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Seattle Sounders Welcome a Liga MX GIANT!
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A massive week awaits the Seattle Sounders, as the Rave Green welcome mighty Tigres UANL to Lumen Field to close out the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. Facing a 2-0 aggregate deficit after Leg 1, can Seattle celebrate their long-awaited homecoming with a comeback and keep their CCC title dreams alive? And will Jesus Ferreira be in the starting XI for the series finale after his surprising omission in the first leg? We'll break out the lineup builder and project exactly how we think Brian Schmetzer will line it up on Wednesday. Later on, we'll discuss Georgi Minoungou's big debut with the Colorado Rapids, which saw him log an assist in the same match where former Sounders homegrown Josh Atencio also found the scoresheet.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
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Transcript
Introduction and Streaming Options
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Lobbing Scorchers was previously recorded and streamed live on YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers. If you want to listen or catch these episodes live, see the video, and see all the rest of our content, go to YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers or LobbingScorchers.com slash YouTube.
00:00:22
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be a real scorcher today. Why the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be scorcher.
Sponsorship and Host Introductions
00:00:44
Speaker
Good morning, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff, now brought to you by QED Coffee. I'm Ari, that's Nico. Big show for you here this morning. We're going be hanging out, talking some Seattle Sounders and Major League Soccer and CONCACAF Champions Cup. That's right. Tigris is coming to town on Wednesday to close out the CCC quarterfinals. We're going to talk about that. We're going to be talking about what happened and in Lake One in Mexico. The Sounders obviously facing a 2-0 aggregate
CONCACAF Champions Cup Preview
00:01:14
Speaker
deficit. And we got some other stuff to get to later in the show as well. We'll be talking some Georgie Manungu. He played for the Colorado Rapids and looked quite
00:01:24
Speaker
quite good so we're going to be talking about if that has us reassessing this trade a little bit and if there's time at the end of the show we'll jump around MLS and react to some of the other results from match day seven Nico welcome in man what's up how you feeling CCC quarters closing out on Wednesday What's going on, Ari? I'm doing all right, man. A little bit tired. You know, it was ah at the Palouse most of the weekend since Thursday. So it was ah a big drive there from Pullman here. But um at least I got a couple of days to decompress after that break.
00:02:00
Speaker
Difficult game to watch that was leg one of the Sounders concave match against Tigres at Albocan. So yeah, hoping that today we can have a a settled but yet stern discussion about what transpired in that game and what's ahead, of course, here at Lumen Field in just a couple of days.
00:02:24
Speaker
We got some Jesus Ferreira discourse to get to, and that's what we're going to lead off with. But before we get into all of that, shout out to all our sponsors, QED Coffee, Hanks and Ferments, Podium Menswear, and Full Pull Wines.
00:02:36
Speaker
ah But please show some support to QED Coffee, our new title sponsor. I got two links for you guys now that ah that work. You can go to either lobbingscorchers.com slash coffee or qedcoffee.com slash lobbingscorchers, and that will take you right to the page where you can subscribe to QED Coffee That is the best way you can support this show and Lobbing Scorchers as a whole right now is grabbing a sub to QED. But, you know, if you're not feeling the sub right now, you can also just go to the website, qedcoffee.com and use code LS74 for 25% off on everything site-wide. And also they have a deal right now running 25% off for all new subscribers if you go to our links. So, uh,
00:03:16
Speaker
Great job, first of all, to everyone for showing some support after our launch last week. Already got some orders, already got some subs in, so that's great to see. Thank you all for that. But we still, we got some work to do. If you're if you're out there listening and you have not got your QED sub or you haven't bought anything from qedcoffee.com, just hop on over the website, show us some support. If you guys like this show, like this content, that showing that support is exactly how we're able to do this as often as we are. So if you haven't done so yet, QEDCoffee.com or Lobbingscortures.com slash coffee, QEDCoffee.com slash Lobbingscortures.
Lineup Decisions and Tactical Analysis
00:03:53
Speaker
All right, Nico, title sponsored.
00:03:57
Speaker
Let's get into the show for this morning. And let's start with this leg one that took place recently. down in Mexico. The Seattle Sounders fall behind 2-0. And I think the biggest talking point coming off this game, Nico, was the lineup decision by Brian Schmetzer, specifically the decision to not start Jesus Ferreira in this game. I think we were all surprised to see that. And then based on how the game actually played out, Nico, you were feeling outraged by Jesus Ferreira's omission from the starting 11. Noah was feeling similarly outraged by Jesus Ferreira's
00:04:33
Speaker
omission from the starting 11. I was definitely a little confused by it, but maybe not as categorically outraged as ah as you guys are. But let's talk about it right now. Nico, i wanted to just give you the floor to start. What was your reaction when you saw Jesus was not in the starting 11? And then what what about how the game played out had you feeling coming out of this game with the 2-0 deficit that it was the wrong call to not start Jesus in this game?
00:05:03
Speaker
That's a lot of, there's a convoluted question there, Ari. So I will try to do my best to answer it and try to concise it in several conclusions. So first of all, my first reaction, I was confused. I didn't understand the reason why you would not have your most influential attacker in the starting 11, simply one of your most talented players.
00:05:34
Speaker
I didn't understand why you... Assist leader. Assist leader for the team. Assist assist leader, right? Five assists, but it's beyond the assists, right? It's the IQ to make certain runs to occupy spaces. It's finding pockets in between the lines. It's the presence, defensive presence, effectiveness, the the repress, the pressing moments, his talent to perform when it comes to transition moments. I mean, he is clearly one of the guys that leads that charge when it comes to picking up the ball in a specific part of the field, creating a turnover and then turning that into a potential opportunity.
00:06:14
Speaker
So, Brian Spencer knows this. He knows that there are decisions, there are substitutions that a coach can make that would either make him look like a genius or like a not-so-genius, to not say any harsher words.
00:06:36
Speaker
And this is one of them. Because once once you overthink it and you don't just play your best players, There's going to be controversy and you're putting yourself in that position. And now Brian, being a a coach that understands the game that has championship after championship under his belt, he doesn't care. He's just going to make that decision that he believes is best. But when I look at what you had in front of you against the Stigler's team, I just didn't understand what you were going to try to
00:07:13
Speaker
I don't want to call experiment, but put up a lineup and play with Areola on the right side when that hasn't really been a thing where those three, I don't think they had played together necessarily under this specific lineup.
00:07:30
Speaker
When there is a building relationship between Jesus Ferreira and Albert Rusnak that you've been working on for forever, you've been preaching this dual 10, this pocket winger,
00:07:43
Speaker
system and it has been working. So I just didn't understand why not just play with what was working. So that that was my, my initial reaction.
00:07:56
Speaker
When I asked Brian, you know, ah but i should have looked it up one more time and maybe you remember what he answered. Uh, Ari, but it was something along the lines of, you know, it was tactics or it was a tactical decision, something along those lines. But when I asked him about Jesus, her are not starting this game. So it was very vague. Didn't really add anything else to it.
00:08:19
Speaker
ah Today will be at the training facility. So I am going to ask him to elaborate on that because, Look, tactically, the team wasn't doing anything different. If this had been a different system, if they had played, you know, more with, ah you know, wingbacks and Paul Arriola was one of those wingbacks. If you were changing the system, I don't know, play a 4-3-3, whatever. If things had changed in a way that I was to look at the game and say, hey,
00:08:51
Speaker
I get why tactically you wouldn't fit this guy. Nothing changed. it was nothing different about that specific position. So it goes to profiles, that the type of profile of player that you want executing that role of that pocket winger. So you go to concepts or you go to principles of of of approach to this game. So if you were looking for experience along the three players under Jordan, which is the group of players in question,
00:09:21
Speaker
Then Paul Rothrock should have not started because you would want Ferreira. You would want Albert Rusnak and you would want Paula Riola, who both are more experienced. There's a Liga MX experience.
00:09:34
Speaker
Jesus has USMNT, CONCACAF experience. And Albert Rusnak is your guy and he's the, your, your DP and the guy that we played the most and knows the system the most.
00:09:45
Speaker
So, That would have been one. If you wanted defense to be more pragmatic, well, the calling card for Jesus Ferreira, ever since you brought him here, has been his pressing, has been his repress, has been his defense, has been his effort. So let's take out Albert, who along those lines is the one that you could say maybe that's not his forte, that's not what he does best. So let's remove him from that equation and add Ferreira because b Brian Smith is thinking, I want to be
00:10:16
Speaker
better defensively, right? If you're going along the lines of based on performance, which is the reason why Paul Rothrock plays that game, I'm fine with it.
00:10:27
Speaker
Of course, Paul Rothrock has earned it. He's been goal scorer. He's been a thread. He runs to that second post like his life depends on it, he and he's rewarded by it time and time again. Cool.
00:10:40
Speaker
But under that same breath, then give Jesus Ferreira his flowers and start him. So it's the lack of consistency. that really drives me crazy and that to me puts this particular decision in a predicament and in in and for it to be criticized. And I'm sure that Brian knows it because if Paul Rothrock had been on the bench, no one would have batted right And even those who would have might've understood that if there is a player that is built to come into a game late and perform and score and create havoc and it's going to be effective, it's Paul Rothrock.
00:11:24
Speaker
But it's not Jesus. Bringing Jesus Ferreira in the 70th is not what he does. So why are we doing it? there That is not his game. That is not his forte. He needs to get into the game. He needs to feel it. If you were going to bring up Ferreira, then do it at halftime because you get to activate your your muscles similarly that you do prior to a game. While you get ready for that second half, you get get mentally prepared. You give him 45 plus minutes to get into the game and read it and and and influence the game in a certain way. It was 0-0 at that 45 minute mark. So cool. I mean, you're bringing in a player with the exact same scenario that he would have if he would have started, but you didn't. You chose to go in the 70th and you chose to bring in three players in a position where the game is already down 1-0.
00:12:18
Speaker
They have to figure out, yes, I need to be effective on the ball, but I can't allow another goal. So the mentality just changes into that game. And again, that's not Jesus' forte.
00:12:31
Speaker
and And if we want to talk about lack of consistency overall in terms of the starting lineup, look, and this one was, we could talk, I'm just going to touch on it very briefly.
00:12:43
Speaker
You know, we I was thinking maybe Tino was going to start this game, but I know that he didn't really have a lot of first-team minutes, first-team games. So I understood why he didn't get a start in this particular game. You could have played with Alex a little bit farther because I thought Kalani struggled a bit in this game. So I thought that that would have been an interesting – or ah a good decision to make there because Tino has size, Tino has done it against Timo Vernon, has done against Jaboa. He has showed you that he can perform. He's been very good. But I understood that Brian would not want a guy that didn't have a lot of minutes. So when I see one of those three substitutions in the 70th be Peter Kingston, then I'm just like, oh, so that's another decision that has no consistency overall because Peter, who I love, has no...
00:13:38
Speaker
Minutes, no playtime in this type of game, i aside from what he's been able to provide you in in the cameos that he's had. So overall, the lack of consistency is what drove me crazy about Jesus Ferreira. And I'm adding these examples just to elaborate a little bit more of that lack of consistency in terms of those approach concepts that you want into a game.
00:14:02
Speaker
But bottom line is this, and I'll end with this, Ari. and I'm probably to have more to say about it, but I'm going to conclude this particular rant right here.
00:14:15
Speaker
The reality is that it didn't work. And i know that you created opportunities, but my guess is the reason why you started Paul Arriola and Paul Rothrock on the wings was because you thought that both of those guys were going to give you Paul really has that Liga MX experience, although, to be honest, and I have a lot of respect for Paul Arriola, he hasn't played in Liga MX since 2017. And whatever you can provide in terms of experience and what what the way you play a game, you can share that information in the locker room. You don't need to have it. So that should never trump talent, right? Talent and and skill set and and performance should not be trumped by the fact that you played
00:15:00
Speaker
years and years and years ago in Liga MX, but it's okay. I like Paul Arriola. I thought he had a, he had an okay game. But if the whole point of having both of those guys were that they had that dual defensive and offensive component, because Paul Arriola is not just experienced, but he's a very good defender. He plays left back, wing back. So he has a very good sense of defense. That didn't work.
00:15:24
Speaker
Uh, Look, I don't know what it was about that right side, whether it was Kalani getting too high, whether it was Apollo Riola and his ah communication, but that was a freeway all game long for Tigers to attack. that They saw that as an Achilles heel the entire game. So all of it.
00:15:43
Speaker
whatever it is that Brian wanted to do with that didn't quite work. And the chances that you did have, because I do want to credit Paul on some of those, Paul Arriola and Paul Rothrock and even Albert, because he creates a couple of moments. It just didn't work.
00:15:58
Speaker
And none of that would be scrutinized if you had just played your best players. Yeah, lot to get to there, but I think you kind of hit on what I was thinking about with ah one of your thoughts there, which is just the notion of overthinking it.
00:16:18
Speaker
You know, let's let's start with this. Like, I i feel like. it's pretty it's pretty clear to me at least that heis ferreira should be and needs to be starting any game of consequence for this team and this was a game of heavy consequence you know it doesn't decide the series but really like to increase your chances of advancing you really needed a road goal so what lineup maximizes your chances of getting that like i there's just no way for me where i can get there where that starting 11 that has the best chance of doing that doesn't include Jesus Ferreira. I think we've seen that in how this team has played to start the season. He already has five assists, all comps. And, I mean, we've been seeing him do it week in and week out with the role that he's played as a facilitator for this team.
00:17:10
Speaker
For me, the thought of going into a game like this and not having Jesus Ferreira in the starting 11, it gives me anxiety. It gave me anxiety when I saw the lineup before the game. And that's not – it, like – It is a difficult situation, admittedly, like we were talking about it on the postgame show, but you are in a situation where someone's going to be on the bench in this scenario that you kind of that raises an eyebrow like Paul Rothrock, like you mentioned, has been red hot. I don't think you could take him out of the lineup right now. Albert Rusnak is a starter for this team every week is a DP. number 10, the one I look at is it's it's basically a decision to me between Jesus and Paul Areola. And that is tough because I think it feels like ah this is sort of a tournament that they're using to get Paul Areola some shine, some run, get his fitness back up coming off the injury. And it did work in the Vancouver series. He was a big reason you took the result that you did in the away leg of that series.
00:18:13
Speaker
But for me in in this situation, i would have preferred to see him run it with Jesus and Paul Rothrock. And then you can bring Paul Areola in as the super sub. ah Jesus coming in as the super sub. Also, like you mentioned, the sub wasn't made until the 73rd minute. So if you are going to bring Jesus for off the bench,
00:18:35
Speaker
It should be on 60 at the latest because you need that you need that time to be able to, like you said, get acclimated to the game, get into the game, and really have enough time to make the impact. Coming in at the 73rd, that's like, I feel like, kind of too late to be able to make that impact like you would normally want from Jesus Ferreira or you would normally get from Jesus Ferreira. So yeah, it's not how I would have lined it up. Am I as outraged about it as you and Noah?
00:19:04
Speaker
I see. I would be more outraged if I felt like the lineup that he ran instead was totally unjustifiable or there was a guy in there that was starting that like shouldn't have been starting or hasn't earned starting. I don't really feel like that. I feel like you can make good arguments for Paul Areola being in the starting 11 this game.
00:19:25
Speaker
for this game And Paul Rothrock, I think, kind of had to be in the starting 11 for this game. But Jesus Ferreira, I think, yeah, should have been in the starting lineup for this game. And the fact that he wasn't, ah you know, if Paul Rothrock scores that road goal at the at the back post, it's a little easier to to stomach it. It's a little more palatable. But the fact that that was what they ran and then that they they got shut out,
00:19:51
Speaker
that It does call it into question, and I'm looking forward to the interactions between you and Schmetz this week because you're going to be asking him about it, and I don't think he's going to ah i don't think he's goingnna like it. I think there's probably going to be some ah some tension with those interactions, but I know you don't care about that, and you're going to ask it anyway, so that's why we love and appreciate you, Nico. But it might get a little testy out at Long Acres. But on some level, he has to kind of know, when you make a call like that and it doesn't work out, it's going to get called into question. That's just life. So we'll see how it goes. But Nico, why don't you take this one from Gianni, and then we'll hit the super chat. Gianni says, couldn't the reason be that Areola stays wider, which means we aren't as reliant on KKR going forward to generate width, making us less susceptible to a counter down that side? you that, Nico?
00:20:42
Speaker
Unfortunately, KKR was up the field a lot, and the system never changed. That's what you expect out of Kalani on that side. it's That's the reason why there's been this emphasis on pocket winger by Brian Spencer, and it's worked. It's worked because they have you have the overlaps, you have the underlaps, so that specific player needs to be able to do both. You've got to be able to cut inside and attack on those inside channels and at times b eight ten But there's times where you are going to need to allow ah that right back, whether it's Alex or KKR, to get inside in those inside channels and you play wider. I mean, that's just the way it works. We've talked to Alex about what's the difference in terms of this year, the Sounders wanting to
00:21:27
Speaker
add more numbers forward and his specific role. And he said, look, there's a lot of times where I'm ah very central and and I need to occupy those inside channels. And you saw that are a Kalani. So that that never changed. that that that necessarily That doesn't necessarily work with that analogy, although I understand what you you think about it a little bit like that, but that's just not what happened. And even if that was the case, Ferrer can absolutely play that wider position, or no problem. I actually think that a lot of the issues that kind of came up with those direct balls that were consistently being put out is that
00:22:08
Speaker
I love Kalani. I think Kalani is a very good player. He's so athletic. He's so gritty and such a good player. But a lot of times those... players in any sport really that have that athletic ability, they get a little reliant on that recovery speed and you're out of position. And sometimes that let's call it 10 yards, 15 yards, it makes a big difference. And and I think that that's what Tigres kept going at Kalani side. So um I don't think that was it.
00:22:40
Speaker
Magno, thank you for the $5 super chat. Appreciate the support. Also, I don't know what amount of likes we're sitting on for the video right now, but I know it's not enough. Everyone, please go ahead and like the video and subscribe to the channel if you haven't. We're on the road to 4K. Magno says, Jesus needs to be a starter. Also still wondering why he can't play a full 90. Yeah, that's another thing. Yes. I also think Schmetz made us up 10 minutes too late.
00:23:02
Speaker
yeah yeah Thank you. that That's part of my question, because if there's something that made my blood boil, was Jackson Feltz on your live show talking about rotation.
00:23:14
Speaker
Rotation? Spare me the BS. Do not patronize me. Do not insult my intelligence. Ferrara has yet to play beyond 77 minutes this season. 77 minutes this season. The guy that last year was one of your most, I want to say he had the most minutes out of any field player last season. 48 games.
00:23:38
Speaker
like And he's one of your cornerstones of your offense. He has been producing 77 minutes. There's no game this weekend. There's no game this weekend. Rotation of what? What are we talking about? this is con cast It would be the Houston game taken into account.
00:23:53
Speaker
but and It doesn't matter because you had rest. that that Again, Ferra has yet to play beyond 77 minutes. You think that a professional, you think that...
00:24:05
Speaker
League MX guys who just played with their starting lineup this weekend are not going to play this weekend. I mean, come on, guys. like like it Me and Danny Jackson, who is also part of the KJR call, who is a former Leeds player,
00:24:19
Speaker
We talk about this all the time. it's like, I don't understand what's up with this rotation stuff. Like when, when I used to be a player, he he tell me that was no rotation. It was week after week. You went, you play with your best players. Sometimes you need that. And you know, when you need that, when you're playing, when your life is on the line, because this was a decisive game, regardless of whether was leg one or not, that was a decisive game.
00:24:39
Speaker
Getting an away goal would have put you in the driving seat. Getting an away goal might've changed things. And when, You're a team like the Sounders that is struggling to score right now.
00:24:52
Speaker
Why remove any component out of what has eventually resulted in goals? Because that's what he's doing. He's contributing. It is not a coincidence that he creates that many chances, that he has that many assists. It's not.
00:25:08
Speaker
So why remove that component when, as I mentioned to start the show, even when it comes to the profile of player that you want it, you weren't getting an edge anywhere by not having Ferrara. So that's what I want to know from, from,
00:25:24
Speaker
Brian, and what changed? what Why is all of sudden Ferreira, guy that you brought in and and that we all talked about having a DP talent without a DP salary, now is he a rotational player now?
00:25:37
Speaker
I mean, should we expect him to get traded like Georgie Menungu? I mean, I just, it just baffles my mind. Like, I just, I'm so upset about it because there is no reason why he is, like, Paul Rothelgaard's got 90 at least a couple of times.
00:25:54
Speaker
So has Albert Rosnack. And in terms of minutes, I mean, they've got way more minutes. But 77 minutes, is that the cutoff line? Do we not know of a conditioning issue?
00:26:05
Speaker
what What is Brian not seeing out of Ferreira that is making him this rotational player? Because I sure don't know. So that that maybe that should be a question today for me because I just i just don't get it. Yeah, what is up with him not playing full 90s, you know? Like you said, other guys are playing full 90s. Paul Rothrock played full 90. He did a double 90. And Jesus Ferreira, it's not like, ah to my knowledge, that there's anything that suggests he's not capable of that workload. He took on a huge workload last year. I feel like he was playing 90s last year. And also, you know, maybe if maybe if there was something to, ah like, his effort or work rate, it would it would be explainable. But he's the opposite of that. Like, he's one of the most high effort attackers I could think of. His work rate is incredible. Like, his yeah contributions as a pressing player, we talk about it every week, how elite he is at that. So there's there's just, you know, with Albert Rusnak, if this was happening, you could be like, well, maybe Schmetz is seeing something with his effort or his
00:27:12
Speaker
Work rate as much as I think yeah that's kind of overblown Like you could maybe point To that but with Ferreira you really cannot Like there is no Argument for that so That's what I'm saying I mean you you you touched on it And it was you know is there any of these Guys that you could You know say he shouldn't be and and if Productivity is one of them then And this is not a I am not a Albert Rusnak, hater at all. I actually love Albert Rusnak. I think he's high IQ player. I enjoy the way he plays the game, but he just hasn't performed. So why does he get to start and Jesus doesn't, right? And
00:27:50
Speaker
Even Paul Rothrock, he has been working his minutes and he has been working his conditioning. So even if he wouldn't have started this game and he would have been a super sub, that that might have been more understandable. And again, with Paul Rothrock, even with how good he's been, if you want to talk to me about ah strategy, about a way to maybe get an edge on Tigres,
00:28:16
Speaker
bringing in a Angry, full tank, ready to go, Paul Rothrock in the 60th, in the 70th. If there's a guy that's going to perform 20 minutes,
00:28:30
Speaker
It's Paul. He's done it. he was He used to be your break that glass, take him out of, unpackage him, throw him on the field, and boom, he makes something happen.
00:28:40
Speaker
So if you have that data and you understand, you know that he can perform at that level with that amount minutes, why not use that? So I wouldn't have better than that because if I asked Brian, hey, why did Paul Rothlux start? Well, we wanted to bring him in late and be be a a spark plug off the bench, be a super sub, do what he does best. It'd be hard to argue with that But if we talk have the same conversation about Jesus, I'd be like, well, that's ridiculous because that's not his game. That's not what he does. So those are the problems that I have with this. year And now look, I know I'm coming off extremely harsh and it's more based on what I think is low-key disrespectful to not have Jesus Ferreira.
00:29:22
Speaker
I think that when the narrative consistently, when he comes to playing Liga MX teams is and MLS teams don't have enough salary cap space. They don't have enough talent because they can't compete at that level with Liga MX. Then why in the hell are we leaving Liga a player like Jesus on the bench. I just i just i just don't don't don't get it. So Brian, we've given him flowers. He's been really good. He's gotten his team off to a very good start. Maybe it hasn't been pretty all the time. There's been some smashing grabs like San Jose, like San Luis, but Brian has been good.
00:30:00
Speaker
But whenever he makes a bad decision and he lands in in a poor performance when there was an opportunity to be had, because let me, If you didn't see the game or if maybe you don't see Tigres all the time, not only is Tigres not as good as they used to be and they're actually struggling in in Liga MX comparably to prior seasons, but they had a bad game.
00:30:27
Speaker
I mean, Angel Correa was poor in this game. El Bufalo Aguirre was poor in this game. I mean, he was more concerned about... trying to take Christian Roldan's legs from under him than scoring any goals.
00:30:43
Speaker
Brunetta came into this game late and was key. I think he's going to start here in Lumen. I think Gorrián was pretty good. But those moments that Tigres had, you might not get those again. Because, look... ah It almost felt, and again, i haven't rewatched the presser, but it almost felt as if Brian had said, look, in with in the first half, we had it right what we wanted.
00:31:11
Speaker
Or we I was pleased with what happened. You had a a penalty kick that you were lucky that Angel put over the top of the goal that came off of a miscommunication between Paula Riola and...
00:31:31
Speaker
um Paul Arriola and Albert Rusnak that ends up leading to them getting the ball back. It comes all the way across around. They make a quick switch. It's a throw-in. They make a quick switch.
00:31:47
Speaker
They isolate Linus on Nuhu, and the the the the penalty kick kick happens. You had a couple of other opportunities where Stefan Frey came out big.
00:32:00
Speaker
Angel Correa a couple of times was poor inside the box. So those moments, I mean, you, you were a little bit lucky that Tigres didn't score and you didn't concede. Now on offense, you created opportunities, which I'm okay with. And and I want to,
00:32:15
Speaker
once again, bring up the fact that i don't think Paul Riola was horrible. I don't. I think that he wasn't great, but i thought he had moments. I thought Jordan Morris struggled, but it was more about the lack of of services in, and he had a couple of bad moments, and we'll talk about those once we talk about Jordan Morris. But Albert Rosnick specifically, he just didn't have a good game. He just wasn't influential enough. he you know the the He had a couple of good through balls, but there just wasn't enough. So,
00:32:45
Speaker
When I look at the overall lineup, there there were some opportunities missed that if in that first half you put away that chance, I want to say that was in the first half, that Paul Rothrock has where um Jackson Reagan does like a dummy and he lets the ball go and Paul Rothrock puts the ball away. I mean, man, that changes the game. Maybe Seattle...
00:33:11
Speaker
you know, wins this game or whatever the case may be. And I don't like to get into the what ifs because because that that doesn't ever help anything and you don't get those moments back. I just understand why people and myself would be upset by not having your best players on the field.
00:33:30
Speaker
That's all. Yeah, you know, sometimes when people try to discount Schmetz as a coach, something you hear is like, well, you know, he doesn't have to do all that much. He's given these really good rosters every year, and it's kind of all he's doing is just kind of putting his best players out there and letting it happen. And it's not like there's any great, super advanced X's and O's that you need to get into.
00:33:53
Speaker
for that. But for me, that's like, that's a strength is not overthinking it. Just putting your best lineup out there and letting the chips fall where they may. And it feels like that might've gotten deviated from here where, you know, maybe getting a little too cute with it. Like, Oh, I'm actually going to start Paul Areola in this game because of this, this, and this.
00:34:12
Speaker
When in reality, it's like, Whatever final conclusion that you come to with how you're going to line it up, Jesus has got to be in there if this team is going to maximize its chances of scoring a goal in a situation where it's admittedly challenging to score. You're not necessarily going to get all that many clear-cut chances in a road game in Mexico to get the road goal that you need.
00:34:34
Speaker
And it kind of you leave yourself susceptible to the outcome that you saw, which was... Three, I think, really good chances, but no goals. Gianni is cooking right now. This is good. This is good. Yeah, he says there has to be something that Schmetz is asking Jesus to do that he just isn't doing. Don't know what it is, but can't explain it otherwise. But then he says, unless puts on tinfoil hat.
00:34:55
Speaker
He's trying to keep Jesus from hitting his escalator minutes. There we go. heard that out. I've heard that. That's a good comment because I've heard of it. Obviously, I'm not going to entertain it, but I've heard that.
00:35:06
Speaker
And i mean... I don't think that's the case. I would hope that that's not the case. um but but But I've heard that comment before, that that those foil hats are out there. that's as if As long as Jesus keeps playing 62 minutes at a time, coming off the bench in CCC games, ah the tinfoil hats are going to be on. And um I can't wait to see the the scrums from Long Acres this week.
00:35:31
Speaker
I think it's going to be hot. uh noah is saying uh andrew thomas over fry why in the world is andrew thomas not playing in the most important tournament yeah some people were outraged about this as well once again maybe i'm maybe not on as hot of the ah outrage spectrum as some over this but what do you make of fry being the guy for this tournament because i feel like in vancouver it looked like it worked this one maybe like i think for me when the penalty kick happened That's where you're like, ooh, man, ooh, would be nice to have Andrew Thomas in there. But what do you think of that, Nico?
00:36:04
Speaker
So first of all, you remind me of something that I had somewhere in his notes.
00:36:11
Speaker
the The best game that I've seen from the Sounders this season was at BC Place in the first leg of CCC in the last round. They had a Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira, and Albert Rosnick. I really thought that since that formation had worked so greatly and especially in transition moments that were so effective and and lethal that I thought that would make some sort of sense because I think that there is something to have in that Ferreira, Paul Arriola relationship in there.
00:36:46
Speaker
I would have liked to seen that rather than what we saw in this one. Now, when he comes to Stefan Fry,
00:36:55
Speaker
It's difficult ah because at least you had you had made up your mind early. you You had decided, just like you did last season, that Andrew was going to play this tournament, Steph was going to play this one. Now, if you're willing to live with that, if you're willing to say that right off the bat, you kind of have to follow through with it, unfortunately.
00:37:20
Speaker
Do I think that Andrew Thomas would have... maybe save that first goal. Maybe, maybe I think that that, that one, that, that was just a, that pass was, wo Oh yeah, no, that, that was a nice goal.
00:37:38
Speaker
Yeah, Gorriaran, the little back heel is beautifully... I'll say a goal a goal like a goal like that, this is just me personally, a goal like that, I'm never really pressed about the goalkeeper that much. yeah Maybe Andrew Thomas saves it, but that's more about like the fact that the guy has wide-ass open shot one-on-one with your goalkeeper. Exactly. That's usually not going to end well against a team like you. That's exactly what I wanted to go to, right? It's just the what-ifs are hard to you know talk about and...
00:38:06
Speaker
multi-universe type of stuff. what What would have happened if Andrew would have been there? i mean, don't really help anything. And maybe he does make that save, but there's no guarantee. So as you mentioned, the real problem in that specific goal is a direct ball that gets misread by Alex Roldan a bit. He kind of comes off his foot. Kalani way too far ahead of Alex to make any recovery speed. It's ah it's a beautifully one-two play there with Gorriaran. And Herrera doesn't just get into the space correctly, but then...
00:38:45
Speaker
The way he opens up his hip, the way he puts that ball, where he puts it, that's a difficult shot for any goalkeeper to stop. So can I guarantee that Andrew would have better with that? No, maybe because he's the more athletic guy. He's the better shot stopper. Sure. But I think that Steph did everything he could to make his body big, to cut off the angle, to press the the ball carrier. i thought that he...
00:39:09
Speaker
checkmark every single fundamental that a goalkeeper does in that particular moment. So I can't just put it on, on stuff. I don't think any of the gore goals were on stuff, but if we're talking about consistent,
00:39:26
Speaker
top process. If we're talking about performance, then yes, usually Andrew Thomas should be the one in there, but the goalkeeping situation as it often is, is completely different than anything in soccer. Goalkeepers are treated very different. a situation is is is very particular. So I don't, I don't hate it. I'm fine with it. I'm fine with Stefan Fry being the goalkeeper.
00:39:51
Speaker
He actually created a couple of good moments. i love his distribution. i Maybe i I harp too much on it, but he creates a moment ah to Jordan Morris off of an excellent ball over the top that Jordan just finds himself way too by himself.
00:40:07
Speaker
And I think that that goes part of why I wish that Jesus would have been there because he's really good at reading those moments. He likes to cheat in in that back line. He's always looking to get behind it. I think he's one of those guys that could have been a little bit higher up the field that moment. And then Jordan gets dispossessed. But I think that there's a lot of things about Steph that I really like in this specific tournament.
00:40:28
Speaker
Nico, let's bust out the lineup builder. But ah before we do that, how are you feeling about this leg too? Because I got to say, the vibes around here have been a little too doomsday for me. You know, a lot of people on the postgame show were talking about how it's already over. Noah was talking about on our pod how it's already over. It's not over like two zero aggregate going into leg two. It's not a great position to be in, but it's not, it's, ah it is not chalked literally like ah the only scenario you have to jump to where this becomes a series again is if Seattle comes out in this home leg on Wednesday gets on top of Tigris early. Like we've seen them do a lot of times at Lumen field and they get a goal in the first season.
00:41:10
Speaker
Honestly, if if they are able to score a goal in the first half and this go in this game goes into halftime 1-0, you are right there. You need one goal to get it to ah extra time. So, like, and really, you know, you're in a win-by-two situation. Is there precedent for them winning by two against a Liga Mechies team at Lumen Field? I mean, I can recall a game last year where they won by seven against a Liga Mechies team. Do you think, I guess, that's one of my first questions. Do you think this Tigris team is...
00:41:40
Speaker
is substantially different in quality or talent level than Cruz Azul of last year, the team that came in here in Seattle 7-0. I don't know if there's all that much of a difference there. Like, if you want to tell me this Tigris team is a little bit better, okay, but, like, I don't think it is a situation where it's like, oh, this Tigris team is a way, way different, better animal than Cruz Azul was last year. I'm not saying they're going to 7-0 it. I'm just saying, like, the notion of them – winning by two goals or taking the result that they need to advance. It's not like the craziest thing I've ever heard. You don't have to jump to the most outlandish hypothetical of all time to, ah to get there. So I guess just in general, before we talk about how they're going to line it up, what do you think of their chances? And then what do what do they need to do to actually put themselves in a position to make a comeback here?
00:42:32
Speaker
Yeah, i don't think it's over. um I would be, wrong to dismiss the possibilities of this Sounders team, as you mentioned, getting motivated, figuring it out, playing to the top of their ability and scoring that goal early. And and we'll talk about maybe what they have to do here in a little bit, but I really don't think it's chopped. I definitely don't think that's the case.
00:43:00
Speaker
It's not ideal. I'd say that out a respect for this group of players, Brian Smetzer, them playing at home, I give them a 50-50 chance. It's not great. I mean, you know, it might be a bit of a toy cost a ah coin toss. I don't think that I would go any farther than that.
00:43:22
Speaker
and And that's a lot, in my opinion. I'm giving them a lot of chances with that 50-50 simply because of the the group that they are, the the experience that they have, and and what I'm hoping is a a very...
00:43:37
Speaker
motivated team going into this game. But the reality is, is that you are one goal away from being in a deep, deep hole. All Tigres needs to do is score one goal. And when you're trying to be a team that needs to decipher how many numbers do I commit forward? How much do I gamble to get an early goal and or give one up? That's a tough task. I mean, it's difficult.
00:44:06
Speaker
Now, is Tigres kind of playing with fire? Maybe not so much because I thought it was kind of disrespectful that they put they they completely finished Chivas in one half. yeah yeah and And they still didn't necessarily sub all their players out. So we'll see how that works out. But I do think that if the Sounders go into this game and they are lethal in transition moments. If they get a Jordan Morris that didn't have a very good game at El Volcan, but I'm sure he wants redemption.
00:44:44
Speaker
I think he put himself in good positions, to be honest. And I and i see some of that explosiveness. And I want to see Jordan Morris start one more time. Maybe with an early goal, you could really put the pressure on Tigres. And if anything you learn from this game is that this team is not as good as you thought it was. And you can hurt them and you can create chances and you can hold them to a certain extent.
00:45:09
Speaker
But to your question, are they better than the Cruz Azul team that the Sounders beat 7-0? I don't. I do think the Cruz Azul team was better from back. Oh, you think they were better? Yeah, I think the Cruz Azul team was better, to be quite honest. Especially this Tigres. They won CCC last year. Especially these Tigres. I mean, that was a horrendous game that just completely...
00:45:33
Speaker
It might be as consequential as anything and and very isolated. But I think overall, that Cruz Azul team was had more talent in different parts of the field, starting with their back line. I mean, that back line was very good. The fact that Seda was able to put seven on them is crazy to me. That goalkeeper, you know, that back line was excellent. The midfield was very good. So, yeah, I think that, sure, anything can happen.
00:46:03
Speaker
But the odds are not on the home team. And the reason of that is simple. The away goal and the tough task that is trying to get a goal while trying to stop so many of these very good players. And again, Brunetta, he played 88 minutes against Chivas.
00:46:27
Speaker
So I don't know if he'll start, maybe possibly, but I think he's one of those guys that really made that team tick once he came on. I thought Diego Linus was very ineffective. He was exciting. He gets on the ball, shifty here and there, but effectiveness, I don't think he was quite there. So if... um um the Tigres coach can decipher that it maybe start off with a really good lineup to possess the ball, to get through balls, to to kind of take advantage of a desperate Sounders team. It might be a difficult ah night at the office, but I do think that there's a chance that this Sounders team can can make it happen.
00:47:05
Speaker
To one of those points that you were making there, Wade says, I don't know if you guys have seen Mexican media, but they are acting like it's over. They are throwing a lot of shade at this team saying that they played football. And yeah, I'm glad you brought that up, Wade. I have been following that and I get the exact same sense. They do think it's over. And you know how do you know how you know that they think it's over? Because what you mentioned, Nico, they had a league game over the weekend ah against Chivas at home.
00:47:30
Speaker
Not only did they not rotate at all, but like you said, they got out to a lead and they still didn't take their guys off. You don't do that unless you think that your CCC series is in the bag.
00:47:42
Speaker
So and their media as well, which that's predictable. You know, I knew that was coming in after that game. If you if you watch their media and their pundits, you would have thought that Tigger is seven zeroed Seattle from the way that they're talking about it.
00:47:57
Speaker
And to that, I say, Nico, that's fine. That's fine. Let him think that, you know what else they're going to do. And we all know what's coming. I really don't think they're going to come into Lumen and try to score that hard. Like there, if there's counters there to be taken, sure. They'll try it. But what they're going to do is they're going to come in and they're going to be time wasting right off rip. And they're going to be trying to sit on this lead because they think the fact that they're up by multiple goals means that they can do that. And they're not going to have any trouble. So they are 100% coming into this game with an attitude that is arrogant, that they're way better than Seattle, and that and that they have it in the bag. like They are 0% threatened right now. they are There is 0% of their mind that thinks that Seattle has any chance to come back on them.
00:48:45
Speaker
And that's fine. That's fine. That's up to me. That's the mentality I want them to have. Good. Think that it's over. Think that your 2-0 is insurmountable in that ah you're going to be able to keep a clean sheet at Lumen Field super easily and that you're going to be able to score on the counter super easily and that all you need to do is time waste and you'll be chilling and you'll be vibing. That is exactly what they think. That's exactly what they're going to do.
00:49:08
Speaker
Let him think that. Let him do that like that. Everyone's worried about them time wasting. Let him time waste. Let him time waste. If they're time wasting, they're not trying to score. so i will sayly It's it's a good thing, i think, that they're feeling like No, 100%. I totally agree. And Seattle needs to take advantage of that. If that's the case, and Guido Pizarro, the Tigres coach, is telling this team that it's over, that there's no problem, and they underestimate Seattle, they're going to see another thing on that field.
00:49:36
Speaker
But Seattle needs to be better. And it's not just about the lineup. It's not just about adding answers forever. I think that pressing is going to be important because if anything, this team has struggled with pressing moments. If you look at some of the Liga MX games they've lost, they've struggled with some pressing moments. So I'm hoping that Seattle goes and tries to attack that aspect of the game.
00:49:58
Speaker
But I was a little disappointed going rewatching the game last night
00:50:05
Speaker
The pivots need to be better it on the ball. So many missed opportunities, so so much lack of sharpness in that particular part of the field, I'm not used to.
00:50:21
Speaker
I thought Snyder Brunel had really good moments on the ball, but passing the ball and decision-making wasn't all quite there for me. re-watching that game and being a little bit more, putting him a bit of a magnifying glass on him. I thought he could have been a lot sharper.
00:50:37
Speaker
But Christian Rodin, specifically him, man, just unusual turnovers. I think this season he hasn't been s sharp on the ball as he typically is. He almost gets this possess in the box one time, and moments where he's just passing it back. If you look at the the first 45 minutes, the possession that Seattle did have was in their own half. It wasn't like they were possessing and ah passing through
00:51:08
Speaker
lines of press or anything like that. They need to be more purposeful with the ball. And I think a lot of that falls on those pivots to just be more effective on the ball. ah I thought white play was, was, was fine. I thought it worked. I thought whether it was Kalani at times, although he did struggle, he wasn't perfect. He had some, so some bad moments as well on ah offense. I thought that he at least was trying to create with and whenever,
00:51:34
Speaker
Paul Arriola was in those inside channels and Kalani was able to get forward. That was working a bit. But the pivots particularly and a central play from your 10, whether that's Jesus or whether that's Albert, it needs to be a lot better because it just wasn't effective enough.
00:51:52
Speaker
All right. but what about But what about Jordan? I'm sure that you want to say something about Jordan. You had that on your on your list of things, I thought. Well, yeah. we Let's bust out the lineup builder, and we can talk about that as we build that out. If you all have not done so yet, please like the video if you're watching on YouTube and sub to the channel and also subscribe to our new title sponsor, QED Coffee, lobandscorchers.com slash coffee. or qedcoffee.com slash lobbing scorchers and uh you can also check out their physical locations folks mount baker west seattle and three tree point in burien uh all right nico let's do it we got the lineup builder let's talk about how the seattle sounders are going to line it up against tigris on wednesday and i think there's some uh there's some interesting stuff to talk about here for sure based on a lot of the discourse we've gotten into here this morning
00:52:45
Speaker
But ah Nico, let's start with the with the back line. And obviously the FOTMOP default has Andrew Thomas in there, but we're going to switch that to Stephen Fry. He is the CCC goalkeeper. Nico, what do you think of the back line? The default has got Nuhu, Jackson, Reagan, Tino, and KKR. Do you I think I mean, I think they're probably just going to run the Alex Roldan KKR thing again. But the question I think is, should they you know, I think there we didn't even talk about it at all. But there's, there's at least an argument to be made that they should have ran Tino Lopez at CB and Alex Roldan at right back in Mexico. They have been doing the Alex KKR look for all of CCC, and it seems like Schmetz is kind of committed to running what he sees as his CCC lineup. So I think it's probably going to be the Alex KKR look, but I mean, do you think it could be Tino and Alex? What are you thinking for the back line? ah Man, it's it's ah it's a difficult one because if you were going to start Tino, I thought you should have started a medical kind. I know maybe that sounds um contradictory ah because it is a tough place to play at, but
00:53:52
Speaker
needing a goal, having two potential really good attackers from that back line to just add on at specific times ah in Alex and Kalani, that might be the route that that that you kind of have to take because you you do want to get that that goal back.
00:54:12
Speaker
As much as Kalani could have been a little bit sharper in the final third when he did get forward, He's just good at doing it. He either draws a foul or he beats, you know, he he penetrates lines on the ball, right? he He cuts the pressing moments on the ball. And I feel like that's important. And Alex can get forward and ah provide you some distribution from what he plays at center back. So I think for this specific game, I'm fine with it but
00:54:44
Speaker
Against Tigres, if we were going to trust the kids and we're going to trust bringing in Peter Kingston in the 70th minute and we're going to trust an 18-year-old Snyder Burnell at center mid and we're going to trust Kalani.
00:54:58
Speaker
although he's not the most experienced. I thought that Tino Lopez had done enough to start this game. And what he provides was something that you needed there, which was size, a guy that can run stride for stride with most attackers. and Or he has proven on the field, proven.
00:55:16
Speaker
He has dog in him. He's a bigger frame guy. So I i thought you could use that at El Bocan. I think in this one, because of the scoreline, I would rather just keep it as is because you have more opportunities with those two that you do with Tino on the field.
00:55:33
Speaker
What do you think of James's point right here? I mean, I think there's at least a conversation to be had here. says Alex didn't look capable of handling the physicality at CB against a good team. I mean, I was talking about this after the game. It's like this novelty back line that they've concocted with Alex at CB and Kalani at right back. It's a lot of fun. And I think it's shown to work very well against MLS opposition. But at the end of the day, you are like they you are playing a guy out of position who's not necessarily used to playing that position and maybe is not as – like Jackson Reagan or Yaimar, Alex Roldan is not physically.
00:56:09
Speaker
Yeah, you know and and that that this is one of the things where me and Brian – like i'm always go to press I'm always going to praise Brian when he needs it. I'm always going to have the utmost respect for him because he has earned that respect with his trajectory.
00:56:25
Speaker
But I think there are times where he gets too comfortable or gets too high on his own product. And the whole thing about, you know, Alex could be the next Yamar and Alex is going to be the center bag. Look,
00:56:42
Speaker
No disrespect to Alex. He's a phenomenal player and he is a warrior. And if I need a player to come out with a knife between his teeth, he's one of those guys that I want on my side. And he has earned and he has been very good at many a times playing center back. But as you mentioned, that's not his position. And whether Brian likes that or not, his makeshift is a makeshift.
00:57:05
Speaker
forceful thing that you need to do to get around a game. But you're never going to be as physical as Jamar. He has been your best defender since 2020 for a reason. So...
00:57:17
Speaker
To your point, yes, it would be great to have a guy like Tino Lopez that is a center back by trade and a center back who's physical, who can handle that physicality. I think Alex has the dog in him, but at times he can only do so much. He's only so big. And look, he's yoked. I mean, he and he has a great center of gravity.
00:57:36
Speaker
But you're going get overpowered at times, especially with this team that they're a little bit dirty. if you look at El Buffalo, he's a dirty player. And and he's going to push and he's going to shove. And on set pieces, I mean, um who is the guy that comes in? Joaquim, the Brazilian center back that came in, that scores that second goal. Man, that guy's going to be a problem on every set piece. He's big, he's strong, he gets ahead. I mean, those are the moments where that lack of size happens.
00:58:03
Speaker
for whatever but but for better or for worse, it's going to cost you. You know how they say you can't teach size? Sometimes that's the thing when it comes to being a defensive player on offense and attack. I mean, Lionel Messi is a monster, right? But there are parts of the field where you can't teach size, and that's a problem. So, yes, I think that that's a great point by James. that There were moments that...
00:58:24
Speaker
Alex had issues with that physicality. And, you know, Brian needs to realize that just because things work and he's getting results doesn't mean that that's always going to work because there are moments that we're going to be pressed beyond your ability to handle a position that's not yours necessarily.
00:58:44
Speaker
While we're talking about the back line, I did want to bring up Stu Hawkins, Stuart Hawkins. We haven't talked about him much this year because he's been injured, but he's back in full training and raring to go as far as I know. So, i you know, I don't know if he's going to be playing any sort of role in this game because he's just coming back. But I'm excited to see Stu Hawks work back into the fold here. I think that I liked what I saw from him last year, and I think there's something he there's a great chance that he could actually contribute to this team ah this season. So hopefully he gets back works back in the mix in the coming games here, even if it's not in this particular game. But I'll tell you what, Nico, what I'm going to do here is I'm going to just put the Alex KKR back line because I think this is a game where you need to score a goal, and this is yeah your most attack-minded back line. But I'll be a little annoyed if he runs Tino and Alex just because it's like the game to do that would have been the last game.
00:59:42
Speaker
like you'rere You're flipping when you should. have told this This is the game for the Alex KKR look. That would have been the game for the Tino look. So if he looks at is like, oh, wait a minute, maybe Alex out of position against the Liga and Mekki's team isn't the greatest idea after all, then you know it's going to be hard not to feel like, well, you probably should have thought of that before the first game then. But Either way, I think they're going to run the game. maybe, you know, maybe if you trust Alex to be more effective in the final third and you just...
01:00:08
Speaker
lock in with three in the back completely and you ally Alex to just have free range and just stay pressing on the right side of pin and back maybe but I'm with you I would be a little bit annoyed if this is the the moment where you choose to bring Tino Lopez in because again I mean it is the lack of consistency within your philosophy right I mean you decided to put Peter Kingston over Cody Baker and in a game of that magnitude in the 70th minute when you're down one zero and I'm cool with it. If that's what you want to do, cool. But I mean, Tino Lopez could have then started that game because he's more proven at least for for this team so far than, than Peter himself. again, Again, I love Peter. This not an anti-Peter thing, but putting a position that isn't his own, another makeshift moment, and that he doesn't have that experience, I mean, I would have been more than fine with playing a little bit more conservative, if you will, by putting Tino Lopez next to Jackson Reagan with Alex and his experience at right back.
01:01:10
Speaker
What do you think about the double pivot, Nico? Is it going to be Snyder B again or Hassani? Snyder started in Mexico and Hassani did come on as a sub, but not till the 78th. What do you think?
01:01:22
Speaker
Who's going to start? Unless there's an injury, that those are the pivots. Again, and i I do think Snyder needs to be better um on the ball. And I think that Christian Roldan needs to be a whole lot better.
01:01:36
Speaker
And I know he... knows this. And I know that he is his biggest critic. And I know that he is looking at that game and saying, i need to be better. So he needs to be substantially, substantially better than he was at El Balcan for this team to have any sort of chance. But this is these are the pivots. There's nothing else. If you're going to start Hassani Dotson,
01:01:56
Speaker
Again, it was going to be at El Volcan because in my mind, maybe you were going to be more pragmatic. You were going to talk about experience. You were going to talk about minutes played at the first team level.
01:02:09
Speaker
and And that's why you would start Hassani Datsun. But in this one, you need goals. You need transition moments. You need a guy like Snyder that's creative, explosive, good on the ball, beats ah players with the ball. And again, I didn't think he was horrible. I thought he had good moments. He just needs to be better for this thing to work.
01:02:28
Speaker
All right, Nico, what do you think of the attack? Let's start with the with the obvious. Will Jesus Ferreira start this game? You know, I think he has to, but obviously we don't really know.
01:02:39
Speaker
I think he's got to, right? There's no way that they run this out and Jesus isn't in there. Come on. Yeah, no, he has to. He has to. I mean, it would be... Beyond Concerning ah Because then you know maybe we're just not rating Jesus for maybe He should be on his way out if we don't trust him to start this game I mean it it'd be ridiculous So it's so like just's got to start So it's gonna be Rusnak as the 10 in Jesus in the wide channel like normal right This is where um It gets dicey Yeah
01:03:16
Speaker
Because I, and James is going to hate me for this, but I do like the way Rosnack and Ferra play off each other. yeah and they kind of coexist very well. And they really choose each other's moments. And they allow Jesus to just be the guy that gets the ball deepest into the field. And then you have another link up play guy there.
01:03:44
Speaker
And for a game like this one where they might be bunkering in a little bit more, does that change anything? ah It's a difficult one because if you're thinking they're going to bunker more, then perhaps you go with the Pauls on the white channels and Jesus in the middle. But I don't see Brian benching.
01:04:10
Speaker
rus neck So I think in this particular game, you might see Paul Rothrock and Jesus and then Paul Arriola coming off the bench.
01:04:23
Speaker
So, yeah, so you're saying as far as the Paul selection for for left mid, you think it's gonna be Rothrock starting Areola off the bench? that this is This is how I would have just ran it in my in Mexico because, like, I agree. Like, I still think that with Paul Rothrock, it's a hot hand thing. Like, he's been scoring goals every week, and you should lead him let him keep cooking. But, like, to what we were talking about earlier, like, that's the – There's there is no difference with that logic applied to Paul Rothrock as applied to Jesus Ferreira. Jesus Ferreira has been on fire all season, too. You know, and, but you know, Rosie's asking maybe there's something wrong with Jesus that they are not telling us. I mean, maybe. But like he does, he look injured to any of you guys when we're not as far as I know. Look, god I'm there every day.
01:05:10
Speaker
I'm there every day. hebook He looks sharp. is fine. He's producing. He's getting assists every game. I'm going to ask it. He works so hard. Like, what is what are we missing here? What are we missing? I'm going to ask, but again, there's nothing wrong with Jesus.
01:05:25
Speaker
I would know. I mean, I would... He's full on practice Practices hard I mean there's nothing wrong with him I mean unless again there's a conditioning Thing that we don't know mean That's why I'll ask the question What is going on with Jesus but I'm pretty sure he's just going to say His tactics he's not going to like it He's not going to like it He's going to install my intelligence by telling me Rotation and I'm going to push back And it's going to be a problem It is, but I'm looking forward to the problem because it's ah entertaining content for the rest of us. And, you know, you know you're you're doing the Lord's work. Someone has to do it. So um're we're glad that you do it, Nico. All right. I'm going plug Jordan in up top here Let's talk about ah about Jordan Morris.
01:06:10
Speaker
ah You know, his first start in a while in Mexico. And there were some there was some good moments. Like he got in behind a couple of times like he ah he's able to do.
01:06:22
Speaker
And there was also, man, there was that – one of the biggest chances that hurts from that game was the giveaway where he got on the ball and fed Paul Areola. And it just felt like with maybe a little more patience in that moment, they could have got a better shot than they ended up getting. ah Paul Areola put it on frame, but it was a pretty easy save. And it's like they just – they had – They had it right there. That one that one hurt.
01:06:45
Speaker
That one hurt. But ah what did you make of Jordan Morris' performance, and what do you what do you want to see from him in this in this game? like he This is a game where he's got to step up. He's got to look dangerous. He's got to get on the score sheet, ideally. What are you thinking of Jordan going into this one?
01:07:00
Speaker
He's got to be more decisive. That that that is the biggest thing. there's Even in practice, sometimes... he is someone that gets to that final third and becomes of two minds. And it's either I'm going to keep the ball and I'm going to try to take this guy on a dribble and take a shot, or I'm going to pass to the guy making the run. and then by the time he makes the decision, it's either too late or not the the the one he wanted, or maybe because he's trying to decide that angle or that window closes that he doesn't quite get it. And that one is...
01:07:35
Speaker
a a perfect example of it, right? Let's call it a pressing moment, although the defender slips on the ball and Alba Rosnack picks it up. that It's almost a 3v2, I believe, um almost a 3v1. There is a ah defender coming back, so not so much, but Jordan does the the the right thing by cutting inside and dragging that defender more central.
01:08:06
Speaker
And all he has to do is cross his body and and play Albert into the box. And because he's coming in from that side, he has the entire goal. He has a better angle because he's a right-footed player. So it's your highest percentage chance. But thought Tim Foss during our what we learned this week on Friday had a good point, which is the pass to Areola is also acceptable.
01:08:34
Speaker
Maybe it's not the best or the highest percentage chance of scoring, but I thought Paul could have done better with that opportunity. i thought Paul could have even...
01:08:46
Speaker
Passed it dropped it back again to to Jordan and allowed Jordan to take that shot. Maybe Jordan could try to take that shot himself. Maybe not the best choice, but maybe if you fake a pass and you feint the defender, maybe you take the shot yourself. But yeah, that that was a ah bad moment there. But what he needs to do better is, one, be more decisive, and two,
01:09:08
Speaker
be more intense. There was a couple of moments there where, you know, he's got to understand that you're not going to get a lot of calls in CONCACAF. So you have to be able to drag out and push and pull and be a little nastier to to get your way against this particular set of players. You need to be, you need to,
01:09:30
Speaker
inspired the dark arts a little bit, man, pull drag. I mean, you just got to be able to do that. And I felt like he, a lot of times got dispossessed and he was on the ground and he was lamenting himself. You can't do that. It's goldfish mentality. Get up, go intense, press, press, press, press. Cause you know that you're going to be coming off. Yeah.
01:09:50
Speaker
in the 60th or 70th because Brian's going to bring somebody in. So just give it absolutely everything you got for those 60, 70 minutes. And then I think that's the the way that Jordan Morris gets his best game is just me and him, I've talked about, i like bearded Jordan the best because he looks rougher around the edges. That's why he needs to be bearded Jordan.
01:10:13
Speaker
Internally, yeah he needs to be able to just be nastier, more intensity and decisiveness. just Just trust yourself. Take more shots. That's kind of what it is. But I will say, and I said this on Friday, I do think that there's a lot of criticism for Jordan Morris, but getting your first start at El Volcan against this specific lineup, it's it's difficult. And not to mention with a lineup that maybe...
01:10:42
Speaker
don't have as much ability to serve you in good spaces. So he had bad moments, sure, but could have he done better? Had he had better services in? Maybe. And maybe he could have created more opportunities. But I do expect him to start. i do expect him to be better. i expect this whole team to be a lot better in this game.
01:11:02
Speaker
Bearded Jordan. We got some people calling it dark Jordan. We call it angry. We call it angry Jordan because love it we did see that before all the injuries struck last year, there was kind of an angry Jordan arc that he was entering. And then last season, it seemed like angry Jordan was ready to take hold for an entire year, but obviously he got injured a lot. But now and now that he's back and, you know, big game, this is a big game for the Seattle Sounders. yeah Angry Jordan, I would be hyped to see angry Jordan. But he has that in his bag He does yeah And look overall This team needs to We talked about Colmillo We talked about savviness Look that that That moment when Peter Kingston gets shooken like a dog by Guignac Man put your face in his fist Colmillo
01:11:46
Speaker
Act like he just took your freaking arm off. ah Look, I came in there trying to just be nasty. And so does Aguirre. So use that to your advantage. get Get a guy sent off. They keep trying to get Nuhu sent off. That was Linus' is all whole purpose, that whole first half, was trying to get Nuhu sent off.
01:12:03
Speaker
well Well, he was even in the second half as well. The PK, everything, he jumps back into the box to just stop the, allow VAR to come in. Man, you you got to have some of those moments, man. You got to be able to do that. I did like Alex Rodan and even Jackson Reagan pushing guys off when Aguirre, I don't know how that wasn't a freaking red card. No, kidding. That's too harsh. But that that yellow card on Aguirre where he like hits him from the back, that's a nasty challenge. and I like Jackson Reagan and Alex getting in their face, being like, F off. I mean, you need to be able to show a little character in those moments.
01:12:37
Speaker
I think there's a good chance you might see angry Jordan in this game because I think he's kind of feeling like that anyway. Like if you if you watch his ah like the last interview he gave to the to the press, like after he came back, you know, before before in the interviews, he's always been like, man, I'm i'm so excited to be back. It's been a really long uh, difficult mental journey for me, but my, I've been relying on my support system and I feel good and ready to go. And then, he's, he's just gotten injured again, but this time there was not, he was, he was basically just like, dude, I'm over it. I'm so over it. I just want to play. I just want to get out there and, show what i can do like this cycle has been brutal but like i'm over it i'm ready to go so i think that's kind of the mindset that he's in right now and i you know i'm hoping that it serves him well in uh in this game because uh they're gonna need him uh all right nico uh stretch run of the show here let's hit a couple of these super chats uh kenny thank you for the dollar 99 appreciate you as always man he says jesus averaging 45 minutes in the last five games underutilized i mean this is going to be a big game for the jesus ferrera storyline man like Like he's going to start this game, you have to think. And have full belief that he'll make a positive impact like he has been doing all season. Just let him out there. Maybe let him play for more than 62 minutes or whatever and let the chips fall where they may. And then let's hit this one from James. James, thank you for the $2. Appreciate you. He's asking thoughts on this Andres Lelini slash Obed claim. Nico, did you see this stuff about, ah about Obed? Okay. Why don't you, I kind of know what's going on, but not like all that well. Why don't you explain the context of this report about Obed in Seattle and the Mexican national team? And then we can give our ah thoughts on that to close out the show here.
01:14:22
Speaker
Yeah. Andres Lelini apparently had some honestly ah dangerous statements. And I'm curious what the Sounders have to say about it, because this is something that I shouldn't speak on or you shouldn't speak on or anyone other than the Sounders should come out and completely ah deny these sort of allegations. Because what Lelini is saying is that there were a bunch of times where they sent a call up for...
01:14:55
Speaker
Obit Vargas, prior to him making that one-time switch to the un n from the UN's national team to Mexico. And according to Lelini, the Sounders never told Obit or they held that information or they um said that he couldn't go. and And so he had to fly to Alaska to talk to him and all of these things.
01:15:19
Speaker
And so there's this narrative about the Sounders doing the dirty work for the UN Smith national team. And that's where he gets like really telenovela, you know, like Netflix series where he gets a little bit like, are we really, is that where we're really going? But look, I know that,
01:15:37
Speaker
that is something that gets said in in in circles sometimes, in player circles. Hey, did I really get this call? Did I not get this call? ah Is the team trying to keep me there? You know, we've the Sounders have always been pretty transparent, like what happened with Jackson Reagan. It's happened with Jordan Morris where there's like a key game and you're like, look, man, i know that you want to take him, but can we send him to your camp in this date and not this date? Those sort of conversations are are had. But for the Sounders to keep information from Ovid Vargas and Doing it in the benefit of U.S. men's national team or U.S. soccer just seems far-fetched.
01:16:15
Speaker
So the reason why I don't want to put it upon myself to dismiss it, although I could say that is BS, if it's my opinion, if it's what I want to go out there and say, but it's just not my place to say. That is the Sounders' opinion.
01:16:31
Speaker
as an organization that needs to come out and deny these allegations. and And I don't know, I would even go as far as taking legal um charge for it, right? I mean, that it defamation. I mean, I think you could go legally against this because those are some harsh, harsh statements from Lillini.
01:16:52
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it feels like it would be out of character for the Sounders organization to do something like that. And I guess, you know, for me in a situation like this, if you're going to say something like that, you know, come with some evidence, come with something to back up what you're saying.
01:17:10
Speaker
Otherwise, I don't really know what to read into it. And I'm frankly not going to read that much. into it Because like you said, there's kind of no way for us to know either way to be able to comment. on And sometimes these reports come out. And again, I don't know if Lelini, I don't know what his purpose is for who is saying this right now. Can you explain to people who don't know who Lelini is, why he's commentating on this?
01:17:36
Speaker
ah well I'm not exactly sure of his position, but he is part of the ah Mexican Federation, and and that's why this whole thing is he was really coming about. He's a Liga Ameki's former player, I want to say. and ah yes He managed Nacoxa. He was like a director sporting director as well at one point. ah But yeah, he's obviously part of the Mexican Federation, and that's why i don't I don't get the reason of, especially the timing of of it.
01:18:05
Speaker
and that's why initially I thought that it was just a reporter trying to get this out because he got fed information from whoever. And I mean, for you to put a name next to it, Lelini needs to know. So that's where I think is dangerous grounds, man. If, if you were say, Hey, source tells me that this is what happened.
01:18:28
Speaker
That's that. But when you put a name to it, I mean, he, that means that Lelini is willing to say, yes, that that's what happened. So
Developing Stories and Audience Engagement
01:18:34
Speaker
I'm curious of, what is going to come about this because I know that I wouldn't put my name on it and be like, hey, i can guarantee you that this didn't happen because i mean, I could guess that doesn't sound quite there quite right, but I'm curious what the sounders want to do about it.
01:18:52
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's ah that's one that we'll be tracking, I guess. Thanks
Conclusion and Future Content Preview
01:18:56
Speaker
for the question, James. All right, Nico, I got to run, so we're going to call it for that this episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff, presented now by QED Coffee. Thank you all so much, as always, for tuning in. We appreciate the love and support.
01:19:09
Speaker
uh go ahead and support our title sponsor qed coffee lobbing scorchers.com slash coffee qed coffee.com slash lobbing scorchers uh toss them a subscription or you know i got my mug right here you can buy one of these uh ls 74 is the code for 25 off on everything site-wide so uh it's important guys i need i need you all to show some support to qed their title sponsor in our show so we got to show them some love but uh All right.
01:19:34
Speaker
But, uh, we're going wrap it right there. Big stuff coming up on Wednesday, CCC quarterfinals wrapping up. Will the Seattle Sounders advance to the semis or will this year's CCC campaign come to an end? We'll find out. And we'll be firing up the post game live right after the the match on Wednesday. So we'll see you all there in the meantime, like the video, sub to the channel, like comment, subscribe, rate five stars and follow us on Instagram. We didn't get to the Georgie content today, but, uh, there'll be, there'll be time for that. And, uh, Catch you guys next time. Appreciate y'all. Love y'all.
01:20:05
Speaker
Peace.