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Kickoff: Where Will the Seattle Sounders Finish in MLS?
2 Plays1 second ago
After 8 years the Seattle Sounders finally beat the Portland Timbers at home. Two games left in the regular season and lots of absences with the Mexico and the USMNT we will talk where the Sounders will finish and how they can beat Real Salt Lake. With Ari Liljenwall out Noah Riffe takes over with Niko Moreno.
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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.
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Availability
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. What the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be a scorcher.
Meet the Hosts and Fan Connection
00:00:44
Speaker
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome in to another episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff. Again, it's like I said in the last episode, Ari's out, he's on injury reserve, we're not quite sure where he is, we're locating him now, we're arresting him and we're bringing him back to the content laboratory. But in the meantime, you get me, Noah Reif, joined here with Nico Moreno, the legend, the Pulso Sports guy, the sounder at heart guy, the Lobbing Scorchers guy,
00:01:14
Speaker
And Brian Schmetzer's favorite reporter on the entire beat. We have an exciting show
Sounders Win Over Timbers and Upcoming RSL Match
00:01:20
Speaker
for you today. We're going to be breaking down the Seattle Sounders 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers. First time in eight years.
00:01:25
Speaker
Hell yeah. ah We're also going to preview the Real Salt Lake clash that we've got going on. ah Who's going be playing in that game? I don't know. We'll find out.
00:01:36
Speaker
Noah's warming Yeah. Yeah. And we'll also check in on Obed and Reed and Christian, the boys who will be out for that game ah due to their international duty. Cause everyone knows it's country before club.
00:01:50
Speaker
ah I don't believe that, but some people do. um And before, We jump into all of this because we have a jam-packed show. Please like the video. It helps us a ton.
00:02:01
Speaker
And subscribe to the channel. Buy our hot sauce, lobingscorchers.com slash sauce. Go subscribe to Pulso Sports. Follow us on Instagram at Lobingscorchers. And that's enough plugging. Nico, how are you, my friend?
00:02:15
Speaker
Hey, what's going on Noah? I really appreciate you making the time to just sub in and and getting here with
Podcast Motivation and Commitment
00:02:21
Speaker
us. I was contemplating last night, Sunday, and I was thinking, do I just let it be? And I know Ari told me there's going to be no kickoff this weekend.
00:02:33
Speaker
And after a Derby game that the Sounders won, that it was a ah professional win, I thought, look, we have a duty to our fans, to our people, to provide some quality content. Because where else we go are they going to find it? Nowhere else.
00:02:49
Speaker
Sure, Jeremiah's going to do his thing with his boy Lickett. That's a good one. But other than that... There's nothing else in in the PNW that covers this team in a professional, insightful way, man. So we had to do it. We had to make sure that we got out here so people got the content, man. So thank you, Noah. appreciate you.
Game Analysis: Sounders vs. Timbers
00:03:08
Speaker
Absolutely, man. we we Instead of doing it when Ari wakes up, we chose to do it when I wake up, which is 5 o'clock p.m., So I've got my coffee. I'm still ready to go. It is Lobbing Scorchers kickoff.
00:03:20
Speaker
And as ah as Pat is saying, thank you for doing this at a Hawaii-friendly time so I don't have to get up at 5 a.m. You're so welcome. with that That's what we're here to do is is to think about our Hawaiian viewers.
00:03:31
Speaker
ah let's just Let's jump into the Portland win because, yeah, we are a professional podcast here, and we know how to do transitions. And our transition is – One nil win first win at Portland since 2017. It's been eight years.
00:03:45
Speaker
That's all I know. And, We beat him 1-0 off of a darnning stunning, stunning Pedro de la Vega rocket into the top of the net.
00:03:55
Speaker
I thought this was, like you said, a professional win. It wasn't anything flashy. It wasn't anything that I was like, I'm probably going to forget about this game next season. I'm going to be honest with you.
00:04:07
Speaker
But it was effective and people played their roles. I don't know. What did you take away from it? Exactly that Noah, look, that that's and one of the reasons why I wanted to get out here and and just tell people the importance that at times just getting a win has. And it doesn't have to be brilliant and it doesn't have to be memorable. We have plenty of those types of Sounders, Timbers games.
00:04:36
Speaker
This one's not it. Like you said, you might forget about this, but right now that was the biggest game. It was a key W, because if you need to get this team trending in the right direction, you needed to do it.
00:04:49
Speaker
You knew that next game, you're going to have barely players to get on the field, especially now with the right card to Albert Rusnak. So you're going to have to figure out what you're going to do with that midfield.
00:05:02
Speaker
And so it just amplifies the importance of that win. So look, first of all, I think that as I said, going into this game, I'm proud that the Seattle Suns were able to get a clean sheet.
Player Performances and Strategies
00:05:15
Speaker
Look, the Timbers might not be an outstanding team. I said that they had issues with their nine, but that doesn't mean that they didn't score a lot of goals. that I think they're a team that scores pretty consistently, at least a couple a game, because they have a lot of quarterly quality players, especially on the wing.
00:05:32
Speaker
They obviously got a guy like Anthony. They they get goals from various positions, and and that's the way they get games. And Seattle held a clean sheet. So to me, That was the number one highlight, like right?
00:05:45
Speaker
This team without by far their best defender, Yemar Gomez-Andrade, with an Alex Rodin that had a boss of a game despite dealing with a knock on his hip, they were able to just control the game.
00:05:58
Speaker
There were moments that Stephen Fry, the guy that a lot of people were also criticizing, he came out big. couple of huge saves, couple of quality, like young, prime time type of Stephen Fry saves.
00:06:14
Speaker
Christian Roldan was bossing. Christian Roldan was a guy that you needed to get in this game and have that sort of performance to dominate that midfield. thought Ferreira was great on the link up play. I think that, you know, we continue to see a lot from a player that has become player
00:06:36
Speaker
Swiss Army Knife. You play him on the wing. You play him on the 10. Sometimes you play him a little bit higher. He's great in the pressing moments. ah He connects well. He creates situations. um So to me, he was very good in this one.
00:06:50
Speaker
I thought Albert prior to the red card. And look, it was a red card. It was a red card. I agree. It was a red card. Jeremiah was next to me in the press box. And he was like...
00:07:01
Speaker
Oh, yeah, that's that's a yellow shirt. and I'm like, dude, that's a red. That's going to get reviewed. That's a red all day. It doesn't matter about your intent. It doesn't matter that it wasn't super dangerous. What matters is you went to ground and you got the guy's ankle.
00:07:14
Speaker
Nine times out of ten, that is a red card. That's just what's going to happen. You missed the ball. I mean, if he gets the ball and it's not the ankle, sure, that's a good play, but it wasn't, right?
00:07:26
Speaker
It's kind of that thing where it's a great hustle play. You could see the intent was was great, but when the execution isn't quite there, it goes from a great play to a bad play, and ah and a play that's going to hurt the sounders pretty ah pretty big going into the next game, but we'll talk about that in a second.
00:07:43
Speaker
But I thought that all the big components were there. Jordan Morris ah heard all the criticism. Look, the guy didn't get a lot of services.
Player Roles and Future Speculations
00:07:51
Speaker
if If you put Jordan Morris in the situations that Danny Wasofsky got...
00:07:56
Speaker
so in In the second half He gets us away yeah he puts those away I yeah promise you That he puts those away And this is exactly why Again ah no i appreciate you being here Because The same people that today Or Saturday night, we're calling for Masovsky's head and he's awful, get him out of town.
00:08:20
Speaker
We're the same people that were saying, i don't get what we're starting Jordan Morris. Let's start Denny Masovsky. He's the GOAT. He is Lewandowski of the PNW. And the guy has a ah bad game and now you're kru criticizing him.
00:08:34
Speaker
I mean, come on now. That that that is just just be even with your stakes. That's what that's all I ask, right? So yeah for me, Jeremiah and I have said it. Look, Moose can go out here and have a hat trick.
00:08:45
Speaker
And at the end of the day, if you ask me, who do you want leading this team up top? I'm going to tell you it's Jomo. He's just the better, more complete striker. He's the guy that you're going want in the playoffs regardless of.
00:08:58
Speaker
So to all those people, look, Danny, that's Danny Musovsky. Look, he's overperformed. He's been good. And he's a poacher. And Credit to the guy for doing what he did throughout this hot streak.
00:09:11
Speaker
But at the end of the day, that that's him. Look, that pass that he doesn't put to Paul Rothrock, Man, that's a huge miss. in in And I get that he's trying to maybe you know continue that heat streak, and he he's a little selfish, but he's too selfish.
00:09:28
Speaker
Paul Grothrope was in the top of the 18 doing this right here, like, come on, man, just just dump it. And he takes a bad touch, loses the ball. There's not even a half chance created, not to mention the last one-on-one he had on goal takes way too long, allows the defender to get the ball.
00:09:47
Speaker
So, Those are the things that I think for me were important. The key players had good professional games. I thought that there was a lot of positives of it.
00:09:58
Speaker
Danny Misofsky, you know, he did not perform and he didn't execute those moments, but the chances were created. The volume of play is still there. And, All the Sounders needed to do was, one, get the three points, two, have a decent performance, three, play 90 minutes, and they played 90-ish minutes, I think.
00:10:19
Speaker
You know, there were maybe five, six minutes in between that they lost their head. Maybe there was an easy giveaway there by Jackson Reagan. You know, we've talked about the missed opportunities. Baratoziano played as complete as they've had over – This last three or four games, they've not been able to get a results.
00:10:39
Speaker
So to me, that's a step in the right direction. And it's one that they're going to have to build on when they face RSL. Yeah, I think i I want to touch back quickly to the Moose and Jordan comparison because that was something that I said after the game. I was like, if if Jordan Morris gets those opportunities in that space, I promise you,
00:11:02
Speaker
Nine. I've said nine times out of 10 twice already today. Nine times out of 10. He's putting that in the back of the net. He is a lethal striker. He's good at that. He's good. He's good at getting in those same positions as well that Moose is.
00:11:14
Speaker
And yeah, like you've said, Moose did everything and more that he could have possibly been asked to do this season already. And it's Jordan's. It's Jordan's spot. It's Jordan's time. Moose is the backup.
00:11:26
Speaker
And Moose is also on a contract that they're potentially going to have to take his option up next year, which I would assume is not a cheap option because he's already not on a cheap contract.
00:11:37
Speaker
So I want to ask you you, know, maybe you have any insight to to what they're thinking about doing. But for me, like seeing a performance like that and knowing that you have a player like De Rosario in the pipeline ready to go and kind of be that backup.
00:11:56
Speaker
what what do we do with What do we do with Danny Musavski? Yeah, it's ah it's a calendrum because, look, the option's not very high. I mean, he he doesn't get a a race out of the the club option. The club option is just another year. That's why it is the decision of the club to make that and exercise that option.
00:12:19
Speaker
If I go by what I've heard from Craig Weibel, which is, and i I asked him this, look, is there going to be a lot of turnover next year? He said, if there is, it's going to come out of transfers. It's going to come out of deals with other clubs.
00:12:35
Speaker
So if I had to guess today based on that and give you an educated guess, I would tell you that they probably pick up that option.
00:12:47
Speaker
And they try to deal him over the offseason. I think that there's a lot of teams in MLS that would pick that up for amount of GAM. And, you know, they're going to be able to add on to that. You know the importance of GAM. This club has done wonderful things with it.
00:13:04
Speaker
They understand the importance of those Garber bucks. And to me, that's probably what's going to happen. Is he someone that the club is planning on being a...
00:13:16
Speaker
a feature or a a contributor next year? I don't think so. Like you said, you got De Rosario. There is an absolute need and a plan to bring in a U22 striker.
00:13:30
Speaker
So that's going to add on to that equation. And therefore, I think that Mussovsky, if this option gets picked up, as I think it will, is going to be exclusively to get something out of him rather than letting him walk for free.
00:13:45
Speaker
Yeah, no, I mean, and I think that's the right move, regardless of what's going to happen. You can deal in whatever way you can. ah Yeah, it's low risk, high reward if you can if you can turn that over.
00:13:56
Speaker
Let's talk a little bit about your favorite player in the entire world, Pedro de la Vega. Oh, yeah. What a kid. What a kid. What a performance tonight. Obviously, he's still not playing 90 minutes.
00:14:10
Speaker
Will he ever play 90 minutes? Only God knows. and the And his knees. And the tendonitis in his knees. Those are the only two people that are ever going to know. But, I mean, let's like let's talk about his performance.
00:14:22
Speaker
You know, I was very skeptical about... probably up and continuing until League's Cup about his quality and about what he, not about his quality necessarily, but what he would actually have to give week in and week out.
00:14:38
Speaker
And to me, you're playing Portland. You're going to want to throw everything at them that you physically have. And man, like even only playing, he did he play 60 or 45? I can't remember when he when he came off. sixty Yeah, he played 60.
00:14:52
Speaker
Even playing 60, man, it's so, I would rather have him play in 60 minutes for the rest of his career in Seattle than not being here. Because what he was able to do in that 60 minutes and just, you know, create opportunities, cause chaos, do what he could, and then rip that shot into the back of the net, man.
00:15:12
Speaker
I mean, as emphatic of a goal as you can score, he continues to put those bangers up. I don't know. i Listen, I'm wrong all the time, and this one I was wrong about, but this game specifically, like I want to know what your De La Vega takes were.
00:15:29
Speaker
thought De La Vega was as advertised lately, or as he had um left off My biggest question and my concern over a significant amount of inactivity over the last couple of weeks was that he was going to cool off, was that he was unable to keep up with what he had left off on the pitch after the Club World Cup and through the Leagues Cup specifically.
00:16:01
Speaker
um And therefore, and I knew that he needed he needed to start and I was very pleased. Look, it wasn't just a goal. I thought that his movement was outstanding.
00:16:14
Speaker
ah thought that his defending was great. um His constant desire to just be a ball magnet creates a lot of overloads for this team.
00:16:27
Speaker
There is always a need for this Sounders team for a guy that, you know how they say that key star players want the ball at their feet? Well, that's what he wants. He wants to have the ball at his feet.
00:16:38
Speaker
And I thought he did it very well, right? He threw out his 65 minutes exactly. I just looked it up ah before Georgie came onto the field. He was as influential as he's been.
00:16:50
Speaker
And he is the one and only guy that in this specific system can by himself give this team the width and the dangerousness that that they don't have usually.
00:17:05
Speaker
And look, Giorgio Minungu is a phenomenal player and he is difficult to defend. And he, look, he puts a great ball into Mussovsky that unfortunately gets defended very well by Kamal Miller.
00:17:16
Speaker
But the difference between Manungu and De La Vega is just the pedigree. It's just that the level of talent and and finished product that is Pedro De La Vega, right? So people could call that goal he had a tap-in, and i would disagree. I think that the read on the play...
00:17:38
Speaker
on the on the play I think Paul Rothrock does a great job by also pushing to the other side and just keeping up space was that space. And that's what Paul Rothrock is good at, by the way. And that's something that we both, I think when he was initially breaking out, we're so like, we were sitting in the press box nerding out about because them playing together, it does bring you that. It brings you that.
00:17:58
Speaker
Absolutely. the The Havoc brothers, man. I absolutely love when they play together. i thought Ferreira as well. He kind of, he almost, if if you really slow down that play, he kind of faints like he's going to shoot and he like speeds up, but he knows the whole time he's going to pass it down to Alex Roldan.
00:18:14
Speaker
Just the entirety of the play is what the Sounders have done when they look elite and all of it. needs a Pedro Delevega on the field. So that's what he does. You saw me maybe go, you know, i don't know, what is it called?
00:18:33
Speaker
Pop girl crazy or whatever. where I just, I went off on my tweet. and girl I fangirled. I fangirled on the goal. I admit it. and And that's just what he does, man. And it's just, he's a guy that, um,
00:18:48
Speaker
For those who do not understand that not every team in the planet needs a
Technical Difficulties and Tactical Changes
00:18:55
Speaker
phenomenal striker to be a good attacking team, they need quality winners. They need wingers that are scorers. They need cams that are goal scorers. They need to bring in those goals from other places.
00:19:06
Speaker
And that's what the Sounders are able to do when Pedro's on the field. And that's why i was so excited. And if you can continue to have them play, oh, Lord, let that knee be fixed. I think you're going to be all okay in the playoffs. And I think that you're going to be able to make a run, but you need that guy on field.
00:19:21
Speaker
Who is the patron saint of joints and of knees and ankles? I think we need to start getting some prayer candles, lighten those up, put them outside of ah Providence, Long Acres, healthcare, FC training facility.
00:19:39
Speaker
Start putting those outside of Lumen Field. We got to figure this out, Chad. You're going to have to look up and and see who who the patron saint of all that is. and we can We can start figuring that out. But let's talk about another Jesus.
00:19:51
Speaker
I'm feeling a little lag here, and I think I just realized why. um so I'm going to add on my Wi-Fi that apparently I did not have on. If it kicks me out, you let me know. But I totally screwed that up.
00:20:05
Speaker
You're good. I just realized that I'm over here running. Oh, he's
00:20:12
Speaker
back on.
00:20:16
Speaker
Oh, listen, chat. If we don't have tech issues, it's not lobbying scorchers. um We'll kick Nico off until he's back. Oh, here we go. Okay. There we are. go Better fixed.
00:20:29
Speaker
My bad, man. i literally just realized I was over here running SD. Listen, and that's... are we Are we surprised? It's lobbing scorchers. If there's not a tech debacle in the middle of it, then we're not doing something right.
00:20:43
Speaker
um ah Yes, it turns out Ari wasn't the problem. You're right, chat. It's all of us. We're all the problem. um From our prayer candles to Jesus himself, Jesus Ferreira.
00:20:56
Speaker
I want to talk about this tactical wrinkle. Albert Rosnack at the 8, Jesus Ferreira at the 10. It's not something... that I expected necessarily to see ah when the two of them were playing. But I love Jesus Ferrer at the 10.
00:21:12
Speaker
That is my like dream. I love Albert Rosenech as well. I think he's an incredibly talented player. i just I just really like Jesus Ferrer at the 10. That's just me. I thought that this was like kind of played out really well because Albert was able to get involved farther down the field and build up attacking play in just a different, more interesting way.
00:21:33
Speaker
I think that obviously you sacrifice what Obed Vargas brings in the defense. Albert Rosnack is not a bruiser eight. He's not a guy who's going to win every ball. He's not a guy who's going to intercept every pass.
00:21:45
Speaker
That's just the truth. But I didn't mind this, and I wanted to hear how you thought it went, and if Jesus kind of like maybe gave Albert a run for his money. Obviously, Albert will not be playing in this next game.
00:21:59
Speaker
But, yeah.
00:22:03
Speaker
I think what I like most about this... is that you get the best possible placeholder for Ovid Vargas. I'm not so worried about the 10th position. I think that both Albert and Ferrer run it great.
00:22:20
Speaker
And credit to Ferrer for his versatility, his soccer IQ. But I also have to credit Albert Rusnak for his unselfishness.
00:22:33
Speaker
It is, he doesn't have to do that. You know, the the the the best paid player on the team, call him the franchise player, whatever you want. The guy who was your highest goal contributor last season telling us, look, if I need to play a linebacker, I'm going to do it because it's for the team.
00:22:52
Speaker
That is outstanding. That is what I wanted of a guy. And for all the grief that we've given him over the years about him not defending and not being that guy, even Brian throws shade at him sometimes for not defending.
00:23:07
Speaker
Reese and Chad, he loves to do that. I see him doing it right now. They love to call him lazy, that the brigade. Yeah. And look, we've all done it, but this year i really do feel like He likes to act like he doesn't listen. he doesn't hear the noise and he doesn't watch soccer.
00:23:23
Speaker
He don't even play FIFA. I mean, that the guy is just like, I don't really mess with it. But don't know if you said that. Where he's like, you're like, let's go race horses.
00:23:34
Speaker
Yeah, he wants to do his own thing. He has them high-performance cars, and you he's a swaggy European dude. But I don't know if you saw the video that the Sounders put up when they revealed his FIFA card, and he felt like he got snubbed at the defensive end.
00:23:51
Speaker
he's like, this is bullshit. Like, I'm better than this. I'm better than that. And I really do think that his persona... You can prove it, buddy. play Yeah, exactly. And maybe that's why he's like, you know what? Let me play the... Let me play the deck. Let me play the eight, man. I got you.
00:24:05
Speaker
I'm to show everybody that this ain't me. So all of it works out. So to your question... I think Ferreira does great at 10. um But what I love about it more is that you ah you have an actual replacement for Ovid Vargas.
00:24:21
Speaker
I really think that if everybody's healthy, I want Ferreira to just play in the wing and be able to tuck inside and be able to play with... Albert Rusnak closer to the 18, that is ideally what you want out of this group.
00:24:36
Speaker
But in the case that you're missing Obed, let's say for another game, because they play Chile on Tuesday, tomorrow, if they make it through, he's going to be gone for quite longer. So if he's not going to be able to come back, he's not going to be available.
00:24:50
Speaker
You need a guy that can do that job. And it was Albert Rusnak, unfortunately. Now you have to go figure something else out again because of the red card. But to me, It's just credit to both of those guys. And I do love Ferreira at the 10, but I just love Ferreira anywhere on the field.
00:25:07
Speaker
We're both Ferreira lovers. Yeah. I bought Ferreira stock when he was at his lowest. I was telling him, I said, give it to me. Give me that stock. I got it. Paid for it. I'm broke out of it.
00:25:18
Speaker
Now, I'm living large, baby. I'm living large. we We all on the Lobbing Scorchers podcast network have just... we we we put We actually put the whole business. We we mortgaged the Lobbing Scorchers mansion to buy Ferreira stock. like We have been bought in.
00:25:35
Speaker
Clearly, it's working because i thought la that match... He was outstanding. His passing, his vision, the little flick over the top balls he was playing to Paul Rothrock.
00:25:50
Speaker
I was losing my mind to Nico. I was losing my mind in the press box, looking at Jeremiah saying, do you see what I'm seeing? Do you see this man? He's not even a DP. He's not even a designated player. He is, by all accounts,
00:26:05
Speaker
Owning the Portland Timbers right now. Just owning them. Like, they should put... Merit Paulson should have had to give away his ownership to Jesus Ferreira. And that is, frankly, how I felt he played this
Coaching Strategies and Team Adaptation
00:26:18
Speaker
game.
00:26:18
Speaker
But overall, I mean... what how how I mean, you you talked a little bit about his play, but just just soloing in on him for a minute more because I feel like he he deserves his flowers for this match.
00:26:31
Speaker
He deserves especially because still today there's criticism on Jesus Ferreira and you have the... the people that watch the game as if it was a FIFA game or as if it was a soccer manager app sort of situation, and they all they see is stats.
00:26:50
Speaker
And all they continue to talk about is the fact that You brought him to be a striker and he was going to be the striker. You brought him be an attacker, a versatile attacker, and that's what he's done.
00:27:02
Speaker
And he's contributed in so many facets of the game that right now are much more important than him being a striker. His contributions have allowed Musavsky to have the best season of his career.
00:27:16
Speaker
The best season a striker has had. For the Sounders, man, mean, that's what it does. That's why you get a piece like that, because he's going to amplify, he's going to connect, he's going to do absolutely everything you need to get a poacher like Danny Mosavsky to be able to put the ball in the back of the net, baby. So you got to have this. You got to be able to know, you got to know the game. You got to be knowledgeable to really understand what Ferreira has done this season for the Sounders.
00:27:46
Speaker
ah he's He's incredible. And I've got to say, like people can talk shit on Craig Weibel all day, all night. People will, and that's fine. That's part of his job description is to be a little bit of a punching bag. Sure.
00:27:57
Speaker
But... If he brought him in to be a striker and that didn't work out and they said, you know what? That's okay. We still know this player has quality.
00:28:08
Speaker
Is that not the same thing? it's It's about the process. It's about the process. It's about the outcome. Where you started doesn't necessarily mean you have to end up there. sometimes Sometimes you get a diamond in the rough that you think you know what it's going to look like when it's polished. And when it's polished, it's something different.
00:28:24
Speaker
It doesn't mean that it's bad. It just means that it's a different look than you would expect. in its played out so much better that way. Like, I think that in a way, Jesus Ferrer not being the nine, not being the this striker, has played out so much better and been so much more helpful and crucial in them winning.
00:28:44
Speaker
um they don't They don't win League's Cup without him. No way. No, they don't. know they don't they They're not in this position without him. And that's that's just the truth. I am a believer. I'm a lover. Jesus, I'm believer.
00:28:58
Speaker
I've always believed in you, though. I was it i i was at his his ah his debut when he scored in Dallas. Hey, man. Look. bought stocks then. ah There you go.
00:29:08
Speaker
See, that me and you, we live enlarge in large on this Jesus Ferraro money, man. but Exactly. i as so I also want to credit, you know, allegedly as Brian Smetra's favorite reporter, I do got to give him credit to the fact that he's held his locker room together, that he has...
00:29:26
Speaker
um outlived the the injuries throughout the season to so many players that he has... Because for better or for worse, Brian Smetzer is going to see things his way. Sometimes it goes, sometimes it doesn't. It takes him a little longer to play Pedro on the left.
00:29:41
Speaker
Sometimes it takes him longer to do certain things. But... for a case like Ferreira, he always knew that he wanted him up there, whether it was with Jordan, whether it was out on the wing, whether we didn't understand him at the time, he knew exactly what he wanted out of this group of players.
00:29:58
Speaker
And he's done it very well, man. And I've said it all season since I finally got to see the playbook and and and what ultimately Brian Smetzer had put together right in front of our eyes.
00:30:14
Speaker
this is his best coaching job in maybe he's whole time with the Sounders. Maybe since the first year when, when he was an interim head coach and he put that team together with Nicolás Odero. But, but this one, he just had so many more snags. He had so many more things that he had to move around that, know,
00:30:33
Speaker
To me, I mean, Brian has really outdid himself putting together the best pressing Sounders team that I've seen. Clearly, one of the the best attacking movement and when it comes to the movement of the of the team ah in in the Sounders play, and I think statistically, too, if I'm not mistaken, the best Sounders team. So he's just been great this season, and you've got to give him credit for Ferreira's success, obviously what he's been able to do, and there's been – moments where maybe the team hasn't executed, but I think that he's pressed the right buttons, specifically in this last run through Leak's Cup.
00:31:12
Speaker
Yeah, no. i I have for a long time been a Brian sch Spencer appraiser, but i I do agree. I think this season, he was given a lot of...
00:31:23
Speaker
The thing with getting that many players and having that many ways to do things, it can lead to a lot of outcomes that are bad as well as good. And I think his ability to, like you said, craft a narrative that has kept the locker room together where you had you had guys...
00:31:42
Speaker
who effectively were just coming into play and just wanted to play fighting for minutes, every single game and are still fighting for minutes. It's October.
00:31:53
Speaker
And there's guys who were debating like, should Georgie get a start? Like, Pedrinho like that's that's crazy. That's crazy. That's a difficult thing to manage.
00:32:04
Speaker
He is a man manager. I think every single person would agree. He's not a he is not a master tactician. But even under that, he was able to go to the Club World Cup, see what worked well for the teams that they played against and then say,
00:32:18
Speaker
Yoink. I'm taking that. I'm going to implement that. I'm going to do that and did it effectively. And that's incredible. um And so shout out to Brian. Shout out to Brian. And thank you for listening to the podcast, by the way. And thank you for the shout out at the end of the press conference. Oh, I heard that.
00:32:33
Speaker
That was great. he he He loves to do a little trolling here and there, as you know. He does. He does. He loves to do that. I wish he praised me like that. But, you know, he he hates me. But it's all right. You know, we got a love-hate relationship. It's all right.
00:32:45
Speaker
You know, he yeah he's like, oh, have Noah calculate up the numbers. Have Noah figure out the statistics. I'm like, brother, i that's... you That's not me. You got the wrong guy, dude. You got the wrong guy.
00:32:58
Speaker
ah But looking ahead, let's look ahead. i want to jump into this ah RSL game. Honestly, like, I don't want to look ahead to it because it is a little scary to me.
00:33:11
Speaker
Nico, it's a little scary. ah We've got a lot of absences. We've got some injuries. We've got some... Some weirdness that's probably going to go down.
00:33:22
Speaker
But just to start, I kind of wanted to toss it to you. If you could break down for us, if you can, if we can, I didn't write them down. So this is why I'm deferring to you, but who we're going to be missing, what potentially things could look like for a starting 11.
00:33:37
Speaker
Obviously, Albert's suspended. um Gaymar and Kim will figure out more about their health tomorrow. And ah Obed, Reed, and is Snyder gone too? i don't know. Snyder, Brunel's gone.
00:33:52
Speaker
um And yeah. yeah He's going to go with the U-19s.
00:33:57
Speaker
Yeah, so Yemar Kamas and Andrade out four weeks, absolutely out. Obviously, Alvaro Rosnack with the red card. Obed Vargas and Breedberg-Kerwijn would not be there. Christian Roldan is gone. National duty. Snyder U19, national duty as well.
00:34:10
Speaker
um And I believe that's it. So the problem there, it's the midfield. The midfield is decimated. There is obviously Nuhu as well will be gone.
00:34:23
Speaker
New who he's another player that's going to be gone So that's another huge Question mark there because i don't know I don't know who you add there right because um Baker Cody Baker you know he's out on loan So you don't have that guy anymore um So going to have to makeshift Something there but but it's It's going to be a situation where You're going to have a lot of guys out ah Kim came out with some Um cramping or some tightness.
00:34:55
Speaker
So we'll see that that that can go either way. ja Bell played well, I have to say. um i think athletically, he provides a little bit of that Yemar Gomez-Andrade, maybe not as strong, but he does have that recovery speed.
00:35:13
Speaker
Sometimes he gets a little too comfortable on the ball for me. But but other than that, I thought that he's fine. ah But yeah, that's a lot of guys. That's seven players, ultimately, that you're not going to have available for this game. um And therefore, it makes it difficult. But the the the real question mark is is the midfield.
00:35:30
Speaker
Because aside from Danny Leyva, that's all you have, really. Yeah, you have jp Yeah, JP, of course. Can I be honest? I don't want to see that man start.
00:35:41
Speaker
I want to see that man play 15 minutes and close out a game. i loved I love Jaupalo. I think he is... a bad, bad man, an incredible soccer player. But I think in longer stretches, he would probably even tell you that ah that's a that's a little bit much for, I think, where he's at fitness and and health-wise.
00:36:03
Speaker
I would agree. Just out of concern for him. yeah he hasn't started a game since May. i mean, it's it's been forever since he's played...
00:36:16
Speaker
My thoughts were that JP was going to come in he was goingnna come in a little bit sooner against Portland. I guess you really couldn't because you were trying to finish that game and you wanted to make sure that you had certain guys out on the field, but you needed to give him some minutes and now you're either going to stardom and kind of throw him into the fire, you know, trial by fire and and and figure out if he can make it.
00:36:41
Speaker
Or you figure something out with maybe Alex playing next to um ah Leiva or maybe you put Kani there. it's going be I mean, there's just ah things that you're going to have to create against RSL. Now look, RSL...
00:36:58
Speaker
not the greatest team in the world, but they surprised me there with a one zero win over Colorado. ah They held on to be quite honest to that score line. ah But that could be a thing where you and I both know that our cell comes in here. And a lot of times can be a rock in your shoe.
00:37:15
Speaker
So are they going to just play deep? Are they going to say, come break us down? we just came here to make your life a living hell. So get us off our own ah goal line. So those are the things that are going to be be be difficult there.
00:37:30
Speaker
But that's a lot of quality players, a lot of important players, and the huge feature for Bryant's Master. This system works to the beat and the drum of your midfielders, center midfielders, your pivots.
00:37:44
Speaker
And if you don't have that necessarily ready to go, It could be a long afternoon. Yeah, I'm interested to see what happens. My prediction ah is you're going to see Alex Roldan in there.
00:37:59
Speaker
I don't know what else... Brian, I don't think, trusts anyone else to be put in that position. And if we look back at when this has come up in the past, that's what we saw. Snyder, obviously, I think would have started there and played 90 and probably played great.
00:38:14
Speaker
um But again, he's going to be out. And looking to the center backs, Stu Hawkins is out. He's been injured. um It's just it is super, super, super thin.
Upcoming RSL Game Preparations
00:38:27
Speaker
And for me, this match is going to come down to let's not have any more injuries. Let's not get any suspensions. Let's just chill out. And this game is infinitely harder because of that red card that Albert Rosnack picks up.
00:38:41
Speaker
And it's frustrating. i like i don't want to get mad at Albert for that because I understand he's trying to make a play. But it really, like it's a game where you're closing out the game, man.
00:38:53
Speaker
It's almost over. And now you've put yourself in a position where this is really, really, really difficult. Because that that pivot in that midfield, like you said, it's dictating everything for this team.
00:39:06
Speaker
And now you're going to have to throw two players in who haven't played together in a long time or have never played that position together. So it's going to be a challenge. um Something that Sam asks here. Hey, guys. Maybe Nico meanly.
00:39:20
Speaker
Everyone knows. i'm not i'm just the I'm just the funny guy around here. You're the actual reporter. oh Which Defiance players are likely getting called up considering we only have 15 eligible healthy players, 16 if Kim is okay? So i guess the question is, do we think we're going see any Defiance players get called up?
00:39:37
Speaker
And if so, whom? That is a great question. And to be quite frank, not only am I not the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to Tacoma Defiance, although I'm going to give you some guys that I think would be considered.
00:39:54
Speaker
I know that the hardship rule in in in certain mechanisms to call up guys can be more difficult than they seem. There are guys for Tacoma that are on loan that cannot play ah for the first team. And that's why I usually ask Brian immediately. And that's what I'm going to ask tomorrow. First question is going to be,
00:40:15
Speaker
who are the guys that you're looking at, right? You know, is it going to be a Peter Kingston? Is it going to be a guy like Seba Gomez, who we see consistently play that midfield position for the Sounders at training, right?
00:40:27
Speaker
The beautiful thing about that Tacoma defines guys and those that next man-off mentality that the team really has is that the kids practice with the first-team players. they they They know the system. They understand.
00:40:41
Speaker
what is asked of them. And so those are the the situations where whether or not guys are available, right? Like Sukunome is a guy that a lot of guys like. I don't know what his situation is and if he can be called up because of contractual situations.
00:41:00
Speaker
But those are the guys that I think would be called up there for the midfield. When it comes to ah right back when it comes to center back. I think that they're going to be fine. I think that they're going bring in guys for that midfield specifically. So those are the guys that come to mind to me with my very basic knowledge of the Tacoma defines.
00:41:20
Speaker
I think if I'm looking at, you know, depth of like, if they're just trying to toss people on the bench, just in case I'd love to see a little Leo Bernie moment.
00:41:30
Speaker
I don't know. I don't know. That's just, you know, that's just me. You know, people are saying Peter Kingston. um Sure. Why not? i think you're right. it is.
00:41:40
Speaker
it is. People don't really under. This is famously why the Columbus crew had an outfield player in goal for 80 minutes against the Seattle Sounders is because. you can't really just get hardship waivers. You have to sign players, and that's to protect them from really shitty contracts, basically. like it It is a good thing.
00:42:02
Speaker
um But it does make it difficult in a situation like this where it is an international...
00:42:08
Speaker
They probably shouldn't be playing. they They wouldn't have been playing this game. This is a rescheduled game. Anyway, so they get unlucky with this. um And, you know, I don't know. like that's That's just tough.
00:42:21
Speaker
I don't know what they're going to do. But the Peter Kingston, I mean, again, without knowing exactly what the mechanisms and what who you can and cannot bring up, I think Peter Kingston, as I mentioned, is a great call-up because I feel like he has the Physical components to play at the first time level. I think that he has the 24.
00:42:43
Speaker
He's 24. He has experience. He's a guy that could do a lot for that midfield, ah has a good, you know, been great shots, a good passer. But Seba Gomez is the the other one. I mean, those are the two guys that in practice you see consistently playing with the team. So those are the two guys that initially come to mind to to be called up.
00:43:03
Speaker
Yeah, and Seba Gomez, is he's five goals, five assists in Next Pro, and which the the last game just happened. He started 25 matches. like he has two thousand He had 2,200 minutes this season with Next Pro. like He's clearly around the team.
00:43:20
Speaker
ah He's super he's like such a versatile player from what I've seen. like he's kind of They kind of just stick him wherever. um So who knows who they're going to bring up, but stay tuned. This is why you should go and subscribe to Pulso Sports on YouTube because you'll get to see all the pressers that happen that Nico asks about because that's that's how you know.
00:43:43
Speaker
That'd be the first question I'm going to ask tomorrow.
00:43:47
Speaker
But I like your Leo vertical. I mean, you know, if for some reason Kim was to really not be available, I mean, Leo is a guy that does practice with the first team that his biggest ah downfall has been staying healthy. Well, I guess that's just the sounders thing. ander The sounder.
00:44:05
Speaker
So he just hasn't been able to stay healthy, but he is another guy that Early in the year, we were high on because he looked like he could play the part. Like, man, well, that guy looks good, right? But he just was never able to really get there.
00:44:18
Speaker
And Antonio Lopez is another guy that he's played in the past. he He kind of felt like he was on an up climb, and then he plateaued, and then he kind of fell off. The stock fell off a little bit.
00:44:32
Speaker
ah But he's a guy that I hear a lot of good things about as well there the center back position. We will just have to wait and see, folks. We're going to wait and see until tomorrow, so stay tuned. But good question, Chad. I appreciate that. Good question.
00:44:44
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. ah Something that... um Okay, let's just be real. This is going to be a hang-on type of game. This is going to be a hang-on... ride Ride the wave and try and get a result.
00:44:58
Speaker
Personally, I'd be very happy with a draw. I know that's not what what anyone wants to hear from a home game, but like get it done. Get some people out there. Get out without injuries. Get ready for the playoffs.
00:45:09
Speaker
Brian won't be happy with a draw. He'll, he'll never be happy with a drop, but I think that that is for me, realistic expectations. So for me, I'm going ask you this question.
00:45:20
Speaker
What do the Sounders need to do this weekend against ah RSL to get some kind of result, especially shorthanded?
00:45:28
Speaker
It's a great question. Look, first of all, is going to be missing some guys too. I'm pretty sure Luna or Hada, they got a couple of guys that are going to be missing. I'm sure i'm missing a couple. Um,
00:45:40
Speaker
but the Sounders have to ah specifically come out and have the right tempo of play. Intensity is basically the the main factor that this system needs when it comes to their pressing, when it comes to their transition moments.
00:45:59
Speaker
um I think decision-making gonna be key. ah Defensive fortitude on set pieces. RSL is a team that can ah definitely exploit you when it comes to set pieces.
00:46:11
Speaker
So those are the things that you're going to have to do. Have your moments, be clinical in front of goal. It's going to come up to the experienced players, Noah. And this is one of those games where Jordan Morris needs to carry a lot of the responsibility as someone who has been in Jordan Morris's corner, wants to see him succeed, is really believes that he should be the the main guy up top in this offense.
00:46:36
Speaker
Yeah. I asked a lot from him against the Timbers. He didn't get the services in. He didn't have the opportunities. In this one, he might have to play 90, or he should play 90 if he's capable of doing so.
00:46:50
Speaker
And in those 90s, he has to show up on this team. He has to be the guy that puts... his stamp on a big win against RSL at home when you need it.
00:47:00
Speaker
And again, it's not about the standings. It's about getting this team going in the right direction, right? I got like Jesus Ferreira, who we've been praising, another guy that's going to have to show up, right? Because when you don't have that but those pieces in midfield and maybe you don't have control of the midfield and you don't have control of possession, those moments in front of goal become that much more important.
00:47:22
Speaker
And so it's going to be on the offense. How much can you put this RSL team under pressure? And how many goals can you put in the back of the net? Because you haven't been able to do that lately. Let's get it together and and finish our chances.
00:47:35
Speaker
No, I completely agree. It's for me, you've got to rely on your vets. You've got to rely on the people who are there to kind of lead everything. And everyone's got to defend the Brian Schmetzer motto.
00:47:46
Speaker
Everyone's got to defend. Like to me, this is one of those games like you're playing ah like a 6v6 or an 8v8 rec soccer where brother, Those center backs, God only knows. So you better get your ass back. Jesus Ferreira better get his ass back. Paul Rothrock better get his ass back. Danny Leyva better get his ass back. Everyone.
00:48:06
Speaker
and And just grit grit it out. It's going to be a gritty game. There's going to be a lot of people who are getting an opportunity to play. And they're going to want to... then You got to show what you got when you got it.
00:48:17
Speaker
And so, it could it it honestly, I think this can be an interesting game to see some players. I'm really excited to watch Danny Leiva. I am excited to watch Danny Leiva. I hope he plays. I like Danny Leiva a lot.
00:48:30
Speaker
I think that he showed pretty well against Portland. i think he did. I... aside from being a fan of him as a human being, because he's one of the greatest dudes of all time.
00:48:40
Speaker
ah I just, I, I want him to break out so bad. I want him to have a piece of this ah in some kind of way. And so Danny Label. You're my player to watch. You're my player to watch.
00:48:52
Speaker
I love that. This could be a big Danny Lava game and one that he man he ultimately he deserves. Like you said, he's been so held back by the amount of competition in his position, the talent that has shown up, the the the system that the Sounders play in.
00:49:12
Speaker
So a game like this where he could be the main guy in that center midfield, that that's huge, right? Because you like you like you said, he he came and played well against Portland. I go back to the Santos game where I thought he was the best player on the field.
00:49:27
Speaker
He has probably the best, the most gifted foot in in the entire team right next to Pedro de la Vega. He needs to be taking every free kick, brother. Every single free kick. Give it to Danny Leyva.
00:49:39
Speaker
Absolutely. He can make a huge difference. and ah Me and Jeremiah were talking about this, actually. that It's almost criminal that... We see him make these crazy shots in in in and training.
00:49:52
Speaker
he He has all this talent, and he's yet to score a goal. And Snyder Burnell, 18 years old, walks in the first game and just puts the ball in the back of the net. It's not nice, but and this is a game where I'm hoping that Danny Leyva can finally, finally score his first MLS goal.
00:50:12
Speaker
Yeah, no, i'm I'm in the same boat. i Here's an interesting wrinkle. Let's try this one on for size. What if you keep Jesus Ferreira on the wing so that he can play with Jordan Morris, get some more minutes together in that space, and you put Danny Leyva at the 10?
00:50:29
Speaker
Do we think Brian Schmetzer would be so bold to do that? No, because he doesn't have anybody else at midfield. If Albert had not gotten a red... Probably not either because he paid the 10. But what I'm saying is that he just asked nobody to necessarily play that center reveal position.
00:50:46
Speaker
ah So, no, I think that Danieleva is going to have to play ah the pivot right next to probably Alex Roldan. um But yeah I get what you're going at. And and and I where you're going. I like it. I love Danieleva at the 10.
00:51:02
Speaker
the The problem here is that there's just nobody to cover for him in the back end. And understanding how well Torra has played and how good that Pedro de la Vega, Paul Rothrock has worked. Hey, I think that's going to continue to be a thing.
00:51:16
Speaker
No, I completely agree. One can only dream, Nico. One can only dream. Yeah, worth but you know what? A Georgie start might happen. Yeah. Because...
00:51:28
Speaker
with with the issues you might have without Nuhu and you know no Baker, ah no ah neither of the Baker, Baker White nor Cody Baker. i mean, you might have to play you know, I don't know, maybe a three-man back line and put Paul Rothrock, you know, playing there, the wingback.
00:51:45
Speaker
I'm surprised we haven't seen Paul Rothrock defensive midfield because he played CB. He played right back. Like, Paul Rothrock would would be like, yeah, dude, um' ah let's do some tackles, man.
00:51:57
Speaker
let me Let me start beating some people up. Brian, this is free game. We know you listen, brother. Paul Rothrock at the eighth. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Actually, i thank you ah to to the boss man. J.O. saved us there.
00:52:12
Speaker
Of course that Georgie got called up as well. So Georgie won't be available. Of course he got called up. We just talked to him about it. one Everyone's gone.
00:52:23
Speaker
So it's eight. We went up to eight players. Eight players. So thank you, J.O. Appreciate that. Yes, Georgie definitely out. So... Again, wellre we're going to be going off of the limited players,
00:52:37
Speaker
Without a doubt, it's going to be, in my mind, Ferreira at the 10, Pedro on the left, if hopefully available, and then on the right, Paul Rothrock, and at the top, Jordan Morris.
00:52:48
Speaker
And at midfield, you're going to have to put Danny Leyva, Alex Rodin. I really don't see anything else happening in there unless, as we mentioned, some of the Tacoma guys get an opportunity ah to to to to you know be called up and play.
00:53:01
Speaker
ah So, yeah, that that that that's kind of the way I see it. We're going to see what grit and determination really looks like. Yeah. I wonder if JL can get on. Can JL get on? that That's where I'm wondering. If he wants to get on, I'll send him the link. Just to talk about that the Tacoma defiance. Like I said, you know if there's a guy that knows you know Tacoma defiance and all that is him, ah i feel pretty comfortable with the options that I give. I'm not going to lie.
00:53:29
Speaker
pretty impressed with But JL is definitely the man there. So if he if he gets on, I'm um um'm fine with that. But Look, at the end of the day, this RSL team is, like I said, he they're no joke or not. They got some players missing.
00:53:42
Speaker
They're inconsistent defensively. i think that without Ojeda even more, i think that on the attacking end, they um they just don't have a killer up up front. And as much as Diogo has been a very good creative player, and he can be a goal scorer, of course, they're just not that threat that maybe I would say, hey, you know, watch out for this guy. so this is a very winnable game at the end of the day. Still, even with all those missing guys, I think Seattle can, without a doubt, at home, the understanding of the importance of this game, i wouldn't put it past them if they can get a result.
00:54:20
Speaker
Well, listen, let the chaos continue because here is another non-RE member. We have Jeremiah O'Shan, the famed soccer lover, the guy who will go to University of Washington soccer matches just to scout.
00:54:37
Speaker
This guy knows every young soccer player in the state of Washington. So let's get let's get ah let's get a breakdown of the Tacoma Defiance. And also, if you can kind of explain to people...
00:54:48
Speaker
the hardship rules a little bit and what the Sounders might actually be able to do versus what people are expecting them to do. Okay. So ah I think you guys actually covered it pretty good in terms of who's going to be, ah who's likely to be called up. Like, I think the candidates are probably Leo, Bernie, Tino Lopez, Sebastian Gomez, and Peter Kingston. Those i think are like, if it's, if it wasn't one of the, if it's not out of that group of players, I don't, I would be, I'd be surprised.
00:55:18
Speaker
Uh, with Bernie, it's funny. I'm not a hundred percent certain that he's eligible, but I did write a story earlier this year that said he was eligible for call-ups. So I assume that's, I assume I got it right when I wrote that story.
00:55:33
Speaker
ah so we'll go with my own reporting and say he's eligible. He's eligible. And they are, i think the way it works is if you're under, 16 players you can call up, ah you can make call-ups from the defiance.
00:55:48
Speaker
And I think they're going to be at, they're probably going to be at 15 unless Kim Kihee is eligible. So ah yeah, that's, that's who I think. And, but then who starts, I don't like Gomez could maybe play as a winger, but he's not going to play in the middle.
00:56:04
Speaker
He's, and they don't, the problem is they don't really have a left back. They, they like the only left back they have on the roster is really like, john bell i guess uh but he's he might have to play center back uh like again if if kim is healthy it helps a lot but like you said albert rusak getting hurt really does kind of fuck their shit up getting red getting a red he didn't get hurt that's what i meant sorry yeah yeah no you're getting the red i just didn't want to get any more misinformation you know Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:56:33
Speaker
Albert Rousnick is not hurt. He got a red. ah But yeah, it's it's a it's a tough situation. And so the thing that's really sucky is I had been told yesterday that Snyder, that the Sounders had worked out a deal to keep Snyder Brunel and that they thought that, and they ah basically that he was playing for the defiance yesterday was a sign that he was staying because he was supposed to leave yesterday.
00:56:56
Speaker
And then I don't know what happened. I don't know if that was bad information or if, U.S. soccer changed their mind, but it's it's honestly it's pretty dumb because U.S. soccer is playing. So first of all, the U-19s are not a World Cup age, right? So there's no this is this is prepping players for the next U-20 World Cup, essentially.
00:57:16
Speaker
So which is in two years. So wow the U19s are in Europe, by the way. They're playing in Europe. They're playing friendlies. And U.S. soccer is like, no we need Snyder Brunel.
00:57:31
Speaker
And that doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you want him to play... I don't understand. i don't understand the point of that at all. Like, I guess I think he's eligible for the next world cup at least, but it doesn't make any sense to me why they felt like that was more important than playing a competitive match ah league match.
00:57:48
Speaker
Then. So that, that kind of, that, that also was a, that was a big blow. ah Also, it would have been good to probably have Cody Baker around right now. Yeah. Yeah.
00:57:59
Speaker
Recall him question mark. Recall him. Yeah. I don't know. i don't know that you can probably end it. They probably could. Yeah, they they might be able to. And they maybe. ah But yeah, it's a it's a tough situation. I don't I from what I've heard, cody i haven't heard Cody Baker's name mentioned. So it tells me that that's not being because otherwise you'd think that would be near the top of the list. Right.
00:58:22
Speaker
Right. I mean, I can understand from ah from a respecting the player standpoint, like he's playing matches. Yeah, that's like the whole point was to get him minutes.
00:58:34
Speaker
And if you recall him for one match and then you're immediately going into the playoffs... I mean, like, yeah it's not. that And he is going to, and the thing is that Sacramento is going to make the playoffs. So he's going to have a lot more, you know, he potentially has a bunch more opportunities to play in Sacramento. So it would be like, even if it's technically possible, it would be kind of a bad faith move to, to end the loan early, just because you need them for one game.
00:58:59
Speaker
Right. Yeah. Right. yeah right Yeah, which do they need him? I don't know. Like, because if they're basically going to finish fifth no matter what, you can't you don't have really any ability other than that.
00:59:12
Speaker
It's a fair point. ah The only way they don't finish fifth is if they lose out and Austin wins out and Austin is playing LAFC. which Yeah, so good luck. it's Jeremiah, but... but Just to clarify, so at this point, we do not know if Snyder build or will not play or is he gone? No, know he's not. he's my understanding, he got called up.
00:59:34
Speaker
Like, he's ah left. he's He's going to Europe to play for the U19s. I had been told that that was not going to happen, and then i I texted somebody today and said, I thought he wasn't getting called up. They're like, well, he is.
00:59:47
Speaker
Oh, man, because, you know, I was thinking back line at three. You go ah Jackson... um Jay Bell and Alex Roldan, Paul Rothrock wingback with Kalani wingback and Snyder and Danny.
01:00:03
Speaker
That would have been great. But if you put Alex, if you put Alex back there and you need him in the middle, I mean, yeah, that the problem is who's going to be next to Danny Leyva?
01:00:14
Speaker
they need Alex to play like three positions. Essentially. I've been saying he's the most important player on this goddamn team and no one wants to believe me, but you know what? Here it comes again. Proven right.
01:00:25
Speaker
Proven right. Uh, they have like, they they have like some real like forward depth and they have some, like kind of even some good winger depth, but like they, that's not where they need it right now.
01:00:37
Speaker
Nope. Everyone's a winger, Jeremiah. Everyone is a winger. Not enough winger backs. I did. oh So here I did hear that Stu Hawkins has been cleared to play some minutes.
01:00:49
Speaker
Now, like how much can he play? i don't know. I don't know for 90. Let him cook. Yeah. And Stu's been lifting. kid looked buff. Oh, he's big now?
01:01:03
Speaker
Big Stu? He got big. he just looks broad. Every time I see him, he looks more like a linebacker. He's wild. yeah i suppose it's not out of the he is a you know i suppose it's not the it wouldn't be the craziest thing if he like don't know maybe they can split him and and someone else like i doubt he can play nine maybe he can i don't know uh he's like 14 bro he's it's fine right exactly because he's only a few years removed from playing like back-to-back days yeah it's like yeah you're chilling Look, at the of day, you might have to just throw a JP you know and and just let him let him start and figure out how much you get out of it.
01:01:41
Speaker
So the three-man backline stays with JP and Danny at center midfield, and you hope that JP can... as close to 90 as he can.
01:01:53
Speaker
i don't know. Yeah. you need to They need to put him on like ah you know, those Segway things where that they had like 2016, 2017 where you'd like lean forward and go, they need to put his ass, JP's ass on one of those because I think he'd be a lot more mobile on one of those.
01:02:08
Speaker
So I will say um RSL will be missing a few players. No, not, it's not anything like what the Sounders are dealing with right now, but they are missing Xavier Gozo. Who's a really nice forward for them. He's with the U twenties.
01:02:21
Speaker
ah And then Diego Luna. Those are the biggest names. i guess Brian O'Hara. Yeah. Yeah. We'll see. It's I think I think Brian still doesn't know what the hell's going on either. So he was listening to our show to try and figure it out. I think we've sorted it pretty well.
01:02:38
Speaker
um It's going to be a it's going to be a shit show. It's going to be a wait and see. And like I said, this might be one of the most entertaining matches of the season. Just your chaos and seeing who gets minutes. um Over under ah five Danny Leyva goals. That's the question. And I'm going over. He's scoring sick. And why
National Team Call-Ups and Performances
01:02:58
Speaker
not?
01:02:58
Speaker
So, ah Jeremiah, if you want to stick around, you're you're welcome to hang. You're a very knowledgeable individual. And we are going to talk about the the U.S. call-ups for not only Christian Goldon, but also talk a little bit about RBW and Obed Vargas' U-20 World Cup advancement and all that.
01:03:16
Speaker
I am actually trying to write a Christian Roldan story. So I'm going to go write your story. ah But thank you for, yeah, that will be up on Sounder Heart. I just put a lot of pressure on myself to actually write this story now. Sounderheart.com slash LS for subscribing support.
01:03:30
Speaker
Yep. Exactly. ah But yeah, ah I was happy to jump on and try to. Thank you. Adios. Adios. Adios. ahto whatever it's all the same liar you know the name you stay watching
01:03:49
Speaker
he's lying we're the notes audio at those crew and with that he's like that really hot girl that you don't want to you know her name stop you you're like your name's like jessica jenessa denise no it's denise man Listen, we are the hot girl, Nico, and that's and I've been saying that. so There you go.
01:04:13
Speaker
Speaking of that hot girl who... you know, you, you finally get out on a date with, and she's really boring. The U S men's national team called up Christian rolled on.
01:04:26
Speaker
ah He is, he's back, baby. He's I've he's, he's going to start in the world cup. He's going to start in the world cup, dude. It's going to happen. I have no doubt about it. I will lay my life down on that, but he gets a call up to play against, I don't remember. Ecuador and Australia.
01:04:47
Speaker
I believe that's what it is. I know Ecuador for sure. Yeah, Ecuador. I do know the Ecuador one. Yeah. I am with you in the fact that look whether or not he starts.
01:04:58
Speaker
ah Oh, look, i hit that. Australia, Ecuador and Australia. Let's go. This guy got going on. October 10th, Australia, October 14th. Whether he starts or not, think Christian Rodin has earned a spot in his season.
01:05:13
Speaker
roster. I think that he's a blue guy. I think that he is, and and we got to get away from the blue thing. It's not just his intangibles, you know, off the pitch is, is what he's been able to do on the field.
01:05:26
Speaker
He's proved that in club world cup, he's proved that against the best in MLS, he has a huge responsibility for, you know, one of the best teams in the West. so um He is as durable as they get,
01:05:37
Speaker
He's also versatile. He could play down in the midfield. He could play right back. He could play wider up top. I mean, he could do a lot of things, but I think that the reality today is that there's actually a need for a real six in, in this team and a six that's willing to play ball.
01:05:56
Speaker
And by play ball, mean, do what the coach says. A lot of times it's not about the most talented guy is about the guy that fits the system the best. And, Christian can do that. in um I'm not saying that he's not talented. I'm just saying that when you look at the pool and you get all these guys talking about you know the Adamses and the McKinnies, I understand. I'm not fool. I get that there are levels that the guys are in.
01:06:22
Speaker
But that does not mean... not about pedigree. It's not about the pedigree, man. It's about a guy that's going to go in and put in the work. And you know who loves the badge and you know who works and plays like he just is going to die on the field? It's Christian Roldan.
01:06:38
Speaker
And that seems to be a Pochettino requirement. You know those non-negotiables? That's a non-negotiable for Pochettino. So to me, Christian Roldan is written in Sharpie in Pochettino's notebook.
01:06:51
Speaker
Yeah, it's you know it's funny because he has not changed his Instagram profile picture since the last World Cup. It has been him in a U.S. men's national team jersey since then. His his bio says USMNT player. I mean, this guy is someone who he he bleeds that. like That is just as much a part of him as being a Seattle Sounder is.
01:07:15
Speaker
And they it hasn't changed no matter what the fans say, no matter what the turnover is. He's never involved in this drama. He's not getting his father to go on TV and yell at Pocciatino. He's not doing any of that.
01:07:28
Speaker
He's there for when the call-ups come. He will call his own shot sometimes and say, i want to get called in, and I think I've been playing really well enough to get a chance. But other than that, he's just playing his ass off, and he's excited to be there.
01:07:41
Speaker
And I want to read this quote here from Tim Ream today. They did a little ah October Camp media availability. Tim Ream on Christian Roldan, he says, and this comes via Charles Boehm, the legend, so go follow him on Blue Sky.
01:07:54
Speaker
He brings a different aura to the team. He creates a really good environment, a really welcoming environment for a lot of guys. That's the type of leader we need. One thing I'll say about Tim is he's essentially revitalized his national team career at an older age, and it provided me with a little bit more added motivation to get back here, to really believe that I could get back here.
01:08:12
Speaker
It's an example ah that you cannot only play at a really high level, but sustain that through your career. I guess, sorry, that was Christian Roldan on Tim Ream. I apologize. um Regardless, he's he feels like he's revitalizing his his ah his his career, and i I don't know how you could see it any differently.
01:08:35
Speaker
I mean, that's... He is... killing it. Absolutely. And again, look, when when he goes back to what he's done for this team, ah the way he works in, in transition moments, ah both offensively, defensively, ah the passes that he finds, ah the unsufficiency of his play, the, the pressing moments, the understanding where to be, the grit, the aggressiveness.
01:09:00
Speaker
Those are things that I feel like this national team needs to, get results moving forward, including in the World Cup. You just need a guy like that.
01:09:12
Speaker
And Noah, ah my I'm getting a little notification here that my battery is about to ram out and you're going to kill me. i am so sorry. But just in case, I'm letting you know right now.
01:09:22
Speaker
So you're for me, Christian Roldan is a guy that will be in the in the World Cup. I wouldn't be mad if he started. I know that that might not be the case, but I sort of think it's crazy.
01:09:35
Speaker
I think that he's a guy that could very easily work next to a Adams or or a McKinney and allow that player to be creative and and and get forward higher and just play for for the team.
01:09:50
Speaker
so So I have no problem, no issue saying that I would love Alex Roldan to start for the U.S. national team. So let's hit quickly before your battery dies here, the U-20 World Cup. You have been watching Obed Vargas. I have been kind of watching RBW. So I will let you cook on that a little bit before we head out here. Obviously, Mexico advanced out of what was considered the group of death with kind of a last-minute comeback moment. Not last minute, but they they qualified ah via their last game.
01:10:20
Speaker
How has he looked? Is this important? Is the U-20 World Cup even important? And do you think they have a chance of winning at all? ah Look, I think they look great. They're playing a host Chile, as you know, in World Cups. The host, it's it's a big deal.
01:10:36
Speaker
They play to a certain level. This Chile team is actually pretty good. I mean, they've had some inconsistencies, but I would say that they match up pretty well against Mexico. I think it's anybody's game. Can Mexico win it all?
01:10:48
Speaker
Look, that they came out of ah of a huge ah group. I thought that they looked good against Spain. Spain was arguably one of the favorites ah despite their poor performance in in the World Cup.
01:10:59
Speaker
So yeah, I mean, I think Mexico could definitely, know if win it all, but they could definitely make a run. They could definitely beat Chile, in my opinion, and then we'll see who they get after that. Ovid Vargas has had ups and downs. I thought that his first game against um Spain was very good.
01:11:17
Speaker
That's probably... i'm no No, not Spain. His first game against Brazil was very good. That's probably his best game that I've seen him play. I thought it was very complete. I thought he corrected a lot of passes. I thought that he was involved.
01:11:28
Speaker
Defensively, he was very good. ah think against Spain, he wasn't as good. He came off in about the 57, 58 minute. There lot there was a lot of
01:11:41
Speaker
lack of communication in that midfield. And I think that this Mexico team plays a lot for Gilberto Moore. Yeah, it seems like that. that There is just a lot of what they do that really sacrifices other players.
01:11:56
Speaker
And I think that Oba's been one of those guys that he gets into the right spots. He's defending. He's doing a whole lot of other things when Gilberto is really just being that creative midfielder. And now it's worked clearly because he is that 10 that they're molding him to be.
01:12:10
Speaker
And it's worked pretty well. But in terms of Owe Vargas, I think it's been difficult because you haven't, played his skill set. And I think that's good for him in terms of experience, in terms of understanding other other systems.
01:12:24
Speaker
ah
01:12:27
Speaker
What does that do for his confidence? I'd be interested to see when he comes back. But I thought against Morocco, he played 90. He had a solid game. um Not as involved and not as influential as he clearly is here for the Sounders.
01:12:44
Speaker
Again, goes back to the system.
01:12:47
Speaker
But I'd like what he said out of Obed. Has he been lights out? Absolutely not. But to me, it is the high floor and... being a player that can be consistent with his own delivery of his performances.
01:13:02
Speaker
So if I'm a guy watching from Bruges FC or from PSV, I'm liking what I'm seeing out of over the bargain. Has it been brilliant, and but with a team in a group that he has, he doesn't really know, which has to be considered. He's got to be in the context.
01:13:18
Speaker
I thought he's looked the part, not to mention the fact that he He's been one of the most physical guys on on that squad. He's the guy that you could clearly tell that plays at a different level at a different speed.
01:13:31
Speaker
But just there's been moments that he technically you could tell that there isn't that connectivity. There isn't that sync play like he has here with the Sounders. Yeah, I'm interested to see what happens, obviously, against Chile. This is important for his national team stock, undoubtedly. He needs to look good. He needs to play his part. He needs to contribute. I think that's what he's doing. These are challenging matches with groups of players that are all talented on their own but are playing at different levels and, frankly, don't have a lot of chemistry together.
01:14:05
Speaker
um I think probably him and Hilberto Mora have played probably the most minutes against each other and like around in the same space. So that's not a bad thing because, you know, Hilberto Mora and him are players who might be dark horses for a World Cup call up.
01:14:23
Speaker
Hopefully. That's what I'm hoping because I like both of those stars lot. I think he'll both more a little more. you could You could hear on the media. I could already see it. i mean i I've been listening to the narrative. they Everybody wants Gilberto in.
01:14:37
Speaker
And as much as I think that that puts Obed a little bit on the outside looking in ah because Aguirre is a guy that does want his older guys.
01:14:47
Speaker
He's going to want Leroy and he's going to want Alvarez. He's going to want Charlie. Maybe there's an injury. Maybe if, if, if Obed can really put it together against Mexico and just have a baller of a game, you know, maybe he puts his name in there for, for sure.
01:15:05
Speaker
Well, we'll see. Yeah. Chile, Mexico tomorrow. Um, and then they will play the winner of Argentina, Nigeria, which famously Argentina, pretty good at developing young players, pretty good at, uh, their U 20 team is usually pretty damn talented.
01:15:18
Speaker
So the, the path does not, uh, get any easier for them jumping into the United States though. Reed Bicker Whiting, uh, played like eight minutes in the three nil win against France.
01:15:31
Speaker
Um, um, where he was on the field for all three goals. They they scored three goals, the 85th, 88th, and 90 plus two. um So was it because he was on the field adding the juice?
01:15:42
Speaker
Maybe, but I think he had like three times. He completed three passes. He was 100% on his passing. He did his job. but ah Nothing remarkable, I would say. And then the their last match of the group stage was against South Africa, the U-20s.
01:15:57
Speaker
That was a little bit of of a fumble ah by the U.S. They lost 2-1 on an own goal from Joshua Winder, who is a player who plays with Benfica on their second team. Good player.
01:16:10
Speaker
He's a great player. a lot of... Yeah, like, great player, but, you know. CBs make errors. It happens. Own goal there. But he ah he played 90 minutes in that match and 82% completed passing.
01:16:26
Speaker
you know i don't i don't think it was anything to write home about. it well he wasn't a game changer, but sometimes that's okay. Sometimes it's okay to just like play your 90 and look solid. But the U.S. will ah face Italy.
01:16:40
Speaker
in on the ninth so we'll see how that shakes out and then if they advance they'll either play morocco or south korea i think they maybe have a little easier path than mexico if i'm being honest um but who knows we'll see the u20 world cup rages on and if either of them get knocked out it's good for the sounders let's be real it's much better for the founders they cannot come home soon enough yeah uh the latest that they would be home or be done is the october 19th that's when the final is so who knows what's gonna happen who knows how long uh rbw and uh obed will be gone but yeah we made it through
01:17:22
Speaker
No dead camera, no no dead anything. um
Closing Remarks and Future Content
01:17:25
Speaker
I really appreciate you doing a doing a kickoff with me, Nico. This was fun. I felt like we... Maybe we should just replace Ari, honestly. you know Hey, man, I've been dying to get on the field with you, man. So I'm glad that we were able to, you know, chop it up, go one, two. We even brought Jeremiah in there to, you know, make it a back line of three and everything. He's been good, man. So I appreciate you making the time.
01:17:47
Speaker
And there is. oh there it is uh-oh he's dead but that's okay chat go ahead and uh make sure you follow nico moreno on all social platforms of course that is at and el rolo and w uh you can also check him out uh on youtube at pulso sports sounder at heart And of course, Lobbing Scorchers chat.
01:18:13
Speaker
I love you all. Please like the video. It is the best way to bump this bad boy up in the algorithm. We will be back for a podcast on Wednesday afternoon. So that may get posted Thursday or Tuesday or something like that.
01:18:27
Speaker
ah But new podcast coming once ah Ari is back in town. And then, of course, Thursday night, you will have your regularly scheduled Under the Lights Saturday. We will get our reaction show live from Lumen Field.
01:18:40
Speaker
And that's that. Thank you, everyone, for watching. And I will see you all so, so soon. Please subscribe. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok.
01:18:51
Speaker
And buy our hot sauce, lobingscorchers.com slash sauce. Peace out, everyone.