? Yeah, and and I think the biggest thing that was kind of kind of set me further in this kind of mode was watching the the hostage video with the kids, with with Tino and and Snyder, who I think played excellent game with the time that they had on the field.
01:08:32
Speaker
Why the heck aren't our DPs taking questions? Why isn't the captain of this team taking the question? Who's who's going to get on this roster, allegedly? which he's going to make that roster. and We can go to Diego Luna and the craziness from the weekend, but maybe that's for another day.
01:08:48
Speaker
um we will have to do a World Cup show here soon. I just think the fact that, you know, okay, if you don't get, if you if JMO doesn't want to do it if Al doesn't want to do it, if Chris doesn't want to do it, how about Jesus?
01:09:00
Speaker
How about Nuhu? These guys who have shown leadership this year who are leading components of the squad who, i don't know, i'd like I'd like some accountability and not having to throw the... kids who who aren't getting paid nearly as, you know, heck, Paul Areola. He's getting paid worth it to answer some questions. Why don't we put him on, you know, on the mic?
01:09:22
Speaker
it is always a tough It is always a tough decision. i think Because like I will say this. like Normally at home, when win, loss, or draw, we kind of get who we want.
01:09:36
Speaker
We kind of get to pick and choose as journalists. And also, it's an open locker room, so we can go and talk to other people, which is often like that's what I'm usually doing when Ari's streaming and I'm not there. I'm in the locker room.
01:09:47
Speaker
There's normal press conferences. I'm doing my side chats, getting rapport built, but also like getting some inside details. So it's always tough on and ah on an away game. But I will say, yeah, when you send the kids out for the hostage video, it's... This team categorically... It's really wrong. Like you said, they were the two who looked like they came on and were trying to do everything they could to provide that spark.
01:10:14
Speaker
And I don't think that they owe anybody anything for what they're putting, you know, what we what what we expect from these young kids coming. I think it's all upside, right? For the most part, we get these young kids coming on and they do really well or they perform at a level. We've had plenty of kids do that. Now, these these other guys i've I've talked about, though, have been...
01:10:33
Speaker
in leadership on other teams i've been captain of other teams like who is leading this squad from the player perspective right now because i don't see it i don't see anybody leading the squad and going hey i put this on my back for a little bit for a few games let's go yeah And I just don't i don't see that in that squad. I don't know if if you have somebody that you're thinking of that you may not want to talk em about. you know there's No, i think I don't think that's wrong. I think it's ah a situation where that locker room is such a committee.
01:11:02
Speaker
like It's such a situation where, as as i mean, I guess it's funny because Brian Schmetzer is sitting there being like, Oh, you know, striker by committee. Well, it does feel often like, you know, this group of players has been together so long. There isn't one guy, you know, I think I'm good with the striker with committee thing, but I'm expecting maybe one of my midfielders comes up and says, hey like, like we had with, with Nico Ladero at times, so you know, like, Hey, this, this is my spot. I mean, Nico, Nico demanded, demanded accountability from every player on the field. And if you weren't running, he was going to, he was going to beat your ass like a drum. And and I do think that the the Sounders do lack that they lack that senior play. Like Jordan has never really had to do that.
01:11:48
Speaker
And I don't think he's necessarily built like that. I think Christian is like that to an extent, um but he's also not that guy who's going to really super get on your ass. Funny enough, I feel like Snyder Brunel is like slowly becoming that player. And i think I think it's funny because he's young, but also that is that's that's a personality thing. like I think a lot of different players, so some players really just want to be super vocal. They really want to demand more from their team because they want that for themselves as well. Do you think we can go shop for that player, though, too, at the same time?
01:12:28
Speaker
even if it's not a huge money. It's hard to, I think this is where it's a challenge. I don't disagree with you. I think that's definitely possible and it's definitely something you can do, but you're also in a situation where Brian Schmetzer feels as though this is the closest locker room he's ever had and the best locker room he's ever had, which he did say last year as well. But I do, I do see what he's saying. Throwing someone like that into the mix is,
01:12:52
Speaker
can cause some jostling, especially when you've had just such long tenured players here. um I think it's kind of similar to what our ah Ari always says. And like, God, I wish we had a player with some bite, right? Like I wish we had like just some attitude player. And it just feels like that's not the culture of this locker room right now. And if you threw someone in there who was like that,
01:13:15
Speaker
I don't know how that would go. I'm not saying that's the wrong decision or that they couldn't do it. It's just, yeah, I don't know. I don't know. We're talking about 5% in the margin stuff. And that's the difference maker right now. I think if we're not, we're not going go spend money, which doesn't seem like the club is, is going to do. and I don't, I don't think this falls on Craig either, by the way. I just, for everybody who's, who's talking Craig, Craig out tonight, the guy went won a one silverware last year for, for this club putting together He's won silverware since Garth left. Like, yeah it is what it is.
01:13:47
Speaker
Like, we we, as pissed off as everybody might be going in this five game stretch, we've had pretty good last five years. Sure. For this club. Yeah, I guess my my my question to you, ah coming out after this break, what do you want to see? Is it a signing? Is it multiple signings? Is it just like a change in play style? What what do you want? but i don't Before anything else, I want Portland to come to our house and I want to score a shit ton of goals on that team. Before anything, before, you know, what you want to talk about big signings or whatever, all that stuff.
01:14:22
Speaker
can wait. The focus now needs to be on making sure Portland doesn't come in and and embarrass us like l LA Galaxy did. like I wouldn't say LAFC embarrassed us tonight, but they we have the opportunity there to embarrass them in their house before they have to go think on a break, like 18 days off right now is going to be real rough for any squad.
01:14:43
Speaker
And I would, you know, the people who are going to come out to there's, there's a bunch of the young guys who have signed up to play for defiance. Those are the guys I want to look for as kind of a future that want to either crack in or, or do things. So those, those games will happen over, over the break and,
01:15:02
Speaker
We'll see. I mean, it just seems like we're only going to see Christian for the next two months and and that's great. But um on that road to the World Cup final where ah a cross gets blasted in and Diego Luna heads the game winner, Christian Roldan will be on that field with them. yeah um Yeah. ah Anything final notes before I let you go here, Timbo? Yeah.
01:15:32
Speaker
No, fuck the... No, I got to fuck the Timbers. Fuck the tabmboo Timbers. Fuck the Timbers. We appreciate you, Timbo, and we will see you in... and I don't know. i don't know. Maybe we'll do a call-in show for the World Cup, but at least two months or seven months or however long the damn break is. We'll see you later, man. The World Cup is happening. that's i don't even I don't even know. All right, James, my man.
01:15:56
Speaker
How are you? I see you. Oh, you ready? There you go. Are you ready to go? Okay. You look good. You look good. There we go. Welcome in James with the, that's Bolton, right? Bolton wanderers.
01:16:08
Speaker
It is, uh, they've been my team for over 20 years and they just won the league one playoff final this morning.
Comparing MLS and English Soccer
01:16:14
Speaker
i was up at 5.00 AM to watch that. It was incredible. Or no, no way. No, who, who'd they be? Who'd they be? do work don Okay. Yeah. so in The championship, right?
01:16:24
Speaker
Yes, that's right. they're They're going up to the Premier League. We won four to one including a bicycle kick to make it three one Needless to say, that game was a little bit more entertaining than the Sounders game.
01:16:38
Speaker
I'm going to have to go and watch those highlights after this just as a detox. so Yeah, well, you know, the the mistake I made was watching English soccer before watching MLS this morning because obviously League One does not have anybody of the caliber of a Sun or a Buonga. But everything was just so much faster, so much more physical.
01:16:58
Speaker
yeah um So you don't need to spend a lot of money to get that. And that was one of the things that I thought really brought us down in this game. ah you know At one point, about 30 minutes in, the commentator says, nobody in Seattle's moving.
01:17:10
Speaker
um you know we have we When we got spells of possession, it was just so static. And I just can't quite understand that. You know, i've I watched Tottenham Everton trying to get a generational
Criticism of High-Earning Players and Accountability
01:17:23
Speaker
hate watch going. No such luck.
01:17:25
Speaker
um And, you know, those guys are 40, 50 games into the season, and they're they're just running so much more than our guys who are halfway through the season.
01:17:36
Speaker
I did notice that today. Yeah. i did notice that today yeah Lazy? i just don't... Yeah. i Lazy? i mean, I just don't know why everybody's so tired.
01:17:48
Speaker
I mean, i sort I take that back. I sort of do, because I thought, um you know, New Who looked a lot less composed. I don't think he had a bad game by any means, but there were certainly more occasions where I'm like, that was sloppy. Like, he's just he's just kicking it out of bounds when normally he would do something with it. yeah um But what do you expect when the guys played virtually every minute of of the season? Correct.
01:18:12
Speaker
Christian, kind of the same way. you know he's He's kind of in the dregs. He's not producing what we know he can. um But like we were saying, and like Schmetzer sort of mentioned in his press conference, a lot of this does come out on the big money guys.
01:18:28
Speaker
And it it annoys me a little bit that Schmetzer's saying, you know like, yeah, I told the the the high earners that they need to do more. Well, then bench them. you know but Throw them out for the hostage negotiation video. You know, send Rusnak and Morris out there and make them explain why they were so bad. ah You know, we neither guy does much anything in the game, and they're still out there in the 90th minute when we're chasing a goal. Send a message.
01:18:54
Speaker
If you're not getting enough out of them, then make them answer for it.
01:19:01
Speaker
I think that's... I do i do agree with you. like you you they they should They should have sent those guys out there. I don't know whose decision that is. i don't know the inner working, so I can't really comment on that. But like it did feel like, what the what the fuck? I mean, you guys saw my live reaction. like That was a probably a little bit too unfiltered moment for me there. But, you know, it's like, man, what... like what are we doing? Like, let's, it's the last game before a two month break. These guys can take a little bit of heat, you know? Like, I think that's, that's actually probably good for you. Like, you know, you're in a situation where you're telling me that,
01:19:41
Speaker
we need to score more goals to win. Well, okay. Like let's, let's, I mean, you're saying that in the locker room and you're saying that these players need to produce more, but yeah, I don't really know what message you're sending. If you're like, all right, like, we'll just just go take 18 days and figure it out, you know?
01:20:01
Speaker
Also, Brian seems to not be very happy with the ah union mandated break, which I think is really funny to me. that yeah if i If I could weigh in on the Weibel versus ownership discussion that was coming. absolutely obviously it's it's Obviously, it's not ideal to not have the kind of money to get, you know certainly not a son, but not even ah a Rui Diaz or Ladero. But, you know, he has spent money. You know, he got he was reported as being the driving factor behind Leo Chu, which was a bust.
Recruitment Strategy Critique
01:20:32
Speaker
He got seven million dollars spent on Pedro de la Vega, which ah was, you know, the guy came in injured. He had an ACL tear in the past that hasn't really worked out except for a few magical months during League's Cup.
01:20:45
Speaker
um And he had money for a U-22 summer. You know, we were looking at people, we were making offers, but he was shopping in Europe.
01:20:56
Speaker
He was shopping for a Netherlands U21 international and a guy who is essentially owned by Chelsea instead of shopping in Eastern Europe, South America.
01:21:08
Speaker
So that's that's on him. I mean, him targeting the wrong players is not ownership's fault. And then you add into all that, all these guys on on fairly big and MLS contracts like Areola, who's never fit,
01:21:22
Speaker
Dotson, who has been bad. um Kent didn't work out. I don't think that the extension for Mussofsky at $700,000 a year made any sense.
01:21:33
Speaker
And so if you're going to be ah broke, you need to be a little bit creative. You can't do things like sign Jesus Ferreira for a metric ton of Garber bucks and then also bring back Rusnak to take the position that Jesus Ferreira should be in.
01:21:49
Speaker
I think we need to go out and do essentially what Vancouver did there. You know, their, their GM is like a 32 year old or something, you know, get somebody who's young, who's got new ideas, ah who who's going to work really hard because I don't feel like Weibel does much more than, than look at the MLS who's on the trade block and and who's a free agent. So if if you're going to be broke, you've got to be creative.
01:22:15
Speaker
And if we if the problem is that we can't ah spend enough money on the roster, ah you said it yourself. We need to get these ah silver spoon fed fail sons who inherited all their money out of MLS.
01:22:31
Speaker
Hey, i listen, i you know me. I hate a fail, son. So, ah listen, i think i think there is definitely some very fair criticism that Craig Weibel needs to face.
01:22:43
Speaker
And I've lodged some as well. I mean, I think the Pedro signing was like a – it was a gamble, right? Like, I think we can all say that, like, if the Pedro signing works out, we're not talking about that.
01:22:57
Speaker
I do think that the Jesus Ferreira trade was a really good deal. Maybe it's dinged a little bit by the Paul Oriola add-on. Maybe that's a little bit getting a little too greedy on that situation. But again, you know, we've, we've yet to see what's going on there.
01:23:14
Speaker
And, you know, I mean, i guess, I guess you can, Paul Rothrock kind of falls into his lap. The Leo Chute thing is bad. The, you know, there, I do think there are a lot of,
01:23:28
Speaker
good things that he's done. I think there's a lot of questionable things that he's done. And I do think there's a lot of worse GMs in the league, but I think it's fair to sit here and criticize and say, well, look at what Vancouver's doing or look at what, you know, whatever. But also I don't think this ownership group has any interest in paying. I don't actually, what is Thomas Muller making? I don't even know.
01:23:48
Speaker
Like 4 million. but Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, which I, Sure, you don't need that. They have Sebastian Berhalter and Brian White and all of these like very talented guys. i think i think um I think what is truly, to me, the look in the mirror moment is like there is a culture at the Sounders of respecting the players who play for you, and I think that that handicaps them sometimes. right like There's players who...
01:24:18
Speaker
if I like them or I don't like them or whatever, they've been here a long time. And so like, we're going to try and respect them. It helps a lot with recruiting players to come here, but I think it also on the backend can hurt you, right? Like with, you know, a Jordan Morris contractor or whatever it is, right?
01:24:37
Speaker
ah Well, there's with the jordan everybody, everybody shits on the Jordan Morris DP escalator thing. And the way I always look at it is it's not,
01:24:48
Speaker
I assume that Weibel knew that they were not going to spend money on a top DP, so it didn't matter. You know, it's, I don't believe it's a situation where it's like, oh my God, if he hadn't put that escalator in there, or if Morris had scored three fewer goals, we would have gone out and signed Lewandowski or Griezmann.
01:25:07
Speaker
I don't think that's the case. But... Again, that's a situation where you need to be more imaginative.
Roster Management and Player Performance
01:25:14
Speaker
yeah And you say, all right, well, all right we're we're not going to get a slam dunk guy.
01:25:19
Speaker
You know, we're going to find maybe a guy who's a little bit older, free agent Europe, was willing to come for a lower DP contract or... Christian Espinosa was right there as a free transfer and he's been pretty darn good for a very good the Nashville team. God damn it, James. You know how much I love Christian Espinosa. You can't use him against me. You're making good point here. That guy's the good point here that guy's the most Schmetzer player who's never played for Schmetzer.
01:25:47
Speaker
i mean, he works hard on defense. He's creative on offense and he was right there for free. You know, you could have, Like you said, we we hang on to people too long. If you had just left the DP spot open, and if you had just not renewed Rusnak last year and you bring Jesus in, then you got a spot for haes ah for ah Christian Espinosa.
01:26:08
Speaker
There's things you can do to get rid of people. You can trade Rusnak and pay part of his salary. You can send him to a team that's more at his level, like a Montreal or a Union Omaha. and just pay part of his salary to get him off the books. I mean, he's been one of the most productive DPs in Sounders. All right, that was a troll comment. I can see that was a troll comment. I honestly think he'd be better at it.
01:26:30
Speaker
It was a good bait. I think... he How do you feel about this? How do you feel about this? If the Sounders... This is what Jeremiah was suggesting, right? The Sounders go, and they go to Roosanac and say, listen...
01:26:42
Speaker
we are gonna We'll extend you, but you're going to be Tam. you're gonna you're You're no longer a DP. We open up a DP spot in this summer. And they signed some. Whatever. I don't i don't i don't even want to talk about what they do with the DP spot.
Rusnak's Contract Debate
01:26:55
Speaker
But to open up that DP spot and they extend Rusnak. Because they could essentially do that, right? Like they could say, okay, you're obviously aging into this time where like you're...
01:27:08
Speaker
e who knows what's going to happen. But if you want to stay at this team, if you like Seattle, if you like what's going on here, you can play, but you got to take a pay cut. Yeah, no, because I just don't think he makes the team better. I think, I think the team is better out there with Jesus at the number 10. And so I don't know why you would exhaust Tam on a guy who's let's be honest. He's pretty much just out there for set pieces at this point. You know, he's, was looking up the stats on foot mob. He's something like 50th in the league in, in expected assists.
01:27:39
Speaker
53rd expected assist per 90. The production just isn't there. um and And so I just, I don't know why you would extend somebody who really just isn't making the team better. I mean, then you're just digging yourself another Tam pit.
01:27:52
Speaker
So no, I would, I do not think that would be the right thing to do. I think, I really think that, you know, he's not a Sounders DP. He's not a guy who who has ever delivered in the playoffs in his 10 year MLS career. I really think he's more suited to a team like a Kansas city where it's,
01:28:11
Speaker
okay, he's not going to do anything for you for the playoffs, but if he you know if he if he does his is a sit yeah if he gets his corner assists and his penalty kicks in the regular season, maybe that's what gets you into ninth or eighth place. I mean, that's just a better level for him.
01:28:26
Speaker
Somebody should be willing to take him if we're willing to pay part of his salary, and then you clear up a D-P spot and you can try to find a free agent in Europe. Well, We will see what they will do, if they will do anything at all this summer. James, to close it out here with our conversation, any final thoughts?
01:28:44
Speaker
Nope. Thank you very much for having me, and come on, Bolton. As always, have a good one, James. All right. Kenny, I see you. ah You're unmuted, but I don't see any camera, so I'm going to... Oh, there we go. Here we go.
01:28:59
Speaker
Yo. No camera. Okay, you're good. Alright, I hear you too. Alright, what's up, buddy? How are ya? How's life? How are we feeling? i've been I've been better. I mean, life's great. I'm winning all the time, except for my Sounders fandom right now.
01:29:16
Speaker
ah No, I mean, shit. I mean, fucking Getting tired of winning, folks. Yeah, yeah. yeah um Yeah, no, I fucking hate Chivas USA. they're They're why I got my Sounders hat after we beat them in the playoffs.
01:29:32
Speaker
And, I mean, fuck, how do I follow up all these callers? Y'all y'all been cooking tonight. I mean, I don't really want to talk too much about this game. We got three weeks off. I got something to talk about. i got something to talk about. You got something?
01:29:45
Speaker
Let's go Nuhu. Let's talk about him. um Is it crazy that his worst performance, and it wasn't even bad, but his most close to crash out performance was still a very incredibly solid performance. is he Should he be considered the defensive player of the year for the Sounders at this point?
01:30:05
Speaker
That's a good question. It depends to me on how you rate Alex's fill-in duty at center back because he was quite good there. And he's been okay at right back too. Kalani stepped up a lot. I mean, the defense was really good. I mean, it has been really good this year.
01:30:20
Speaker
It's so funny though. If you only concede, if you lose 1-0 a bunch of games, then yeah, you're going be the best defensive team in MLS, but it's because you're like the worst offensive team too.
01:30:32
Speaker
Yeah. But um as as far as New Who goes, man, um i think he's just so he's good just got a higher footballing IQ than people give him credit for. And, I mean, you were right. Like, he was getting chippy with Dovin Martinez, and then they were fouling the shit out of him. I think that's maybe what raised is a his ah statistical rating. His matchback rating was – He drew a bunch of fouls, and then Paul was off sides like three times in his 60 minutes. So I think those kinds of things fuck up the the calculators they use or whatever. yeah But anyway, enough about this game. I wanted to say um the Portland Timbers...
01:31:14
Speaker
Fuck them. Something needs to change in Portland because they're second to last place. They need to be in last place. We need to put them in the bottom of the table. Who was it? Caleb was cooking when he was talking about put the dog down. Brian said it in the past before, too. We can give our opponents death, but we're giving them life. You know...
01:31:33
Speaker
People are saying like where they get right game for other teams. Like, well, you know, you're struggling. We can bring you back to life. You know, Kansas City, LAFC three game losing streak. So let's not do that for Portland. Yeah, they the table too.
01:31:50
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. let's let's put him Let's give them a spoon this year. I've thought of a wonderful gift for them. Exactly. It is crazy. i mean, I don't know if we'll actually be able to do it because Philly is only on seven points and they look absolutely abysmal. But the Timbers are on 14 points tied with Austin, but ah on goal differential. Sporting Kansas City, obviously, they have 11. But listen, we did our duty to try and get Portland that spoon. We lost to Sporting Kansas City to give them points because long game, long game, we were playing to make sure that Portland can get that spoon. So you know what? Beautiful. That's my code.
01:32:27
Speaker
That's the Machiavellian type of shit I come to Lobbing Scorchers for, man. um You know, we're getting long tonight, so fuck LAFC, fuck Portland Timbers.
01:32:39
Speaker
Let's go, Christian. Go make us proud in the World Cup. Oh, and Christian, get with Katie Wilson, Lobbing Scorcher's friend, and release 1,000 tickets for $50 like Tim Weah and Mom Donnie did. Are you guys socialists or what? Zoran 2.0. Katie is...
01:32:57
Speaker
We'll say confirm Katie is coming back on the podcast, so I will ask her. She's coming on news thisman this week. so ah right All right, Kenny. Have a good night, man.
01:33:07
Speaker
We appreciate you. All right, Caleb, I see you. You've been waiting patiently. You're here. Caleb, how are we? How's it going? Reporting I'm crashing out, man. I'm sick and tired of this. Okay. I'm going to just let you go. I'm going to just let you go. you know Keep it in the boundaries.
01:33:21
Speaker
going to let you crash out. Go for it. i I don't understand why we pick and choose when to perform and when not to. Because I think, especially, i mean, now you don't hear it, but ah we were always like talking about how every game is like a championship game. Every game is like a final and we treat every game like so seriously. How come like the only time we turn on the Jets and like actually give a crap about the game is when we're 1-0 down and there's like three minutes left. Like we could have done that the whole and entire game, which I mean, you started off well. the The first half when you started, it was good. We had some chances there. And then it was kind of just absorbing.
01:34:03
Speaker
ah but And then the second half was that that had moments. I don't understand why Dotson started. Honestly, there was nothing I really saw from him today. And once Brunel came on you you immediately see him. like He did some cool spin around and run He took a few shots. like it was just It was great watching him because you could see that he's the guy that should be starting. And I don't understand why we're...
01:34:32
Speaker
i don't I don't get why Brian would say that this is the best like lineup. This is not your best lineup. i mean yeah First of all, Jaimar, he's not there. I would consider him in our best lineup. And Brunel? Brunel has to be in that lineup. ah there's there's no so I don't think there's a real good space for Dotson at this moment. I think he could try and...
01:34:55
Speaker
Like what you guys are saying is be someone who pushes the rest of the team. I don't know if he can do that. um And yeah, I'm just, I'm not satisfied with this month. it's We only got one win.
01:35:09
Speaker
We got two disappointing draws and we have two losses against and and against a l LA teams back to back. I think like that's an annoying thing. And these are two LA teams that are not good but right now and that we could have beat both of them and had a very comfortable ah
01:35:28
Speaker
place, if we actually… like, this month was a very winnable month. The only non, like, not-so-winnable game was the San Jose game, which we did win. So if we just took it and actually had forwards who scored, we could be at the top of the Western Conference, dominating over everyone else.
01:35:51
Speaker
Like, i genuinely just don't understand. Like, what what is going on? Like, how come, like, Morris was, Morris had chances, but like, still, he's just not that player. We sold like half of like what made us great. Like last season, last season was so good. Like, why did we choose to either be a defensive team or an office offensive team? Let's just be a great team.
01:36:13
Speaker
Yeah. I don't get it. What do you think? That killer instinct, as you're saying, if they're kind of missing that just, like, that thread. I think it it touches back to what I believe Timbo was saying or someone someone earlier. Sorry, whoever said this. But, like, yeah they need a player that's, like, going to be at someone's throat when they're not giving 110%, Like, when they when the head goes down, someone's not, like...
01:36:38
Speaker
Like, you don't want any head to go down. You want it all to be... yeah Every moment means something. They're pushing for something. think... i think I don't know if this, this is, this is my pontification here. It's like sometimes when you have so many options of trophies, right? Like, Oh, we're in the shield race and we're in conca cap and we're playing for MLS cup eventually. And we have leagues cup and all this, like you kind of have this mentality of like, well, there's going to be another opportunity, right? Like this game is important, but also there's going to be another opportunity.
01:37:14
Speaker
And, yeah, they really It seems like they did give a lot for that CCC matchup. But man, ah yeah, like since that, i haven't I haven't really seen that killer instinct either. like no San Jose game was pretty good.
01:37:28
Speaker
I think that they they gave that that kind of mentality there. But yeah, no, it's been... It's been tough, man. there's no no one's No one's laying laying it out.
01:37:38
Speaker
No one's laying it on the line. I mean, there there are players, i will say. like I think Kalani has been playing like that. yeah I think a Snyder, like you mentioned, has been playing like that. um But yeah, I think that's a lot of the young guys. Those are the guys who are like there to prove themselves. Exactly. Well, um we do have a bunch of people, so I'm going to let you... ah do you have anything else before we keep it pushing here? Yeah,
01:38:07
Speaker
yeah I would just love another star. I would love the focus to be on the actual point of playing in the league instead of worrying about all the other international trophies. I don't care about that. I want a third star. Yeah.
01:38:21
Speaker
All eyes on Philip. All eyes on Philip. Bring on Philip. Bring on Philip. All right. Thank you, Caleb. Sorry for cutting you short here. We're just getting long on time. All right.
01:38:32
Speaker
Tyler, I see you. Just give me one second, though, guys. I got to get my computer charger because iss my computer's dying. And yeah. So one second, chat. You can stare at this beautiful bat. i don't have any elevator music, but.
01:39:14
Speaker
I'm also just alone in the studio right now. I'm just by myself, guys. Like, I've just been sitting here for the last four hours. so So that's what God intended. All right. Tyler, I see you.
01:39:27
Speaker
Are you ready to go? Thumbs up. how we doing crashing out or we are we all right how we i don't think we're crashing out i mean i want to appreciate the frustration from a large portion of fan base i think it's fair you know it's not been a great stretch right now and uh so i think people's frustration is very understandable i brought the background just to help a little bit ease the vibes a little bit but i think uh I was really troubled as well, and I want to kind of get your take on this a little bit more too. by the By coming out to say that this was the best XI before the game, I really did not like that Schmetzer said that. I felt like that was kind of...
01:40:11
Speaker
um playing with fire in some ways as well, because the vibes around the team have not been good. And so if you say this is our best team and your best team is the Sonny Dotson, your best team is no Yimar as Caleb said, Kim Ki, is Kim Ki, who has played like one and a half matches the entire season.
01:40:32
Speaker
I just, I didn't love that. And I didn't love the performance on the field, which I think is the other thing. Cause if you're a coach and you're going and telling the fans, this is our best 11 and that's the performance the fans are getting from the best 11. I don't know how you're going to sell any tickets when the world cup is over because I'm not going to pay to see what was on the field tonight. If that's the best you got, you got to go back to the drawing board because that was pretty, pretty, pretty bad. so I was just curious, actually, as ah as a long time observer of the team yourself, Noah, what you thought about Schmetzer coming out and saying that, you know, Schmetzer does say some things. I think we have,
01:41:09
Speaker
noted he is a he's maybe not the most media trained. He's very media trained, to be fair, but he he will say some things that that are a little off the cuff. So I was curious your take on that.
01:41:22
Speaker
I think his media training is more of a like, um what if I fucked with you guys a little bit? It's very hand on the story, you know? It's it's funny because like if you watch our interview that we did, this is a plug now, but like if you watch our interview that we did with him earlier in the season, that's what he's like normally. He's just a normal guy. like He's like any dude you'd hang out with in Seattle. like Just funny, you know German sense of humor, normal dude. But I think sometimes he gets into like this coach camera mode and is like wants to protect his players wants to make sure that he and his team are represented in the correct way.
01:42:05
Speaker
And, you know, It's like, i i don't know if I'm necessarily upset that he said that more as I'm just like, I mean, you're going to say this is my best 11.
01:42:19
Speaker
eleven Like, you're always going to say that. Like, that's, you know, i think I think maybe what he was trying to say was, I'm going to put my what I think is my best 11 players on the field.
01:42:31
Speaker
And... I don't think that's necessarily true. I think there was still rotation because what he says is like, okay, well, Snyder Brunel needed some rest. Or at least that's what they say on the broadcast. In the broadcast, people talk to Brian one-on-one beforehand.
01:42:45
Speaker
You have... Tino Lopez is not starting. I personally don't understand how, if you're going to rotate center back, you're not playing like Stu Hawkins or you're like, I don't know. I don't know. Maybe, maybe they want that veteran status, but like you have a ah a Kim Kihee performance that wasn't abysmal, but I wouldn't say that it was like in a starter level. I don't know. um So all of that to say, like,
01:43:15
Speaker
I'm not offended by it, but I think, I think it's one of those situations where like, yeah, you're probably right. He's but's probably not something he should say, but like, what are you going to You know um my question to you, we're about to take this break for the world cup coming back after what do you want to see from this team?
01:43:35
Speaker
I mean, I want to see the kids play every game, honestly. Like, I think you just have to, come out of it and like Dotson has to hit the bench for ah an extended period time. I like him as a person. I think he was a great signing for the team, but I thought my intention or my belief in the team's intention in signing him was here's a guy who can spell Christian once every seven matches, right? That's what I expected. Not him starting next to Christian.
01:44:02
Speaker
For one thing, their skill sets are duplicative, especially at this point in Dotson's career. he He actually, I mean, a lot of the older people probably are younger. Folks probably don't realize this, but Dotson was a fairly dynamic player when he was younger. He's not that player anymore, and I don't think he's a bad player, but there's no reason for him to start over Snyder Brunel.
01:44:21
Speaker
He's really good at closing out games. Like I really like Zani Dotson. Right. He comes in and closes out games because he is very defensively minded nowadays. Like he is very good at slotting back in as that emergency center back in a transition moment or, you know, cutting out a pass or, you know, kind of making a play to get out of a tight situation. But I, yeah, I agree with you. He's not someone who I'm like,
01:44:46
Speaker
hey, yeah, let's start this guy and let him set the tempo. While Christian Roldan is sitting there. like Also, I think in a way he makes Christian Roldan look bad too. That's what I was going to say. I think that when you have a team that has really had a hard time moving the ball through the middle of the field, particularly in the spine, you can't you're just like asking for stagnation, putting Dotson and Roldan next to each other because... There's just not, I mean, again, Christian's skillset is,
Tactical Flexibility and Player Usage
01:45:11
Speaker
is varied, but he is more of a Jack of all trades than a dynamic ball mover. And that's what you see.
01:45:17
Speaker
I know everybody saw it as soon as Brunel came in the ability to move the ball forwards through the middle of the park completely changed. It was like, oh, we're allowed to do that. We're allowed to dribble past people in, in our attacking third and move the ball into the middle of the field. That's crazy. I didn't know we could do that. So it frustrates me that that's the, that that's the case. And I,
01:45:35
Speaker
It really does become concerning because I feel like this is a pattern with Schmetzer. I think we saw with Ruiz Diaz, we saw with Ladero, and to something you were saying earlier, where there is value in showing loyalty to the players. There certainly is. But at a certain point, you do have to put the guys that aren't performing on the bench. I think that's what most of us in in the in the fan base would like to see is some accountability and that it should be accountability from the number 32 player on the roster all the way up to the number one player on the roster. whether that's salary, perceived rating, foot mob rating, whatever you want to take it. If guys aren't performing, they should be you know, getting pulled. And I, I, what I want to say, I know you're getting long and I just want to put this in onto the, onto the, the thought process of people. When you look at teams like Vancouver, Vancouver is not afraid to sub their best players out. If they feel like there's a tactical problem that they can solve by subbing those players, or if they feel like those players are not doing well on the field, we, we actually saw it in both of the Vancouver games that we've played this year. They are not afraid to take guys off the field. They're not afraid to have Brian White start on the bench and come in later. And he's the best player on their team right now. i mean, genuinely the best player on their team. So I guess I just, what I want to see, this is, I'm bringing it back around, don't worry. What I want to see coming out of the World Cup is, so the tactical flexibility that Schmetzer felt like he was exercising when Pekovic was healthy and he had a few more options. It does feel like after that injury, he's felt really constrained with his usage. But I think we got a ton of young guys.
01:47:07
Speaker
Throw you Sukunomi on the bench, man, and put him in, see what happens. What are you going to What are you losing right now? Like you're, you have no movement and you've got a player who is a true false nine, not a false nine who really should be a 10 in Jesus Ferreira.
01:47:20
Speaker
Put Ferreira and Sukunomi on the field at the same time. And I would like to see that genuinely. they're maybe Maybe they're, again, very duplicative, but I think there's a chance there that tactically that could potentially unlock something, and it can't be worse than what you've got on the field right now.
Focus on Quality Soccer
01:47:35
Speaker
So I'd like to see him say, like I mean, being realistic, this is not this was not a Shield team, I don't think, from the beginning. I think they're still a good team and a good roster, but I think we need to stop being precious about the wins and the losses and really focus on playing good soccer, and that's what I want to see coming out of the break.
01:47:53
Speaker
I think to that point, it's interesting because something we were just talking about was kind of the bite, right? Like that, that like drive the want. I want to see Peter Kingston out there. yeah I'm sorry. Peter Kingston and all of his performances has looked like a guy who has everything to lose.
01:48:13
Speaker
I want a guy out there who feels like he has everything to lose, that this could be his last game. right That is how Rothrock ascended to being who Paul Rothrock is and becoming the spine of this team. You need guys out there like that. And yeah, respectfully to Hassani Dotson,
01:48:29
Speaker
That's just not him. And respectfully to, you know, ah Jordan Morris, that's not him, right? Like, that's that's just where we are. So, yeah, if you get a player like Yusuke Nome out there, you get a player that is getting these moments and minutes. That's how you beat...
01:48:48
Speaker
San Jose on the road. That's how you get these results to go your way. was at that San Jose game, and there was a lot of promise in the in the tactical arrangement that Schmetzer ran out there, which obviously we haven't been able to see mostly because Pekovic is not there. and he's Got it, isn't it? But the last thing I want to say, and then I'll they'll jump off, is just with regards to ah kind of the idea of the players playing and who's playing for what and things like that. i I just would like us all to kind of,
01:49:18
Speaker
Acknowledge that for better or worse, the roster that we have has a core that is a lot of players that are over 30 years old. 31, 31, 33, 32. It's a lot of over players.
01:49:30
Speaker
and we i do think that we collectively have to kind of look for an excuse when, excuse me the wrong word, but except when good roster management is happening. Now, I don't think good roster management has been happening to this point in the season, but I do think we're going to run into some stuff if Schmetzer is is smart on the back half of the season where we do see a lot of the spine sitting in order to get rest for those older legs.
01:49:57
Speaker
But I think that it's got
Managing Aging Player Core
01:49:59
Speaker
to happen, man. Like we've we've got to start seeing these guys being able to play at their top level. And I know they're top athletes and everything like that, but we all know that for soccer players, once you hit 30, there is a diminishing you know capacity for performance across whole season. And you're also opening yourself up to more injury. And I think if we can preserve the core, I mean, Rusnak has looked tired.
01:50:21
Speaker
He has looked bad, but I think it's been fatigue. I just don't see the mental sharpness. I don't see the decision making. He looked really good. I mean, we were burying the lead in that he looked really good at the beginning of the season. He really did. The goals were not there.
01:50:36
Speaker
The assists were not necessarily there, but he was a way different player than he's been recently. And I think it's just, we're seeing the Christian Roldan effect of 1,200 minutes. You know, what does that look like on a player who's older? And I just hope that we can kind of collectively be like, all right, We're to run out a couple of rosters a little more experimental, but let's do that so that we can have a good push on the back half of the season.
01:50:59
Speaker
That's my hope for this. Noah, you're doing a great job by yourself too, man. Thank you. I'm doing what I can here with the Ari out. But Tyler, thank you so much. Take care, man. We'll see you soon. All right, Tribe, see you. Are you ready to cook?
01:51:14
Speaker
You ready? Are you ready? Okay. Welcome. Welcome.
Link-Up Play and Creativity Issues
01:51:19
Speaker
crashing out yeah absolutely i saw i was you know i i sometimes i'm scrubbing through i see what you guys are doing down there in the little waiting room and i saw tribe just so i'm gonna just i'm gonna give you the floor i'm gonna just give you the floor right well uh first of all this team cannot fucking perform under pressure in this sort of uh stage in the season for some reason under the crowd in in in uh in l LA. It seemed like everyone wasn't unsure that everyone was unsure in the final third, unable to make the clean passes in between the lines. It it seemed a very, very difficult attacking phase when when they were trying to go through the middle. You saw a couple of good link-up passes, but then it just went to shit after the second. like like back Back in the days when we had Ladero Ruiz, you could see that sort of thing all the time. That late winner, like five, six years ago against San Jose,
01:52:14
Speaker
The one-two pass from Nico, then it found Ravel. That's the sort of thing that we were trying. Didn't work. We don't the players for that. ah If everyone is pissed about Brian Schmetzer saying that that's his best Starry why don't we just go sign someone? why Why don't we just fucking fix that? Just sign someone so we can stop and just stop the stop the complaining. Just sign someone. um Also, with with ah Jordan Morris, man, he hasn't done anything. He hasn't done anything for the past five appearances. Well, he did score goal. one goal and five appearances for a designated player, that's our second highest paid player. What in the fuck are we doing, honestly?
01:52:53
Speaker
It is the worst thing I've ever seen. It really is the worst bit of business. This club is not good at business. We got rid of Obed Vargas for,
Impact of Past Player Releases
01:53:01
Speaker
what, 15% on-sell clause and $2 million? dollars What the fuck is that? we got We got rid of... We almost got rid of... Just for the Obed thing, because I think there's context to that. He was going to walk away for You could do better before, though. You could do but better before than prevent that from happening in the future. But also, i will I will be very clear in saying that if you read the reporting, and also maybe things that aren't reported... um
01:53:29
Speaker
His management might have been a little bit of a... um how do i How do I say this kindly? um Don't. Just go for it. Just ah abrasive. We'll go with that. well We'll go with that word there. Yeah.
01:53:44
Speaker
But continue. I'm sorry. Keep going. No, it's true, though. But we almost got rid of Paul Rothrock for fucking free. What in the hell? That was insane. Can you imagine Paul Rothrock on that San Jose team? God damn it.
01:53:56
Speaker
he was He was going to Nashville, wasn't he? but That's the... thoses day nashville rumors yeah check off um We got rid of John Bell for free. He was absolute banger.
01:54:09
Speaker
I fucking love that, man. Man, if we had him, he he's seriously better than Kim Kihee, better than Ryan Saylor, better than any of our second-tier defenders. He was so, so good. Now he's a starter as well and doing very well. We got rid of all of these players.
01:54:25
Speaker
We got rid of all these players. And now we're paying for it. We are absolutely paying for it. I said at the start of the season, it'll start well, but we're going to pay for it later on. Because it's ah it's a game of momentum. Everyone says it's it's not only in in the whole season that's momentum. It's also the game. Everyone's like, why can't we play like it's the final 90 minutes? Because it's a momentum-based game for fuck's sake. We can't just start like that. It's it's not only fatigue and and responsibility that that comes into it. Because if you are down a goal, then you get that extra kick in the ass to go you know And also the other team is going to be trying to protect that lead.
01:55:03
Speaker
so so hard and you're gonna get more openings more opportunities and it's gonna be more life or death that's just how the game works you can't just start like that um but no i i was just i i'm i don't know man i just i knew this was gonna happen we schmetzer's never beaten uh lafc i don't think in in uh the regular season which is a crazy statistic by the way um And it just it just keeps happening like this. And this is a game for Georgie Manungu, by the way. Holy shit.
01:55:34
Speaker
On the counterattack. If he was in the position where Jesus Ferreira was, Jesus, he is going in and out, just going around, maybe even getting another penalty or something. That guy, you see what he's doing at Colorado right now. You cannot say that that's not Georgie Manungu game. Yeah, he's giving up penalties, right? Am I right about that?
01:55:55
Speaker
No, no, no. Like, like, like, I mean, like the inter Miami, uh, he, he might've done something like you never know just anything with him. He's just so unpredictable. You gotta love him, but I want to get your thoughts. How, how do we move forward from this?
Fan Dissatisfaction and Need for Change
01:56:06
Speaker
This is, this sucks.
01:56:13
Speaker
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Speaker
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01:58:27
Speaker
I want you to think about what's actually happening here for a second. The World Cup. In Seattle? With Christian Roldan? Yes, the same Christian Roldan once referred to by Mauricio Pochettino himself as the perfect player. Christian Roldan is an example of if you want to build your perfect player. Well, now you can get the perfect kit for the perfect player. The official U.S. soccer store has jerseys, scarves, and all the gear. It's a full circle moment for Seattle soccer fans, and you need to be dressed properly for the return of our GOAT. Go to lobingscorchers.com slash USA and use code SCORCHERS for 10% off most items.
01:59:07
Speaker
I think it's hard for me to answer that because it's like I can pontificate all day about how I would do it, but i just like they're they're not goingnna do that they're not going to do the things that are going to make them competitive in that exact way or the way that I would say. like it's It's one of those things where you need...
01:59:28
Speaker
something new. You need something big, whether it's to bring in fans or to be effective in this league or to whatever, right? But, like, I just don't think there's the boldness or the money to be able to do that.
01:59:42
Speaker
And I think that's just the reality of the Sounders, right? Like, they... really spend their effort on developing these young players. And that's what we're going to see, which is like, it's great. It's great. That's great. Right. But like I, and then I, and then I question and I wonder, it's like, okay, well let's, let's play you then, you know, let's, let's make sure Snyder's starting. Let's make sure that we develop these other young center backs. Right. and Stuart Hawkins and all of this stuff, instead of like, keeping Kim Kihee on the roster, which I didn't understand that. I didn't understand that at all.
02:00:20
Speaker
um But, you know, what i want to see is
02:00:27
Speaker
bold choices with roster decisions and contract decisions either in the summer or at the end of the year. And what they replace those with is hopefully, um you know, god God only knows, but I would love for them to go out and spend some money. doesn't need to be transfer fees. There's going to be a ton of free agents at like in the summer. just We got transfer free.
02:00:51
Speaker
That's huge. You know, like, i don't i don't i don't know. Like, let's let's think big. Let's think bold. And let's do what we can to, like, what I love is the Red Bulls, right? Like, the Red Bulls, they're not, like, world beaters. The Sounders are by far better than the Red Bulls, I will say.
02:01:15
Speaker
But man, it's like for all of the the hardship, it's like they're bell cowing their young players and they're letting them lead and they're letting them be built up. And the Sounders, they do that. They do that well.
02:01:27
Speaker
But I think that we need a little bit more focus on those guys and maybe building your team around those young guys with older players that are going to help them rather than just... ah slotting in the young guys in positions of need. Like, I don't know. Who is this team built around?
02:01:48
Speaker
That's my question. Roldan? Maybe Brunel? yeah By the way, i was I was the conductor of the Brunel hype train, by the way. I was. I absolutely was. That was...
02:02:00
Speaker
That was back during the LA. I remember you saying that like a while back. Like some of your first calls, you were like, bro, you need to look at this kid. Back during the League's Cup, bro. I was a conductor of that shit. But I do have to go soon. Last thing want to say. Just a crazy statistic, right?
02:02:21
Speaker
Ryan Kent was around valued at $1.4 million, think. Jordan Morris is getting paid so much more than that. So if we get rid of Morris, I love Morris. Great guy. Unbelievable guy. He's tremendous and the best player I've ever seen, right? If we get rid of him, we could maybe sign five Ryan Kent's every five years. You never know.
02:02:44
Speaker
But yeah, after that performance, fuck Ryan Schmetzer. No, I love him. ah Unbelievable guy. Really, really good team. But unfortunately, the attack just isn't there. But with that, I will leave you to it. You are on a grind, brother. Without, without, ah Without Ari, it is quite quite the journey. Two hours on the dot now. Unbelievable from you.
02:03:07
Speaker
Well done, Mike. Well, thank you, Troy. We will see you soon. hey Oops, cut you off there, but I know you said to see a good one. All right, DJ with the $5 miscellaneous support super chat. Appreciate it. All right, we're rounding in to our final two here. No one else call in. Otherwise, I will literally pass away. Gianni, are you ready to go?
02:03:27
Speaker
i know you've got some I know you've got some takes. i You've been sitting here listening, patiently waiting. The floor is yours. Bro, that was just fucking terrible to watch. I want two hours of my life back.
02:03:43
Speaker
Like, um that entire first half, I don't... we It felt like for like a solid 15 minutes, we just didn't touch the ball. There was like no possession. We get the ball. We start trying to play out of the back. They high-press us. We kick the ball long.
02:03:58
Speaker
Jordan Morris can't win the ball out of the air. Ball, they then circulate the ball around the back like we like to do and just bring it right back down and we're just pinned in.
02:04:09
Speaker
was like, well, that's fun. that's That's what you like to see. And then Christian Roldan decides, I'm going to try and give them a goal. that was That was the icing on the cake. I was just like, what are we doing?
02:04:24
Speaker
What are we doing right now? Do you think do you think that is, because I was kind of pontificating about this, it feels like he tries to be way more creative when Snyder isn't on the field instead of just being more of that anchor. Like, Hassani wasn't doing any of that creative. Yeah.
02:04:41
Speaker
stuff and so christian was trying to make these like line breaking passes or these kind of more like intricate like i'm not saying that's not in his bag like i i think it is but i think that it was just a situation where he was like he's coming up on playing a lot of minutes he he is i don't know it just it what do you feel do you feel like that's that's the case or what was happening there It's definitely a worse pairing.
02:05:05
Speaker
There is... like We definitely struggle to move the ball through midfield when they're playing together. um He might be feeling a little bit of pressure. He's taking a few more risks than he normally would.
02:05:17
Speaker
um I don't think that's why he kicked the ball to their team this time because that was in our defensive third. like He was just outside our 18. That one, I just... He's got these moments where he just goes brain neutral.
02:05:30
Speaker
And... he just like he'll make like one bad pass a game is i mean like and people will do that the problem is the areas in which he's making those bad passes right now are leading to high like high xg chances which and let's let's bring out xg um here we go yeah rip it out yeah but that was like as far as um him playing with uh Hassani, yeah, like they both fill the same role. And as someone else was saying earlier, they're both very defensive minded players. Christian can progress the ball, but there's a reason where he's not playing on the right wing anymore.
02:06:15
Speaker
Like there's a reason he's playing as one of the eights. And honestly, he's playing as the more defensive eight in the pivot. So I think when you basically are playing with two very defensive minded players,
02:06:27
Speaker
you end up in a situation where, yeah, you're probably not giving up a lot of high quality looks, but you're also not generating a bunch of high quality looks yeah on a team where you're already struggling to score. That's probably not exactly what you want to be doing.
02:06:42
Speaker
Exactly. So, I mean, it, it's not really all that shocking to say, Oh yeah, we only generated like it was 1.2 XG in this game. That's not really surprising.
02:06:53
Speaker
Um,
02:06:56
Speaker
kind of moving on down the line yeah jordan had a good look or two um he's got to find a way to just put that over the top of the keeper like that i thought you got to get some lift on that ball dude that's sunday league shit man like yeah come on honestly like this is not uncommon for him like i when he gets into these one-on-one situations he tends to shoot low yeah But when the goalkeeper's rushing out at you, which you're going to see as ah as a fast forward who tries to get him behind, that goalkeeper is not gonna stay stuck to his line.
02:07:33
Speaker
you're He's gonna commit to the ball. You have to be able to chip the keeper. That is like the one skill you absolutely have to have. And it's too many times, it's just like, I'm not sure if he's afraid of like putting the ball over the top, but it's really not that difficult to do.
02:07:52
Speaker
Yeah, I wonder like, yeah, I don't I i mean, i don't want to sit here and say it's not difficult to do as I'm sitting on a couch and I'm like 45 shots in in playing against a bunch of 38 year old dudes today. Yeah, ah in Sunday League. But like, yeah, like, I mean, are the second highest paid player on the roster.
02:08:16
Speaker
you've scored a shitload of goals. ah let's Let's get a little lift on that. Let's get a little lift on that. Get that under the boot a little bit. you know like Pull that thing up a little bit. like i just yeah What did you think about um Brian Schmetzer's ah comments about you know the luck side of things? right like We had things going our way in the first half of the season, but now we don't. and That's you know part of the reason we're losing. Honestly, it's kind of bullshit.
02:08:47
Speaker
I mean, like, yes, there's always a degree of luck in any game. So you can say, oh, well, luck's just not going our way. I'm like, you have to also make your own luck. So, yeah, sure. Like if we were hitting the post a lot and the ball wasn't bouncing in.
02:09:04
Speaker
Yeah, that might be the bad side of luck. But that's that's not this. We're struggling to generate chances. That's not bad luck. Maybe Jackson Reagan like flicking the ball to the wrong side of the post in the last game or Jackson Reagan not being able to put that ball on frame because he tripped and fell. I'm like, yeah, sure. Maybe one or two of those are bad luck.
02:09:30
Speaker
The rest of it is just bad play. We need to get Jackson Reagan in a yoga class. i feel like I feel like, you know, I feel like a yoga class would do him well. Just, like, getting those limbs stretched out and and and not as, you know, stiff might help.
02:09:45
Speaker
Yeah. Just a thought. Yeah, so, like, when Brian says, oh, you know, we're just having some bad luck, and honestly, what it really is is we're actually regressing back to what our team, I think, truly is.
02:09:59
Speaker
Like, I think the beginning of the season was kind of fool-school. Um... We were, I think we were overperforming our XG by quite a bit. um And yeah, we had been generating some pretty good chances. We also have to remember at the beginning of the year, a lot of teams looked bad.
02:10:18
Speaker
yeah And so if we were playing like, yeah, sure. We played Vancouver and we whooped up on them in Cascadia or not Cascadia, CONCACAF. Sure, whatever. That's fine. That was the beginning of the season.
02:10:29
Speaker
Now teams are rounding into form. They have more tape on us. They know how we're playing. And we're looking worse. we're We're not ascending. We're descending. I mean, we did beat San Jose, which is arguably one of the best teams in the league. So I do think there's like
02:10:50
Speaker
I don't know. it It feels to me like that that's partly true, but also there's a situation where like this team does have a good ceiling. Maybe the floor is just worse than we previously predicted. You know what I'm saying?
02:11:05
Speaker
Yeah, no, absolutely. I'm like, I think the team has a relatively high ceiling. I think that's probably like third in the West is probably like where our ceiling is. That feels right.
02:11:18
Speaker
yeah um in shield wise it's probably sixth or seventh which also is feeling about right i mean the east is a little weaker so maybe it's a little higher than that but i mean We're not going to be competing. I mean, but for the shield, that's bad because they're just going to beat up on each other and score a bunch, get a bunch of fucking wins and stuff. So, I mean, that's like Nashville. I truly do think Nashville could easily win the shield just because the East is genuinely dog. I mean, they get to play Montreal three times. Exactly. I'm sorry. that buts I'm sorry. I would like three wins just chalked into my schedule, please. Thank you. like they don't even They don't even tweet in English. we had you don't even tweeted issue We couldn't even pick up those three points off the fucking ground.
02:12:01
Speaker
So, i mean, that's the thing. Like, this is a team that when you play the bad teams, you have to fucking put them down. You cannot just fuck around and give them goals. yeah so Sporting Kansas City, that has to be three points.
02:12:17
Speaker
It wasn't three points. LA Galaxy, pretty bad team. That should have been three points. Guess what? Nope. LAFC, they hadn't won a single home game all year. They lost to Sporting Kansas City.
02:12:30
Speaker
Yeah. Like, what the fuck? They tried to lose to us, too. like They really did. like Ample opportunity. Yeah, we had chances. and I mean, Denny Mwanga looked absolutely like shit. Son just decided he wanted to be messy in the League's Cup final and miss every shot he took. Like, it was it was there.
02:12:49
Speaker
It was there for the taking, for sure. Well, Gianni, final thoughts, because I do want to get to Raul and then get out of here. You know, ah we probably need to make a signing this this summer, this this little break, whatever. um If we don't, man, the vibe's going to real fucking bad. Doom Chat is going to be fire.
02:13:10
Speaker
The chat is doomed. Well, Gianni, thank you so much for calling in. We always love hearing from you, man, and we will see you soon, hopefully. Yeah, keep doing strong work, man. Thank you. All right, Raul, I see you. Are you ready?
02:13:23
Speaker
all right. Welcome in, man. you've been waiting you've been You've been the most patient out of everyone.
Fan Experience and Call for New Acquisitions
02:13:29
Speaker
How are we? Good, man. A little disappointed, but I'm doing all right. I'm from here, so i was able to attend the game. I was i was at the... Oh.
02:13:40
Speaker
Oh. Oh, um there you go Oh. Yeah, I'm from here, so was able to attend the game, and I was ah with the with the ECS members. It's pretty cool. Just disappointed, man. and i mean I'm not going to keep repeating what everybody said about Saunders because pretty much agree with them, but for this LAFC team, we should have beat these guys. did They're really not that good. they Today, they did not look that good.
02:14:03
Speaker
They didn't scare anybody. They don't scare anybody, to be honest with you. Aerial attacks, Nothing counterattacks nothing. We should we should have put these guys away um Yeah, just with the whole Morris thing man, we got out we got to do something about that We need we need a really good left-footed attacking midfielder and we need a ah really lethal number nine like we we we We have to do this this summer, bro we We can't be dropping points like this just like with the gentleman before said like we cannot be losing games with teams like you know gansas and galaxy and like this lafc game man like these guys have millions of dollars on the field and they look like shit yeah to us which is also like oh you know like but yeah man we gotta we gotta put these games away yeah this summer i really hope we get some signings and
02:14:51
Speaker
Yeah, that's all I want to say. I think it goes to your point, right? Like, they do... they need Something needs to change. And it doesn't mean that we need to spend a a million dollars or millions and millions of dollars. Like, if you spend shit ton money, it doesn't mean results. But what it does mean is that you're actually making changes and filling in these gaps. If they don't do anything in this summer, I mean, it's going to be...
02:15:13
Speaker
oh I don't even... Because we just we need somebody with... I don't want to you know get out line here, but we need somebody with balls, man. You know what I mean? Get in there and say, give me the ball. Give me the fucking ball. Bam.
02:15:25
Speaker
Start putting them away. right Left, right, front, back. don Give me the ball. Boom. Done deal. then We need somebody with an attitude, man. Like, hey, focus. Come on.
02:15:36
Speaker
Get on it, you know? yeah um But yeah, man, it's just just frustrating. I... I don't know why Morris stayed so long. I think on that goal, was how we were up there. We're looking at the game, obviously. But it looked like there was some kind of maybe miscommunication with Nuhu where he wasn't, like, he should have covered that number eight. I don't forgot what his name is, but he didn't cover it. You could tell there was some kind of miscommunication, and then boom, it was a deal. But, yeah, just more just watching Morris drag himself across the field, i was like, oh, man, like, there's...
02:16:08
Speaker
I don't know. you You can hear it in the crowd. Like, man, they got to do something about Morris. man it's It sucks. you know like i We love the guy because he's given us a lot a lot of joys, a lot of celebrations. But at some point, you got to say, hey, brothers. Which I wanted to ask you, so his DP kind contract, so how does how does that work with his with his contract? When does it end? how long it like at If we wanted to buy him out, like can can that even be possible?
02:16:35
Speaker
You can't really buy him out because of the price of his contract. If you buy someone out, that hits your salary cap. But what you can do is extend him or trade him. I don't think anyone would be interested in trading him for his contract that he's on. But you basically could...
02:16:56
Speaker
You could extend him to a way lower cost deal, then you would no longer be a DP. It's the same thing you could do with Alba Resnac. But I mean, honestly, at this point, like, his contract runs through 2027, which is next year, and you kind of are just like, well, we might as well just age this one out. So it's, you never know. I'm not...
02:17:18
Speaker
I'm not exactly sure on the—like, you could technically buy him out, but you then couldn't go and sign another DP. Yeah, yeah. Which leads ah leaves us with, ah hopefully, hopes and prayers with Pedro de la Vega. I know you had that one take a couple of podcasts ago, but I'm still on the 50-50 with him. Like,
02:17:36
Speaker
but Do we get rid of him? Is it a ticking time bomb? Same thing with Morris. Is he going injured today or not? or But Pedro, I don't know. I hope that if he does come back, then he stays healthy for the whole season, for the whole year.
02:17:51
Speaker
Because we need that kind of that kind of player, too. Yeah, man. Just wanted to share my thoughts. Either way, I was there talking smack. i don't care. I'm going to support my guys anywhere I go.
02:18:05
Speaker
I love it, man. I appreciate it. Thank you for calling Raul, and we'll talk to you soon, man. Yeah, man. Hey, hopefully I'll see you in September, bro, with the yeah against Galaxy, man. You got to come out, dude. I know. I normally come out. I was going to come out for this game, but the air dude what's get the airline tickets, man. there's Oh, yeah, I know. True.
02:18:26
Speaker
I will be. Yeah. I'll try and make it up for the Galaxy game. because Yeah, man. That'd be sick, dude. I'd love to get an honor you autograph my shirt, man. Hey. Hey, you can be the first one. i don't think I've ever ever done anything before, so let's do it. Yeah, man, let's hope for that. There we go.
02:18:42
Speaker
All right, man. Peace. Have a good night. Good night. All right, guys. One, i' I'll answer this one question, but ah what we got to do is we got to like the video. There is not that many likes on the video, guys. And like, I just feel like as a solo host here, I'm failing.
02:18:58
Speaker
This is normally Ari's job. And like, I'm here filling in, clearly not doing a good enough job because we're on like 40 likes. that's That's tragic. But um final thing. Oh, it's here. Reese says, ah we wait, no, wait, hold on. Reese said something else. He said something else. He was trying to cook us up here.
02:19:16
Speaker
Reese, scenes with Lobbing Scorchers and Sounder at Heart defend Wival making zero signings in the summer. I don't... You watch our streams. When have we ever defended Craig for not making a signing? In fact, if you go back in the Sounder at Heart archive, there's literally been a shit ton of criticism about the lack of summer signings. I believe there was literally an article called...
02:19:36
Speaker
lack of summer signings or historic lack of summer signings from craig weibel so i'm gonna be honest with you we talked about it the u22 situation the situation where he was like well we only need to sign noah ohio and i was like that's not a real guy also noah ohio right now is rotting on the second team of psv or whatever and he's not even doing shit so whatever but i will say like listen man
02:20:05
Speaker
I get it. I get it. But ah i think I think we've been ah rightfully critical when we when we feel like we need to be. And I think our takes are are pretty well informed there, Rhys. But we appreciate you sticking around for the two-hour stream. And you know what? We'll end on this beauty here. Weibel is cooking, and you just have bad taste, Noah.
02:20:26
Speaker
That's so true. Thank you guys for watching our marathon stream. Make sure you are liking the video, subscribing to the channel if you're watching this on YouTube. Shout out to our sponsor sponsors. We've got many of them. ah hased ferments You can check out lobbying scorchers.com slash sauce for a tons of sauces lots of many many sauces across the board but the lobbing scorchers hot sauce is super good we've got lobbying scorchers.com slash coffee qed coffee for the monday morning show with nico and ari and also podium menswear in edmonds washington
02:21:07
Speaker
Kick off tomorrow, TBD. Ari will be out, so it would be me filling in. I actually need to talk to Nico, but I don't know if he's awake right now, so I will text him. Either way, I'm sure Ari and Nico will reschedule if needed. But appreciate you guys, and I will see you all soon. Happy World Cup!