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Seattle Sounders make HUGE BLOCKBUSTER signing!
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It's another episode chronicling the Seattle Sounders' offseason, this time with a new player signing to discuss following the Rave Green's acquisition of U22 Initiative midfielder Nikola Petković from Charlotte FC. We'll also jump around MLS to talk about some of the other roster movement and storylines from around the league.
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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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Introduction to Sponsors
00:00:00
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00:02:21
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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.
00:02:43
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be real scorcher today. Why the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be a scorcher.
00:03:05
Speaker
Good morning, everybody.
Significant Player Transfers and Team Moves
00:03:07
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff. I'm Ari, that's Nico, and we are back with some more off-season coverage.
00:03:17
Speaker
A lot to get to this morning. The Seattle Sounders. have made a huge blockbuster move guys. The U22 spot is filled. They have filled it with a real, with a real player.
00:03:29
Speaker
We're going to talk about Nikola Petkovic. Want to make sure I got that right. Nikola Petkovic is joining the Seattle Sounders from Charlotte FC as a U22 initiative player. So, uh, That's obviously big news. It happened a few days ago, but we haven't recorded since that drop. So we're going to give our thoughts on that. And then we also have a lot of it's going to be a lot more league wide storylines. I feel like on this episode, things are other than that big news for Seattle. Things are relatively, relatively quiet in Sounders land, but it's not been quiet across MLS. Eric Ramsey.
00:04:04
Speaker
on his way out. I don't know if you guys saw that, but the Rick Ramsey era and MLS has come to a close officially. We're going to talk about that. Chucky Lozano on the outs in San Diego. I just saw that this morning. So that's pretty big news with a ripple effects. And my guy, Christian Espinosa has signed somewhere.
00:04:22
Speaker
Not with the Seattle Sounders. So I'm going to give my sad thoughts on that. So a lot to get and to here this morning. Nico, what's up, man? Thanks for tapping in as always. How are you doing? how are you feeling as we hit mid-January leading up to the start of preseason?
00:04:39
Speaker
Hey, what's going on everybody, Ari, family, audience, just excited to be on and today especially excited because it's the start of us getting to just watch the team, you know, we're going to be just in a couple of hours heading to ah Providence and Swedish performance and clubhouse performance and clubhouse So it's going to be ah at least a day where you're going to get some new content. There's going to be, I'm sure, some interesting headlines. We'll be out there looking to see who showed up, who didn't. Is there any injuries? We'll be out there just ah trying to give you guys the most up-to-date information. So make sure that you're following all of us in our social media. Of course, a lot of Scorchers, Sounder Hard, Pulse of Sports, I mean, we're going to be all over it today. We get one week and one week only to assess the team, get some content. So, man, it's an exciting day, Ari.
00:05:34
Speaker
We got Noah coming in with ah one gifted membership to start it off. a appreciate that ah Before we get into it, everyone, ah sub to the sub to the channel. We're on the road to 3K subs. Follow the IG. We're on the road to 4K followers. Follow the TikTok. We're on some sort of road to to somewhere. So drop us a follow on all platforms. And...
00:06:02
Speaker
become a YouTube member, drop a super chat, anything you can do to support the show. we We appreciate it. All right, Nico, let's ah let's get started here and let's talk about the new Seattle Sounders
Nikola Petkovic's Role and Expectations
00:06:16
Speaker
U22. can already see people in in chat realizing they been they realized that that they've been click baited once again. Yes, I made the title of the stream. Seattle Sounders make huge blockbuster signing. It's in jest. It's a joke because I guess I think that's a good place to start, Nico, with this Nikola Petrovich. I guess it's ah ah technically a trade. Seattle sends a third round and MLS Super Draft pick in 2027.
00:06:44
Speaker
So essentially nothing. But it is technically a trade to get Nikola Petrovich over from Charlotte FC. And I think it's my first reaction is it's it's a little bit funny that I think, Nico, this is the least exciting manner in which they could have filled this U22 spot. We've been talking about this U22 spot for well over a calendar year now. And there's been a lot of hopes and dreams of them signing a super high caliber, high pedigree, number nine for that spot.
00:07:18
Speaker
And that is not, in fact, what they ended up doing. And and they also did not end up signing a guy directly. from europe they get him from another mls club and he predominantly last season featured in mls next pro so all of that on paper kind of combines to make an acquisition that is not super splashy it's not super big money it's not a super big name player that a lot of people know about so in that way i imagine that uh this this acquisition is probably going to get uh get derided as unambitious in some circles and not exciting. And it's not very exciting.
00:07:57
Speaker
I grant that, but you know, that, that doesn't necessarily mean that ah it's, he's not a good player and he's not a worthwhile player that doesn't have something to offer. To this team. So let's talk about that. Let's talk about his what pedigree he does have what he could offer to this team and what this means for the Seattle Sounders and also ah Obed Vargas. So Nico, I'll kick it to you right there in terms of who we're talking about as a player. I mean, I look at it and I see a guy that, you know, like I said, he featured mostly in MLS Next Pro last year, but he did break into, or two years ago, but he did break into MLS last year. he's coming to He came over originally from Serbia, where he's ah he was a decently ah high pedigree youth international, actually. He featured a lot for them on the youth international circuit. And he does have one senior cap, which I believe he got against the USMNT. So there is something to work with seemingly in in that respect. Nico, what do you think of the player individually and what he could bring on the field? But then also let's get into what this means for Obed, because I think them using this spot on this area of the field as opposed to a number nine, that could be telling. So what do you think?
00:09:17
Speaker
You guys know that I'm honest and I, you know, don't hide it. I don't try to sugarcoat things, especially when it comes to the sounders.
00:09:29
Speaker
To be quite frank, I'd be more excited to see what a Danny Leyva on more minutes would be doing for this club this season than I am to see Nikola Pektovich.
00:09:44
Speaker
And maybe that's unfair. I am not a scout. I am not someone that does that for a living. I did obsess over...
00:09:58
Speaker
The name once Jeremiah ah ended up confirming the report. So I did a lot of calls. I spent a lot of time with some talent scouts. I did reach out to people who are around Charlotte. I also did a lot of... ah Video watching, I guess he didn't play a lot of minutes, but I watched the Monterey game. I watched the DC United game. I watched as many games as I could of him past season, looked over some of the very few interviews he had done.
00:10:32
Speaker
And at the end of the day. It's not the most ambitious move. It's not the most exciting move. It's not a different profile of midfielder that Sounders do not have. ah Initially, Jeremiah and I thought that maybe they were going to go out there and get a a true six, a real defending midfielder, just to have a different profile guy there. But that's not Nikola for everything that I've been able to find out, see, hear from him directly. in terms of interviews, I mean, hearing him talk himself, it sounds like he's more of an eight. He's more of an attacking presence. He's a guy that likes to get closer to the striker. He likes to play almost in a 10 role. He arrives late into the um the box. ah He wants to be an assist guy. You know, he had a couple of decent assists. He had ah i said nice goal.
00:11:24
Speaker
Very few, very little assists. that we were able to see him do those things. He's not a set piece specialist. He, you know, he, he's just a guy that for in conclusion of all the things that I was able to find out, he's, he's an okay guy, but he's a guy that he's not a bust because he's still in MLS.
00:11:42
Speaker
I mean, he just, he came in with with some really high expectations that he did not fulfill. He had a hard time getting minutes in Charlotte in two years and,
00:11:54
Speaker
He maybe didn't fit the style of Dean Smith, or maybe he just wasn't able to get any minutes because he honestly didn't earn them. So bottom line is that he wasn't able to get on the field. Now, to be fair, part of this move has to be taken seriously.
00:12:12
Speaker
in the consideration of value. and And it is good business because essentially for all we know, this is a free rental. This is you being able to take a guy, look at him, see what he can do for you. This is a player that came into the league with the $3 million tag, right? They paid $3 million dollars to bring him in.
00:12:32
Speaker
Did, you know, maybe there was a need for a change of scenery. We've seen that happen. You know, maybe it's not ah a two-year player. Maybe he's a three-year guy. It takes him three years to get adapted into things.
00:12:45
Speaker
That's a possibility. So it's a very low-risk move for the Sounders. So it is good business, right? Because you lose, what, a third-round draft pick in a super draft? I mean, might as well just give them, you know, ah a coupon to Chick-fil-A. i mean, you know, they're...
00:13:02
Speaker
They're given very little to get a guy that could potentially panned out and that at one point was worth 3 million. And then maybe they can get him on the low if they decide to move on, if he works out, because obviously there's an option to to get the player permanently.
Sounders' U22 Strategy Challenges
00:13:20
Speaker
So, yes, uh, I totally understand people that are upset because there has been this desire to use that U22 in a way that gets you a Silvetti or gets you a Tiago Almada or, you know, those types of players that you're like, man, you know, I can't wait to see this guy out there.
00:13:45
Speaker
But at the same time, and we'll get to what you want to get into, Ari, They are bolstering that midfield position in order to withstand the absence or the departure of Obed Vargas, right? um We'll get to the Obed Vargas situation here in a second. But particularly lee about Nikola Petsovic, I think that what I've heard so far is this. a Technical player.
00:14:13
Speaker
Not the most dynamic, has a high IQ, gets into the right spaces. He's good on the link-up play. He seems to be ah pretty clean on on possession, is what I had heard. Defensively, ah can do a lot more things. He is not as rangy as some would want. He is on on the ball skills in terms of one-on-one dribbling or not.
00:14:38
Speaker
Amazing. ah So there you have it. That's kind of the things that I've been able to find out and we'll see. i obviously want to give him the benefit of the doubt. I've talked about how good and how much trust I have in the scouting department for the Sounders. And at least when it comes to identifying talents.
00:14:57
Speaker
And so Sean Henderson is brilliant and the people that he works with are excellent. So I'm going to give him the benefit the doubt. I want to see the player today. i want to see the player this week. I'm going to be buying into whatever preseason package if there's any for streaming because I do want to be on this guy twenty four seven if possible. I'll be making inquiries. I'll be getting information to figure out where he's at. But I'm not excited about it, but it is good business.
00:15:23
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's a ah good opportunity to sort of reiterate the realities of what this mechanism is. i think over the last year or so, it it has been getting talked about as this sort of mechanism Unused mechanism that the that the team could be using to make ah make a big splash and get a big needle moving impact player. And there was a lot of consternation over them waiting to use this spot or not use this spot because of that. And
00:16:00
Speaker
i I understand that, but what I've been kind of trying to point out the entire time is that if you actually look at this mechanism and the players that have come to the league through it, you are you're essentially taking dart throws with this.
00:16:17
Speaker
I have the list pulled up right now with some of these names, but if you i mean if you go through it, it's not really filled with huge blockbuster needle-moving players. In fact, by far, the vast majority of the players are guys that haven't panned out, frankly. For all your Toklamadis and Dayon Jovalichs, which have panned out, there's way more that are just kind of random guys. And the reason for that is it's sort of like a fundamental issue with this mechanism, I think, Nico. The reason for that is that if you have a player who's this in this age group, 20, 22 years old, who has shown the pedigree and upside to be an impact needle-moving player in top-flight league, those players are not really available ever.
00:17:08
Speaker
So what you're what you're trying to do with this is ah be savvy with it. Find the distressed as assets, the undervalued guys, and you take your dart throws. And if they pan out, they pan out. And if they don't, they don't. And the actual reality of it, if you look at the list of these players, is that they usually don't. They they vastly more regularly end up on the Leo Chu end of the spectrum than on the Toklamati or Dejan Jovalich end of the spectrum. So that's that's not to say that you shouldn't be using... You should absolutely be using these spots as dart throws. I think the clubs that aren't using it are are missing an opportunity. But I just think the idea that...
00:17:51
Speaker
this spot was going to be like the the future number nine that's going to be your 20-goal guy, Jordan Morris replacement stuff. like that that That's fun to talk about, but that was probably honestly just never going to be the reality, if for no other reason than that – those Those guys aren't really out there unless you are just incredibly savvy with it or get really lucky, which I kind of categorize the Toklamani and Jovulic situations as, you know, you got to give a lot of credit to Charlotte FC and the Galaxy for ah for scouting those up, but it's those are the exception more than the then the rule. do you Would you agree with that, Nick, or do you see that different at all?
00:18:36
Speaker
I just think it depends on... your level of Capita and how much, you know, you're willing to spend on some of these guys. And and yes, I do think that those U22 spots can be used kind of like a, you know, how you flip a coin and and and depending on your wage, that's how much winnings you might, you might get, right. It's, it's similar to, you know, ah putting in like a $20 parlay with like eight teams, you know, you're not to lose much, you know, and if you give the 20 hits, 20 hits, but there are people that just go with three or four that spend a lot more of money. And then the, what they get back is a little bit more. So that that's kind of the way I see this U22 initiatives kind of playing out. And and and there have been some you know some interesting ones. ah i still don't think that we should discount that at some point the Sounders will use that U22-109. mean...
00:19:27
Speaker
the The scouting has been done there. They have the the players that they have identified. They have talked to, as everyone knows, several players. So I still don't discount it. I think that this is a situation that kind of just fell into their laps and they said, hey, why not? Let's get...
00:19:46
Speaker
a guy that could help us in the midfield, that can pan out, and then if he doesn't, there's no risk to us. But at the same time, I do think that there is a need for the Sounders teams to use a u twenty two to go get ah ah a guy that that's that's got a high ceiling, that that that could be the next guy. And just because the Sounders have been...
00:20:11
Speaker
um Ineffective They have not had a very good Hit rate when it comes to the U22 They're pretty bad at it ah At some point it's got to give and And I do think that that's related to how much You're willing to spend on the U22 So maybe This is a Play setter, you're just kind of using That for now, but when you're ready to Put the money that you're really willing to put in You probably go out there And get your nine Nico, Obed Vargas.
Obed Vargas' Contract and Potential Move to Europe
00:20:42
Speaker
This is a situation, obviously, that we've all been tracking. You said on our last show before this Petrovic signing even broke that ah your inclination was that Obed will probably be on the move before the Sounders start their 2026 season, correct? So ah now that they've signed another player or they've acquired another player. Could you repeat that, Ari? Because there was a little bit of... ah
00:21:10
Speaker
A misunderstanding there on one of the posts. I want to make sure that we get this right. Say it again. Well, ah so were you not saying on the last episode that you thought it was more more likely than not that Obed would be ah departing next year? Or is that is that.
00:21:26
Speaker
No, that he'll be departing this year. And I think that's where the confusion came. Yeah, i what I was saying, and maybe I've got to stop saying percentages or anything like that, but what I was inclining to saying that I think Obed is more likely to be gone at the beginning of the MLS season than to stay here. I think I said there's a 40% chance that he stays, meaning... They're 60% that he leaves. So I just have to be more clear. And I know that there was some some confusion out there with it. And look, when I sit here and when I tell you guys what's going on, what I'm hearing, when I report on things, net net negotiations,
00:22:07
Speaker
fluctuate, they go up and down, they move very quickly. And I am sharing that information with everyone that can absolutely change at times. This one in particularly has not moved at all. The needle has never even passed beyond the halfway point. It's always been on the OBED camp and the Seattle Sounders camp. There's just never been close to common ground. i mean, the, the The agreement, the possibility of them coming to terms is just so far apart that I don't see that you know getting closer. And you know the Paul Rothering situation was completely different because you had a guy that was out there, obviously up in the free market, and the Sounders said repeatedly, and I said repeatedly, that the the the door was never closed.
00:22:57
Speaker
In this situation, it's very different because there are a lot of moves that Ovid can make. and
00:23:07
Speaker
if there's even the slightest possibility that the Sounders are going to keep him by terms of extending his contract, they're really going to have to come out of pocket and they're really going to have to do a lot for him to agree on on a contract. Because right now, you know, it kind of feels like his camp believes that his next step is Europe and the Sounders would not necessarily be...
00:23:36
Speaker
Any help in that regard. And so if they feel like they have nothing to gain from it, then that's difficult. And they're willing to bet the fact that from here to the summer window that he's going to be healthy and he's going to be OK and there's going to be no problems. And in the summer, he can talk to whoever he wants, because six months before his contract is up, he can do that. He can get a pre-contract so that.
00:23:57
Speaker
leaves the Sounders in a very vulnerable situation. And regardless of whether maybe the Sounders are okay with getting $0 for Obed Vargas and Craig is willing to go with that as well, and Adrian is willing to take that loss, then that's totally fine. I still think that if there is a good possibility and they can do a little bit of work and get on the phones and try to get him...
00:24:24
Speaker
sold before the winter window, they're going to do that. I mean, I just don't see them passing on that opportunity. So there's two options right now. Either Owen Vargas plays till December, and that's the last as a Sounders that he'll ever be, or he ends his career with the Sounders in a transfer window. But regardless of, the the end is coming. i Just right now, at this particular time, there is just not enough...
00:24:53
Speaker
that each camp is doing to just make it work. and And I don't know if there's going to be. My plan today is if we get to talk to anybody from the San Jose, ask about that. Ask what is the biggest obstacle?
00:25:04
Speaker
What is it that you're not giving them? what you know What exactly is that you're trying to do to sign them? Obviously, last time it was very nonchalant. Whatever. you know i don't care. Me and you see things different, Nico. And that's all good and well. But I really do want to know what what is the problem.
00:25:19
Speaker
Yeah, I guess ah let's theorize on that for a second. I mean, do you think it's a situation? they They could have signed him to a U22 extension ah in the last couple years leading up to this.
00:25:36
Speaker
ah That would have given him isn't that over a million dollars is the max hit for you 22 extension like that and he he rejected that I'm pretty sure I'm it's it's doc here is reported that they did at least try to do that isn't it so They did try to do that, and his camp is pretty is is pretty dug in. So I think, to me, it it seems a situation of them feeling like the maximum that the Sounders can offer is not particularly close to what his value is. And that being the case, they would rather roll the dice ah and not sign that and then let him leave on his ah on his own accord, which...
00:26:18
Speaker
I think when we're with we're we're talking about the the talent level and ability of the player, I can understand where they're coming from. It does seem a little risky from his camp, doesn't It does. You know you can put a lot of money in the could have put a lot of money in the bank. That gives you a little bit of security, and that does that wouldn't have precluded him from transferring to Europe or going and pursuing his dreams.
00:26:43
Speaker
that way he could have done both things and whatever you know he's getting advice telling him not to do that and that he should bet on himself and that's certainly his prerogative uh but i guess the question that people are wondering is like could the club have done anything differently to get him signed on this u22 extension uh either last year or the year before that uh like yeah look i i I think they should have gone early. I mean, whenever you have a talent like this, you got to go early. You cannot wait for him to start hitting the the floor running. it and And you could do that with, you know, 500,000, 600,000. I mean, the fact that he's making 100 and something, I mean, that that that's crazy, right? yeah So you you could have tripled that and and been fine.
00:27:31
Speaker
For me, the window... was right after Obed Vargas was still with the U.S. Men's National Team or the U.S. Federation. And he was obviously playing in the in the youth ah camps and getting into the U-20s. World Cup and all the things that he did um i mean not with Mexico but prior to that when he was with the UNS team that the U20 team that's when in my opinion there was a lot of scouts just a lot of people looking at your player you know what you have in Nobid Vargas he had been performing you should have signed him there and after that it just became a a waiting game and he became
00:28:16
Speaker
A little bit of, you know, his his camp waiting for that to to happen. And then once they got the first offer, they felt like the player could wait a little bit more. so both sides just kind of became a little bit. Yeah.
00:28:32
Speaker
Not sure. just they they They just weren't really seeing eye to eye. And there wasn't enough mediation then for them to come into an accord. or There wasn't enough being given from one side or another to to get it to an agreement. And then it all just fell asleep. And now, look, everything that we are hearing is that the Sounders have made multiple offers over the last two years to Albert Barger's in his camp and nothing has come about. So that's when what you're saying kind of...
00:29:02
Speaker
ah comes into fruition is it is It is risky because let's say if you had signed $600,000, you would have made, you know, over a million over the last couple of years. But they have been on a course where they just wanted...
00:29:18
Speaker
a specific number. It's my guess. My guess, maybe there wasn't a specific number. Maybe there was more to it. And that's what I want to know from the Sounders is it's what is it that has prevented that? At least right now, at least right now, is there no trust from his camp that the Sounders are going to do right by him and they're going to put him in the best situation possible in europe you Europe? Do they not trust the fact that the Sounders maybe be are not,
00:29:43
Speaker
Inter-Miami or LAFC with, I don't know, more contacts abroad. I mean, I don't know. that that I want to know what they're being told, what they're hearing, what what is it that is preventing this from happening. But the reality is is that they're just not not seeing eye to eye right now.
00:30:00
Speaker
For what it's worth, Obed actually, he talked to yeah ESPN a couple days ago. ah Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas has confirmed to ESPN that Club America in Liga Imeckis has expressed interest by reaching out to his representatives during this winter transfer window, but quickly shut down the idea of a move to Liga Imeckis to prioritize a future in Europe. So that's, I mean, that's new to me that Club America specifically was in on this. I know Tigris also made an offer for him at one point. So I think that's another thing to keep in mind is that they've they've gotten big time offers from Liga and Mackey's.
00:30:37
Speaker
for Obed that they haven't taken because they are they're trying to do right by the player. They could they could have taken those. They could have been like, Tigris, we'll take your $10 million dollars or whatever it was, and they could have they could have taken that, but they're choosing not to because the player really wants to go to Europe. This is his quote from the same ESPN report.
00:30:59
Speaker
This is Obed. They reached out, but my priority is going to Europe. My contract with the Sounders expires at the end of this year. So if a move to Europe doesn't happen before then before that, then the idea is at the end of the year. So that's Obed himself basically said confirming what the plan is from his standpoint.
00:31:18
Speaker
ah he's he's He's kind of content either way. He's basically saying, all right, like if you don't move me, im i'll I'll just play out my contract and then I'll ah I'll play it by ear from there, which is that's the outcome we've all been kind of ah scared of. But I guess what do you what do you make of this Liga Mackey's interest? that's ah That's the second reported offer they've gotten from they're that they're not taking. What role is like is that playing in all of this?
00:31:48
Speaker
I think it's the right move by Obed. It would be a lateral move at best to go to Liga MX. MLS right now, in my opinion, and the opinion of many, is a bigger showcase, is a much closer stepstone into Europe.
00:32:04
Speaker
There has been plenty of cases as of recent of MLS. U.S. s young talent going into Mexico and not not going anywhere.
00:32:15
Speaker
ah So, you know, when you look at Cowell,
00:32:20
Speaker
came and left. There is that Kitsendejas. There was another RSL, Que Barajas. There just have been a lot of players that have gone to Mexico and haven't really gone nowhere. And I don't want to discredit Liga MX. I think it's a good quality league. I think it's fun. I think it's better than the Scottish Premier League to watch at least. um But the reality is that And I just had this discussion on Saturday um on a Spanish show that I did on radio. And i said exactly this that I just mentioned. And one guy was like, well, you know, I think it's good for a player to have the pressure of Liga MX.
00:33:01
Speaker
And maybe that's true, you know, having a high-pressure league, you know, can maybe break a player, right? They say that pressure makes diamonds, right? Maybe you you you break that shell and you continue to get better. But I just don't see it that way. that There is unnecessary pressure in Mexico. There is scrutiny to the highest point from – the press when they're going after your nationality. I mean, Gonzalo Pineda, born and raised in Mexico, played in Mexico, played in Mexico national team, was cold soft and got ran out of Mexico because in some way or form he was made or shaped as a coach in MLS. And that a stigma never goes away. And in Mexico, it's true. Look, if you don't perform game one, game two,
00:33:50
Speaker
you're not seeing the field. ah They would rather put you on the bench and bring in a, you know, 34 year old Venezuelan that they just got last season that had, you know, eight, nine goals. That's the way it works in Mexico. There's just no patience when he comes to it. And as much as I have all of the belief that Obito Vargas is a playmaker and is the real deal and it's a generational talent, I would hate to see him make a lateral move in Mexico because have that stump his growth in any sort of way. And he doesn't make it to Europe. So for me, that's, that's the right point. And he's treated himself as a generational talent. He's picking where he wants to go. I want to go to Europe.
00:34:33
Speaker
And, and again, he's, he wants to go to a top league, you know, Belgium or, uh, If you want to, you know, higher leagues, right, top leagues, of course, ah Germany and, you know, the Bundesliga and League Ong and Serie A, the Premier. I mean, that's where he would like to go, right? And maybe he will take a Belgium or, you know, a Turkish league or something like that. But at the end of the day, he just wants to be in Europe. And I feel like that's fair. I feel like that's the right idea. And I see no Mexican team. If America cannot get you,
00:35:04
Speaker
No one can get you. mean, America has, they're the big deal. They're the powerhouse of of Mexico, at least in terms of money, in terms of marketing, right?
Jordan Morris's Role as Designated Player
00:35:14
Speaker
I mean, of course, there's other teams that that are very, very good, but America, you know, they they come with ah with with a heavy pocket. So the fact that they said no just talks about what Obed Vargas and Obed Vargas' camp's plan is, and it's only going to end up with Obed in Europe.
00:35:34
Speaker
Tribe coming in with the first super chat of the show. Thank you, Tribe. Appreciate the support as always. she's at He asks, will they do some will they do something, um I assume. Will they do something about the Morris DP situation? I don't know what you mean by do something.
00:35:52
Speaker
about uh i assume you mean like make him a non-dp they're not gonna they're not gonna do that tribe ah the uh your strikers next year are gonna be jordan morris and danny mussofsky and you're gonna like it tribe you're gonna like it yeah i mean i know seriousness like i don't uh i don't know what you mean by do something about it but uh no i mean jordan's gonna be the dp number nine that's No, I'm just trying be asking, you know, is there a way to... Like get the escalators, not... Exactly. or Or like buy him out or restructure anything.
00:36:26
Speaker
I've asked about restructure and I've asked about movement and I've always said that is it's not going to happen. There's nothing to it. You could transfer Jordan Morris somewhere else and open up that DP. That's also not going to happen. i mean, if you're going to transfer Jordan anywhere, you would put... the burden of you need to go out there and get a player now to the sounders team and that's just not going to happen and if you're letting go of jordan morris and you're opening a dp spot it better be to spend nine ten eleven million to get yourself a guy that's going to come in and score before he even arrives he's scoring right from the plane just roll down the window and just heads right into the goal i mean and that's just not going to happen it's just not going to happen so
00:37:11
Speaker
Jordan Morris will be the DP next year. He'll be the DP striker. I think he's going continue play striker. I've heard, you know, put him on the wing and all this stuff, you know, that I'm not dismissing it. mean, possibility. That's why Marbella and Portugal are going to be so important for us to be watched chin because they're There is a lot of positional battles. I still think and know for a fact that Jordan Morris wants to play that night. That's where he wants to go. That's where he wants to perform. That's going to be taken into consideration, no doubt about it. But, you know, can he earn that spot? Can he win it? I think he can, but we'll see what happens.
00:37:50
Speaker
Got Jake with a question for you as well here, Nico. First day of media availability is today. Is Nico going down to Providence to get some interviews? Are you looking forward to catching up with certain players?
00:38:01
Speaker
Yes, I definitely am. I'm going in there to get a lot of unanswered questions to, you know, I'm not coming in strong today with some with some questions about a lot of things. I do plan to get Craig Wives talking.
00:38:19
Speaker
I hope so. I hope so. that That was not in the press release, but I sure hope so. Probably not. It'd be great, though. that That's what I want to see. is Oh, i want watch I want to watch you guys. I want to watch you guys go at it. so's better They better be making him available today.
00:38:37
Speaker
yeah know i mean I think he ah he appreciates you. you know and I appreciate him. I really do. i Yeah, no, I appreciate him. In the same way, I appreciate Brian. I know a lot of you, you know, ah think that it's you know all in bad faith, but it's not. It's great. But going back to it, yes, I'm hoping to catch up with a lot of players. I hope Jesus Ferreira is there. um He's a guy that I want to talk to. I definitely want to see if they're going to make Nikola Petrovic available today. I don't know that for a fact. Definitely want to talk to Brian and and see how he's feeling about the whole thing. um
00:39:15
Speaker
i have some other ones on dock that, that are on dock. I'm just waiting that I think you guys are going to love. I got some really, really fun, interesting interviews. Just, just waiting right there. I just got to get it done. It's been a convoluted week for all teams in all leagues. So that, that's exactly why we haven't been able to to do them, but Stay on with Sandra Hart and Sandra Hart YouTube. We're going to bolster up our content there. And there's some really good, fun interviews that you guys are going to like. So we'll see. But without a doubt, today it is your...
00:39:56
Speaker
Reminder to go follow Pulsar Sports, Slob and Scorchers, Sounder are Hard, ah YouTube, everywhere, right? and and Anywhere that you get your podcasting, all of it, follow right now because we're going to have a lot of content. We get one week, people, one week to get content for at least two weeks because – It does come slow when the team goes to Marbella and they're in Europe. We do get some availability and we do get some things. I will definitely be hearing some information from plenty sources, but it does slow down. So I'm going to make sure to get a lot of that content this week. Then it'll trickle down, trickle down. Then I have, again, some some special interviews coming up that are going to be very interesting. But we'll see. Yeah. and Definitely ah a lot of that Is coming up here but Chat I want to hear from you guys well what do you guys Think about you know this U22 what do you guys think about The preseason who are you guys excited To hear from let me know i want to know so that way I can You know move
00:40:57
Speaker
In that route, you know, I want to give you guys that um that respect for being here for being loyal followers loyal listeners listeners part of this audience. So Let let Ari know he'll let me know let us know in the chat and and and we'll definitely get that out for you guys Absolutely drop your thoughts on the on the offseason today and how you're feeling heading into preseason. Uh, in chat. We love to hear how you guys are are feeling. and And we've got ah a few developments over the last month or so that kind of give us a better idea on what the outlook of the roster and the team is going to be going in to to preseason. So ah yeah, no, go ahead and let us know how you're feeling. Nico, anything else Sounders wise that were that were missing that you wanted to get to before we ah before we give a little Danny
Sounders' Midfield Strategy Post-Vargas
00:41:45
Speaker
Leyva update here? Am I I feel like the Petrovich thing is obviously the biggest thing. Am I missing anything?
00:41:52
Speaker
what else What else is ah going on in the Nico orbit related to the Seattle Sounders? No, at think that was the biggest thing. ah Obviously, Andrew your Rose official now. we We talked about it plenty, but now it was official. He's on his way to LAFC and...
00:42:12
Speaker
Hate to see him go, but happy for him and his success. It's going to be a lot of fun to to to watch him out there with LAFC. But I don't know if you want to. Yeah, let's talk Danny Leyva and then we'll talk a little bit about the league because Nekaxa my new favorite team to watch, man. and oh And it's not just because they got some MLS players because Julian Carranza and Danny Leyva, that's going to be fun.
00:42:37
Speaker
ah Before we get into that, we do have someone, Buster's wondering any word on Yutsu Konome. We were talking about him on the last show as wow probable probable inbound first team signing. Is there any update there?
00:42:51
Speaker
Yeah, very interesting question. Bravo, because that's something that I forgot to mention. this move for this U22 could impact the Yutsukunomi stakes because, you know, he does take international spot. And as far as I know, there was a bit of a...
00:43:17
Speaker
ah scarce situation with that, with international spots open. ah So he also fits the same attacking midfield profile. So we'll see.
00:43:31
Speaker
ah I'm not really sure. The Yutukunov thing was definitely, and to me, still is in the works in terms of conversations and getting him ready to go. I still feel like he's going to happen. but But this did make me feel a little bit like,
00:43:46
Speaker
Well, that's a lot of midfielders. If Nikola comes in and you already have Snyder, Brunel, and you have obviously Christian Roldan and still have Obed, we'll see what happens. But I do think that are you still in in play For lack of a better word, he's still in play. I think that we still have to keep an eye on that. But between the U22 spot being used on that specific position and the fact that he's taken an international spot, that's getting me wondering if maybe they thought this fell on our laps. This is an interesting player that we haven't really got to see, that we get to...
00:44:27
Speaker
Rent for free. Maybe that's a better use for that than Yutsukonomi. And we could try to convince you to come back at Tacoma Defiance. Maybe that's what happens. So great question.
00:44:40
Speaker
I'm on it today. Magno, thank you for the super chat. Appreciate the support. He's ah he's asking, say Obed is gone, who would you say is the starting 11? Yeah, let's ah let's just let's go through that real quick. I'm not going to bust out the lineup builder, but I think we can do ah we can lay that down real quick here because i don't think it's that complicated.
00:44:59
Speaker
ah Right now, the the back four is slated to be exactly the same. So we'll see what happens with goalkeeper. my My assumption is that the plan is for Andrew Thomas to be the starter going into the year. I'm sure they'll battle that out to a certain extent in preseason, but I think he'll probably have the the lead on that. I think they want him to be the number one next year. I think that's the idea there. So it'll be Andrew Thomas. And as it stands right now, back line of new who with the EAMR and Jackson Reagan center back duo and Alex rolled on on the right. The double pivot is where it gets interesting depending on what happens with, uh, with Obed, uh,
00:45:41
Speaker
Obviously, if Obed is still on the team, they would just run that exact double pivot again. There would be no reason not to. But let's ah let's talk about the circumstance ah of Obed not being in the fold, who starts with Christian in the double pivot, assuming they're running the same formation.
00:45:57
Speaker
To me, Nico, it seems like it would be Hassani Dotson. is yeah is there Do you see it differently as far as the first choice starter? My my my my take my initial take would be Hassani Dotson as the starter with Petrovic and Snyder B kind of competing to be the first man off the bench at that spot. um Do you think that's accurate or do you do see that spot differently?
00:46:21
Speaker
No, think that's accurate. I believe that They committed a lot of the salary cap money to Hassani. They really wanted him. They've been wanting him. They feel like he fits the system. They feel like he'll play well with Christian Roldan.
00:46:37
Speaker
I think that there's no doubt in my mind that he'll be the guy. However, I do think that this year, and maybe – It's not a bad thing because he kind of worked last season. and You might see a a lot of heavy rotation. You might see one of those seasons where once again, it's July or June and we still don't really know what the best 11 is. And we still have like a lot of rotation in in a lot of positions. Last year, pivot was the thing that would never move. Everything around would move except for the pivots. This year, that might be a little bit different. But I do think that right now, as it stands on paper,
00:47:16
Speaker
Hassani Dotson will be the starter in execration ruban if Ovid Vargas is it gone. As far as the ah the front four, I think it's also relatively straightforward.
00:47:27
Speaker
ah For me, it's Jesus Ferreira starting at right mid. Albert Rusnak your starting 10. George Morris is your starting DP number nine. And then left mid, I mean, they're going into the season with ah Pedro De La Vega. He's not going to be able to play until probably April or May, as I understand it. How do you think they should... ah handle that while they wait for La Vega to get healthy. I think De La Vega, De La Vega last year showed very clearly that his talent level is far in a way the highest quality in the, in the attack. So if once he's healthy, i think he'll be the starter, but until then ah i mean, we'll see, we'll see how they handle it. Obviously Paul Rothrock is going to get a lot of minutes there, but Nico, I'm, a I'm looking forward to, seeing what the other Paul can offer during preseason. Paul Areola, the team put out a video a couple days ago, one of those behind the scenes, like we're we're following him through his rehab. It's a lot of footage of him working out, exercising his rehabbing knee. And I just think that the injury last year with him was unfortunate, but it's easy to forget that before that happened, he was actually looking pretty good. And he and Ferreira were actually showing some really good carry over of their chemistry from fc dallas to the point where i feel like assuming that he's fully healthy and good to go even at his age i think people are probably going to write him off because he's a little older coming off a knee injury but i think this is he's a guy that has shown to be a very good ah significantly above average at times and mls player he looked like he was doing that last year until he got injured And as far as the injury thing, we'll have to see how that pans out. That can always, that can always diminish your skills, especially at his age. I think, i do think he is uniquely the type of guy who he's he's always in the gym. He is an absolute, like almost Nico Ladero level freak about his physical fitness.
00:49:33
Speaker
Even more so than most pro athletes, I would say, from what I've observed of Paul Areola throughout his career and since he's been in Seattle. So that gives me at least a little bit of optimism that he his level actually won't have dropped all that much from before the injury, especially, you know, modern medical science and ACL. You can come back from that and relatively maintain maintain your level now. So anyway, we'll see what happens. But Nico, ah what do you what do you think of that left mid spot? I think that's the most debatable spot um among the starting 11.
00:50:03
Speaker
Yeah, I think that we just hit the two, right? If Obed is gone, that's going to be, you know, one that we look at, at who is going to be replacing him. But that left winger position...
00:50:17
Speaker
or at least of those spots in the attacking third is going to be a battle. And it's going to be the bottle of the Pulse. Paul Arriola against against Pagliari. P-A-something. mean, I don't know. We've got to come up with a cool nickname for him. I think Georgie's going to be in the mix there as well. But Georgie, exactly. That's what I wanted to talk to is Georgie has to be in consideration. i We would not be Fair to Georgie's Attributes And growth And what he's been able to do with his national team Although obviously Sporadic and and not constant Not as a starter But he is a talent Without a doubt he's a talent And he himself is working poor they Harder than both Paul's right now I mean he has been in competitions In a competitive level He's going to come in here Just
00:51:13
Speaker
Speeding through everybody. I mean, this guy has been in high competition in AFCON over the last month. So he is going to have a step, if not two, in front of everyone. so he And he already has some steps on people. so Absolutely. And and he's a guy that's going to play with a chip on his shoulder. He's going to have this great big smile. And... I just, I can't wait to see him play.
00:51:34
Speaker
I honestly cannot wait to see him play. So that that left side is the one position that will be very interesting to watch is who earns that spot. And I feel like that's something that Brian is always good at is figuring out who really deserves that spot. So when it comes to this preseason, man, that that is one watch without a doubt, just the battle for that left side or just one of those positions there. ah Because the clear ones are Ferreira is not going nowhere. As much as people hate to think about it,
00:52:08
Speaker
Rusnak is the man and Jordan Morris is going to be the guy. So there's just one spot left and that spot is going to be, you know, very intense high play because i but I'm with you. Paul Arriola is different than both of those other guys. is His services are so much better that the quality of services he puts in his his IQ is at a different level. He might not be as...
00:52:31
Speaker
a deeper thread and a guy that's going to stretch out your defense, but his pause, his link up. I mean, all those other things are are excellent of Paula Riola. And I do think that he's going to come in fit and ready as well. Cause if there's anything he's doing right now is up in his conditioning, right? When you can't get on the ball, when you're not there, you're up in your conditioning. And I think that's, uh,
00:52:52
Speaker
It's going to be very good for him going into this preseason. So Paul with a contract also, that's pressure. That's something he hasn't had before. They always say, look out for those guys that get their their big payday. So I don't doubt that Paul has the right mentality to do so, but that, you know, does that weigh him down? I mean, sure think that he can, but we'll see. So that there's just a lot of small little, you know, sub headlines that we can talk about when it comes to that side of the ball.
00:53:20
Speaker
Yeah, there's theoretically more polish there with Paul Areola, but I'm looking forward to seeing what Georgie can, can do as well. I think last year, i mean, you really, you saw the raw ability in flashes and he's very exciting to watch, ah but still, still raw, still learning.
00:53:39
Speaker
And, ah I think the question with him is Noah and I went back and forth on this earlier this
Prospects and Player Developments
00:53:44
Speaker
preseason. But the question is, can you sort of round out his game to fit more of what Brian Schmetzer wants in a winger, which is and all the ideal Brian Schmetzer winger is like an all around player that works hard on both sides of the ball. And that is like good in their one V one defending in a way that Georgie has been like, yeah I'm a big Georgie defender, but he has been inconsistent with that stuff at times. He picked up some silly cards last year. There was, if you went back and watch the film, you could probably find more than a few instances where his defending was not up to, you know, we're used to seeing these guys like Paul Areola and Jesus Ferreira, who are just dogs on on defense the entire game. And Georgie, he is not solidified, rounded out his game probably in that way. So that's what I'm looking forward to seeing though, is yeah can he take steps in that way? Because, ah you know, as much as Noah was making fun of the cutback pass stat, he, would he, he was very impressive with that stuff last year, as far as winning his one V ones, getting into those prime assist zones that the Sounders value so much. Uh,
00:54:53
Speaker
putting in some good service and making plays, making big plays. He's the one who drew the penalty to put league's cup the League's Cup final away. So it's going be fun to see this preseason and going into the season, if he can build on that and take another step forward. Because if he can, i think that is a potential game changer for the roster, honestly, that people might not realize or or be talking about. We got a Wade, member for eight months. Appreciate you as always, Wade. You the man. He says, feeling a little concerned. Seems like the rest of the West got stronger. We didn't make improvements. I see a fifth place finish in 26. Wade's concerned.
00:55:31
Speaker
I guess that's a good... disagree. Well, what that's a good segue into what's going on ah around the rest of the league that we can talk to to or talk about to close it out here, Nico. Because there has been... ah There's been stuff going on in the West.
00:55:48
Speaker
Let's well, okay, actually. all right. Sorry. Rewind. Before we get into all that stuff, we do want to shout. We did want to shout out Danny Weva. He is starting to play for Nekoxa. We posted out the highlight on our Instagram of a classic Danny dime in whatever game they were playing. looks like he's ah adapting well, and it was just kind of cool to see him already playing.
00:56:10
Speaker
Showing that stuff it seems like he's on a good trajectory with them what did you see from ah you were Nico you said Nekoxa is one of your favorite teams to watch right now what ah why do you is that just a Danny Leva thing or why are you why are you no I really yeah of course it is just a Danny Leva thing to start but I didn't realize you know once I started ah following and you know i now I'm Let's just say I'm full in on covering Nekaxa. And I started you know getting information about who was coming in. And Carranza was coming in, you know former Philadelphia Union. that That's a guy that I want to be following. I mean, I've always liked him. I've always enjoyed him. He was in Europe. I think he's going to be a handful in Mexico. i don't know if you remember Faraveli, the the um left...
00:56:55
Speaker
Wingback for Cruz Azul that played here. ah Very interesting. He's also there in the Cox now. I mean, they got some players, man. And With Danny, watching him yesterday and watching how good they were on the ball and how they would open up space. I mean, they were fun to watch. And, you know, Santos is not the Santos of old. Santos has been struggling for several years, but it was a good win on the road. 3-1 on the road is always a good win in Mexico at Estadio Corona. So, yeah, they're exciting. So after I watched those 90 minutes, I said, yep, This is my team to watch. I'm going to be full on because they're a good team. And I think Danny fits amazing. So once i again, going back to Danny, it wasn't like highlight after highlight after highlight, but it's just poised possession is clean on distribution. I think he had like 82% pass ah conversion on accuracy. He was just key when he came to the buildup. I thought that he did good defensively, at least covering up, slowing down players. He was influential on both sides of the ball.
00:58:01
Speaker
um He just looked the part. So to me, he was ah the one midfield that played the 90. His other pivot ended up getting getting changed. But he is looking like a guy that is going to be – Main pillar in that midfield. So I was just excited for him. He definitely looks like a guy that has been waiting for this opportunity and he's just not going to let it go. So Nikaxa is a team to watch.
00:58:30
Speaker
Do you think Seattle should have kept him? I mean, I think that's where with him already is starting to look that good for them and them getting this thrown this dart at this you twenty two at the position who you don't know is going to be as good as him. And he's already been on the team. He's adapted to the team. You don't have to work him in. And there was theoretically minutes there for him. ah But, you know, on the flip side of that, it almost does seem like for him to take the next leap, it almost seems like he would benefit from a change of scenery where he can go to a place at Nekoxa where it seems like they're kind of committed to him being one of their one of their guys in a way that Seattle wouldn't necessarily have been. But I don't i don't know. Does how good he looked to start his Nekoxa career change the way you see whether they should have transferred him to begin with or do you think they should have kept him?
00:59:24
Speaker
I do. I think that it I repeat it. I would have rather them keep Danny than bring this
00:59:35
Speaker
I understand why they did it because I do believe that there was – I don't think that Brian and the coaching staff were really going to give him even more minutes or or it just didn't feel like that. And they just felt like there was a a good opportunity for both player and team. ah but But to me, I do feel like he was starting to break through. i feel like he had been getting better. i feel like those holes in his game defensively and in terms of dynamism, he was starting to really shave down. I thought that he was getting better and better on set pieces. He didn't get many in this one, but I do think that that's something that you have to earn in in the Mexican teams. And of course, I say, look, Nick, I'm the team to watch just because they have a good team. but In Mexico, i mean, Nkaksa isn't a big big, big team. So I'm not saying they're going to win the whole thing. i just think they're going to be fun to watch. But yeah, I do feel like the new change of scenery and the type of confidence that they're showing Danny Leyva will unlock what I think we were all waiting
01:00:46
Speaker
Danny Levaru won't lock at one point, which was just that difference maker week in, week out. So it's going to be interesting. Yeah, he he's maybe not the like the optimum prototype for for the sounder system, for Schmetzer ball specifically in terms of what Schmetzer typically looks for at that position. So maybe that's something that made them more inclined to move him than they would have been otherwise. like he He's a very different skill set than Christian Roldan, Hassani Dotson, Obed Vargas.
01:01:19
Speaker
although All those guys have skill sets that I think more fit the Schmetzer mold than Danny Leyva does. But it is an interesting one because Danny Leyva was looking genuinely effective regardless of that last year. He was starting to get on the stat sheet more. And like you said, his set piece delivery was honestly pretty incredible. Like that free kick that he hit in League's Cup that knew scored. That was what if he had scored that, that would have been one of the sickest free kicks a Sounders player has ever hit. Like that. It was that good. And his corner kicks were pretty lights out, too. So.
01:01:50
Speaker
And it's not for everybody. You got to be a specialist at this. And it doesn't matter where you played. And, you know a lot of people focus so much on, you know, what he is he, you know, where, where do he play the trajectory? I would watch Danny Leyva just recently when, um when ah Ryan Kent first came in and they were all, I think it was Ryan Kent. It was, um Rusnak, Nuhu, which was funny, and Danny Leyva, they were all just testing the the free kick, right? with what they They'll put like the the plastic guys right in front and they'll they'll shoot. They were all working on their free kicks. And the only one that was on the money every single time was Danny Leyva. And obviously, Ryan Kent has a trajectory that exceeds Danny Leyva, but he just couldn't get it. Now,
01:02:41
Speaker
Ryan Kent did break the the whole thing in half because he had that powerful kick. He like took the hat off of one of the the dummies, the plastic dummies that that sit in front. But Danny Leyva, his foot is privileged. And you saw it in that clip that we put obviously on Love Is Quarters. And that that's his thing. It's just he has a privileged footing. And when you can unlock that with all the other things working for you and you put him under the right system, it works. It really works.
01:03:11
Speaker
Perforce is asking, wonder who our set piece guy is after Albert at this point? I think Jesus Ferreira. That's a great question. i would think so. if i would I would have Jesus do it. I think his set pieces are good.
01:03:25
Speaker
I would think so too. I think that'd be the first guy that comes to mind. Nuhu's going to campaign to do it He's going to campaign to do it he's gonna take he he really worried He really tries man He be sitting there trying like god There was some game last year where he was like Lining up for it and doing like the the run up And it's like Nuhu you're not going to take that You are absolutely not going to take that. Stop. do the That is the least convincing fake of all time. Standing over a free cake from like a really dangerous spot. Yeah. ah All right. Nico, let's ah let's jump around MLS here to ah to close it out. We got about 20 minutes left.
01:04:04
Speaker
ah you Where do you want it? You want to start with Eric Ramsey, Chucky Lozano, Christian Espinosa. What's your what's your MLS storyline of choice? Well, let let's start by answering the question of the listener and giving our takes on whether he's right or not. And I get it. We still ah don't really know if, let's say, LA Galaxy is not going to get even better than they've already gotten. ah because they did get some really quality players to that team. Let's talk about them real quick, because, yes, they had the best free agency of any team in terms of.
01:04:41
Speaker
the West. Yeah, in the West, in terms of trading for Jacob Glesnes and signing Justin Hack, who was one of everyone's favorite free agents. And so they looked really good. But then you got the Ricky Pooge thing where he's missing an entire another season. So really, they're kind of on ah on holding notice for me until we see who they replaced Ricky Pooge with. And there ain't no guarantee that whoever they replace him with for next year is going to be anywhere near as good as Ricky Pooge. He's one of the best players in the league. So they're they're kind of on dicey ground at the moment.
01:05:12
Speaker
Yeah, look, I think that Greg Vanney, regardless of extension, he's going to be on the hot seat. I think that there's still a question mark on that midfield because I'm not really sure if maybe Greg is going to go to a back line of three and just play with Hack. as one of those three center backs. I mean, that could be a possibility. So there's just a lot of question marks in in terms of where he's going to play. And if that's the case, then you got to figure out that midfield. I still think that they got to figure out at least getting more depth to that ninth position. They ended up... um
01:05:44
Speaker
They got like Nascimento right now Yeah they kept them right that they ended up purchasing Nascimento who still has Some room to show What he could really provide I like the talent I like the potential But it's not really proven And that's kind of what the Galaxy team needed now You still got k Christian Ramirez But he that feels like he doesn't fit 22 number nine man. That's what I'm trying to tell you guys. Like it's not a guarantee that if you sign a U22 number nine, they're going to be Toklamati or Jovulic. It's, it's actually opposite. It's vastly more likely that they're going end up like Nassimento who, like you said, last year he showed some flashes. He scored a couple of goals, but was really, he kind of didn't look up for MLS a lot of the time. I thought like he, he didn't,
01:06:25
Speaker
Really make that much of an impact so that's I'm just saying that's why you got to be careful. You gotta be careful. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, there hasn't been a lot of thing Brenner's another one. It took him a year, but but he ended up being really good for Cincinnati up top. I mean, there are some but you're right. It's it's just not that simple. So going back, I think l LA Galaxy has a lot of question marks and I think the West in general and you know, we could talk about it as as you go.
01:06:48
Speaker
Um, ari But of course, I'll just name it real quick. Minnesota has downgraded heavily. San Jose has downgraded heavily. Vancouver has slockcked a lot of pieces and they might lose Cubas. If they lose Cubas, that team is completely different than last year. So I would put them there. I think Austin...
01:07:08
Speaker
It's okay, but I don't know if they're a team that I would necessarily focus on. And and being ah a prime team, I think San Diego FC will talk about that as well. They have lost a big piece. So what what does that look like next year? so To me, it is the Wild West right now. i think as of right now, it's LAFC and everybody else. And even LAFC to some people because they hate on the Marco Santos, blah, blah, blah, boo. But um I think it's LAFC and everybody else right now.
01:07:40
Speaker
Yeah, no, I tend to agree. i think I think if anything, the West has opened up more over this offseason than it was near the end of last season. And ah you mentioned a few of the reasons for that right there. But ah let's talk about ah our friend Eric Ramsey.
01:07:59
Speaker
rick Rick's MLS tenure has come to an unceremonious close. Noah's favorite guy. Noah's favorite guy. is gone. he ah Where did he go? he he went the perfect place for him. ah i got Out of the MLS. that that That's all that Noah cared. That is out of MLS. what ah is Was it a championship club that he went to? Why am blanking on this? He went ah West Bromwich Albion in the English Championship, which, Nico, I think this is right. That's where he should be.
01:08:34
Speaker
That's where he should be. The English Championship is a platform where you can Ramsey ball it up and I won't, I won't fault you for it. MLS is not the league for that stuff. All right. The English championship where you are trying to punch above your weight by definition, right?
01:08:55
Speaker
That is that is where this, his type of, his type of swag can be effective and it it feels a little less immoral, but it does. Yeah.
01:09:07
Speaker
it makes It makes me wonder about Minnesota United because I've been kind of under the assumption that unless something drastically changed with their roster, they were going to go into next year trolling again. And let's be let's be real. you know i ah I know that we went at it with Minnesota United fans last year, and they weren't happy with us, and they were trying to sell their tactics and their identity as like, no, we're like the fun...
01:09:32
Speaker
quirky team that got that's really good at set pieces. And we ah like we know that the extent to which we eschew possession becomes radical extremism, but like it's fun for us. yeah No, no, no. That was...
01:09:47
Speaker
That was not cool. That was not cool. it's not It's partially just Seattle fans who were salty about losing in in the playoffs. Yes, i ah I acknowledge that. But I think most other fan bases agreed that when their clubs played in Minnesota, it was ah it was a general sentiment of like, what is this? What are we talking about?
01:10:06
Speaker
So yeah it's good that he's ah in the English championship. I think that's, I think it'll be a good step forward for Minnesota United as an organization because Cameron Knowles, who I think they just announced as their coach, it's kind of a similar to a Mark Dos Santos situation. They brought up a guy that they already had internally who served as inter interim coach before.
01:10:25
Speaker
i have a hard time imagining he's going to go full Ramsey ball. He might take some elements of Ramsey ball, but most, most most coaches don't do that because how The aesthetics of it outweigh, I think, even if you're taking results. But, you know, for however much we have clowned on Eric Ramsey on this show, which is a lot, he was very effective at taking results. Like, I will give him that. He got that team to fourth in the West last year. and I think the other thing that you have to acknowledge about them is we talk about them like cowards because they are cowards, but they did score...
01:11:02
Speaker
the same amount of goals as all the other playoff teams somehow from their weird set piece countering extremism identity. They, they had a normal goal production season for a playoff team. And I mean, they beat Seattle in the playoffs. So as much as we hate it, he did show that he can do it effectively in MLS. And I think it's a much better fit for the championship. Nico, what do you make of the, the exit of Rick Ramsey from major league soccer?
01:11:29
Speaker
As much as I ah will stand alone in that I completely respect what Eric Ramsey did. i actually liked to talk to him. I thought he's Spanish. was was you know The fact that he did both languages was great for me. Got to really not just talk to him on the press conference, but in the little aisle way right there next to the the players' locker room. And he he's just a guy that I thought understood what it took to win games. And I got a lot of respect for that. However...
01:11:58
Speaker
I didn't know that the players, you know, hated to play like that so much. So maybe, uh, um Noah has a good point because I did talk to a certain member of the team. I'm not going to say whether he's still there or not there anymore. But, yeah, he said how difficult it was to play like that and is limited da-da-da-da-da. But the reality is that it's beyond Eric Ramsey.
01:12:24
Speaker
This team has been dismantled. Rosales is gone. la is gone. Tani had been gone. Dane Sinclair is gone. yeah i mean, they took – All of that, you know, middle grouping that kept it all together.
01:12:39
Speaker
I mean, how how big was Lott for this team since he was there? I mean, he was a guy that he was experienced guy that could do it all. That was just all over the field. Rosales to me was indispensable, whether it was playing outside or inside. and obviously Dane St. Clair being that bad guy for him. So it's beyond Eric Ramsey, ah who I really think you're right. He's going through a situation where he probably will be more admired for that type of soccer. But regardless of, it's about the roster and how Minnesota can go out there and and fix it and redo it. They're going to be almost in a rebuild season. yeah And I don't know if they expected it that to be that way, but that's the way it was looking.
01:13:22
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think just listening to you lay it out right there, they are almost in a rebuild type situation. And a another Western Conference club, Nico, who I think regression might be coming for. We'll see what happens. But I think regression might be coming for San Diego FC, who are coming off the best exp expansion season in MLS
Major MLS Player Movements and Impacts
01:13:43
Speaker
history. But It ended ah kind of weirdly. the The vibes deteriorated a little bit towards the end of the season, right? And then they started beefing with Chucky Lozano, as I recall, during the Western Conference playoffs. He was like getting suspended for their playoff games after being like a centerpiece player for them all season. They were suspending him in the playoffs. He came back, played well. I think he scored a goal in the playoffs, but they they lost in the Western Conference Final, I believe, and it was kind of up in the air what was going to happen with that situation. And it got announced this morning ah that Chucky is out in San Diego. This is not even like a...
01:14:20
Speaker
a question at this point they literally have said i'm looking at the the headline right here choki lozano not in san diego fc's plans for 2026 and this is the quote from their sporting director tyler heaps we have community communicated to chuki and his representatives that he will not be a part of the sporting plans moving forward that was not a decision that was taken lightly it was talked through from owners down to leadership down to myself and head coach mike ivarez and has been communicated to the rest of the group so we have resolution to the Chucky Lozano saga in San Diego. And he's gone that Nico, that was one of their best players last year, a team leader, one of their, their, that was one of their guys. And they looked
01:15:04
Speaker
better than I thought they would playing without him during all the drama and with the suspension. and they made it further in the playoffs than I thought they would without him until he came back. But that's a, that's a big loss for another Western conference competitor. One that they're not guaranteed to replace easily. And ah what do you just make Nico of how that whole Chucky situation in and MLS deteriorated?
01:15:26
Speaker
Like this it it started it started so the vibes were incredible he was Tearing up the league they were winning all all the Games they were the greatest expansion team Ever how did it end like this
01:15:39
Speaker
It must have been very Radical because To me, there was no doubt that the team was going to move on. I just thought that they would try to get something for him. I thought they were going to try to deal him or something like that. Because from the very beginning and from the point that
01:15:59
Speaker
Chucky Lozana was put on ice and and they he just wasn't playing and there was the issue internally and all these things I was hearing from a really good source that that there there was no way to rebuild that relationship because I don't want to say this well you know what it's what I was told he's a little bit of a diva or he was yeah say the same acting like acting like a diva so He always see Mike Varis. And what I heard too, this is, yeah, I heard as well that the other guys on the team were, the other his teammates were like sick of it.
01:16:32
Speaker
That's what I heard. Yes, exactly. And when you have the rest of the guys in the locker room, like this guy, I can't be around this guy. he needs Then that's a pretty big tell that he's on the outs.
01:16:43
Speaker
Absolutely. it seemed to be a a pretty popular thing. take that they just didn't want him around. I mean, if you were to take vote. He must have been insufferable, dude. Like, i to be that good a player and have everyone be like, I can't stand you.
01:16:59
Speaker
Yeah, no. i Again, I don't have the the green light to share any anecdotes, but there were some things in locker room that you're like, wow, really? That's that Is that petty? So it was the situation that was not going to work. But regardless of, this is a guy that had nine goals, 10 assists, at least in MLS, played 1,800 minutes.
01:17:22
Speaker
Clearly, their DP player, one of the guys that gave that attack... teeth, you know, it really made it look different and they're going to have to get out there and replace that. ah So it feels like one player, but you're going to have to once again, go find the right guy, see if it works, see if he fits, see if the culture matches with what the coaching staff wants. So right now, yeah, I would think that they're a bit of a question mark.
01:17:51
Speaker
Nico, to wrap it up here, I did want to note that the the Christian Espinosa Seattle Sounder dream is officially dead. He has signed with ah with Nashville SC, which, you know, i I never, there was never a moment in my life where I actually thought that the Seattle Sounders were going to sign Christian Espinosa. It was a pipe dream the whole time. It would have been awesome. But,
01:18:18
Speaker
realistically, i mean, they're broke and they also have a bunch of wingers. So it was never going to happen, but it was fun to think about. But I do think it's worth talking about ah the ripple effects of his move to Nashville because diego feel like I don't know. I wasn't really thinking about them as a destination, especially when they were linked to Paul Rothrock. But I feel like that's actually a perfect signing for what that team needed. that Basically, the whole problem with Nashville last year, the way I see it, and really their problem for a while is that they've been one-dimensional, way too reliant on Haney Mukhtar. It's like Haney Mukhtar bust. That was the case for a long time. And then they went out and got him a number nine, with Sam Surridge, but then it sort of created a similar issue of like
01:19:02
Speaker
yeah, those two guys are really good and productive, but you know, what happens if same surge has to rotate out for a game, then you're talking about like Teal Bunbury or, or whatever. Like it was just, it became Haney book to our bus, Haney book to our bus to Haney Mooktar and Sam surge or bust. And also was a really good 10 and really good number nine, but there was not a lot of dynamism from out wide, which Christian Espinosa is one of, if not the most dynamic players from out wide in all of MLS. He's,
01:19:31
Speaker
got he's got some of the best wide service I've ever seen in the league, to be honest with you. So the fact that that was a specific need for Nashville and a guy who's like sort of a specialist for what they needed popped up in free agency unexpected and then they went out and got him.
01:19:48
Speaker
that's a cook, man. That's a good signing. And I think that if I'm looking at Nashville, I really think that that move makes them a lot more of a threat than they were previously. And they were already a threat in the, ah in the East. They had a really good year last year. BJ Callahan showed that he's one of the better up and coming new coaches in MLS. So I don't know. I just kind of, I love that signing for them. What do you think of Christian Espinosa's ultimate destination?
01:20:19
Speaker
It's a good fit. He is going to benefit out of BJ Callahan's style of play. He's going to benefit out of having a striker of the likes of Surridge.
01:20:31
Speaker
Him and Mukhtar, I mean, that's a scary trio face ah if you're a defender, if you're a defensive team. What if they gotten Paul Rothrock, too? Rothrock on the left, Eskno's on the right, Haney in the middle, Suraj up top.
01:20:46
Speaker
Nasty. I love that. Love that. So I do think that it's a good fit. I was surprised of where he was going because San Jose was clearly offering him a lot more money.
01:20:58
Speaker
um But I just think he saw and ah an opportunity to go and improve his career, you know, go to a winning team. at now San Jose, you know, they are left without much. Right. I mean, ah i don't remember what happened with Erno Lopez because I know he was on loan to Argentina. He's gone. He's also was i good. yeah Yeah. So he was on loan. I don't know if he's, if if that loan got bought out by Argentinos, I can't remember right now, but regardless of they are without a doubt, uh, uh,
01:21:30
Speaker
much fragile team without Espinosa. He was the rock. He could do it all. He was the guy that I felt paired best with Chicho Arango. So it is tough for them that they extend Chicho Arango and then they can't keep Espinosa. They're going have to bring someone to get him service because without someone that could put the ball into where Chicho needs it, I mean, you might as well just not have him. So San Jose is going to have to do a lot of things right to even get to where they were at last season. But in terms of Nashville, I do think that this puts them as one of the contenders, without a doubt, this season. ah I was high on them. mean you You know that. i thought they were going to be able to maybe take down Inter-Miami, and they weren't. But they just have all the they have all the right elements to be a ah tough team this season, and Espinoza gives them that that extra touch.
01:22:26
Speaker
What do you think of Jacob Schaffelberg going to LAFC as kind of a transaction related to this? Schaffelberg was on Nashville and had his moments. I feel like he hasn't been that consistent in his MLS career. He's been in the league for a while at this point. He's breaking in with Canada, ah but he, he never became a super a consistent high level threat in MLS, but it's one of those It's one of those things where, like, Jacob Schaffelberg, if he had come to Seattle, people would have called it unambitious. If if a player like that goes to LAFC, no one says anything. But, like, I think that's what people might not realize is, yeah, LAFC makes the big splashy moves, for sure. But they also are really good at like, this type of move. I bet you anything, man. I bet you anything. Jacob Schaffelberg has, like, a career year playing for Mark Dos Santos at... ah
01:23:19
Speaker
LAFC that just seems to be like when they go and poach and MLS lifer veteran kind of guy like this like Ryan Hollingshead or Kellen Acosta back in the day guys like that this is guy sort of on that tier of player they elevate them somehow.
01:23:37
Speaker
In a way that I think like, to be fair, like Seattle's had success doing that ah as as well. as But LAFC has a good track record with that. And Schaffelberg kind of feels like he fits in that in that mold. Although it's not a it's not like the splashiest, flashiest LAFC signing of all time. Inter Miami's had by far the splashiest offseason.
01:24:01
Speaker
I think you did get a little bit of criticism that Schaffelberg moved just because it was LAFC. I was surprised. I did not have that in my bingo cards. and No disrespect to Schaffelberg, who I do believe to be a good work rate guy and someone that...
01:24:18
Speaker
you know, can't get behind defenders and, you know, he can finish when he gets those opportunities, but he's just not that high level player that you'd expect LAFC to get. However, he did have a procedure done. He did get injured and he's going to be out eight weeks. ah I don't know how much is going to affect them. And there's always overall play at the end of the season, but something to watch, but yeah,
01:24:42
Speaker
Yeah, it was one of those that I did not think really fit the bill. I actually thought that that that's I never reported on it of course, because there was never anything to it. But I was certain at one point that it was either k Christian Espinosa to LAFC or to. I'm so glad that didn't happen. Yeah.
01:25:02
Speaker
LAFC or to um Austin. I thought that those were the two locations where he would go to and neither of them. After Colin, there was just no nothing to it. And then he ended up in Nashville. But yeah, LAFC, think they're going with what they have and and and they're going to assess the That roster and they're going to try to figure out how that's going to all work out. And I think Schoenberg does kind of fit into what they want to do and they're probably going to play a lot or very similar to what ah they did with Chirundolo.
01:25:33
Speaker
So expect them to have a season similar than they were last year. But i think Vancouver is the one that we haven't talked about that I think Aliyah met out, Jaden Nelson out, Daniel Rios out. And I know that Daniel Rios is another one that you're like, I don't really know if he's that big of a deal. I thought he was a guy that contributed a lot to that team, specifically when there were some injuries up top. So Vancouver is another one to watch as there's not going to be the same team as they were last season.
Inter Miami's Rising Power and Expectations
01:26:04
Speaker
Last thing I want to say, and then, ah and then I got to run, but I think guys, we're all going to have to just get used to the notion of inner Miami being an evil empire power for the foreseeable future. They've been, they've been absolutely reloading all off season. If you look around the league at the clubs that have made the biggest moves,
01:26:25
Speaker
It's pretty much, it's unquestionably them. There's no kind of debate about it. They've signed like a bunch of guys that are all hella good. They got Dane St. Clair, goalkeeper of the year, who you know we think around here that he might be a little overrated, but he's a better goalkeeper than what they were running out there.
01:26:41
Speaker
Last year. Mikael from Palmares. That's the one for me that is like. yeah Yeah, I think we're just going to have to accept that as long as Lionel Messi is on that team, they're going to be able to do stuff like this. Like we can complain about it. We can poke holes in the in why they're allowed to do certain things. I know that that's not just like conspiracy theory posturing as far as there's other clubs and executives around the league that get annoyed with how they're able to do this stuff. I think there's a simple reality to it that when you have messy on your team, this is what comes with it. Like you're able to draw players that probably otherwise would not be coming to MLS. You're able to draw them to that club with the allure of playing, playing with messy, but also yeah doing that. And yeah,
01:27:31
Speaker
and living in Miami. It's probably not that hard of a sell. So I think unfortunately it's looking like another year of them being a two plus points per game team with depth that most clubs could only even imagine. And the only extent that I care about that is how it it would affect the Seattle Sounders. Should they ever have to play inter Miami? And last year they had to play inter Miami and we saw how that went. So ah If it happens again, it happens again, and and we'll we'll we'll see what happens. But, I mean, they're going to be insane next year. Their roster is unreal.
01:28:11
Speaker
Any Inter-Miami thoughts before we get out of here? I just think that they also have a bigger target on their back. And expectations go even higher because now it's not just Messi and it's not just the players that were there last year, but it's them getting better, them getting younger, a team that is going to want to repeat what they did last season. So when you're the champ, everybody's coming after you everybody gives you the best of the best. So we'll see how they handle that. I'm sure that with the amount of talent and Lionel Messi there, they're going to be fine. But, um you know, nothing is
01:28:45
Speaker
Always, no battle is won on the soccer field just on paper. You got to get out there. you got to prove it. You got to play. There is, you know, injuries. There is lack of cohesion between these players coming in. i mean, anything can happen, but they clearly have won the preseason.
01:29:04
Speaker
No doubt about that. That is undeniable. What team won the preseason or the offseason? Let's put it that way. I think they won the offseason. No doubt about it. And the last thing I'll say on that is they they better win Champions Cup. They better with that team. I don't want to hear any excuses. All right. Every single time they lose a tournament, got the you got the entire state of Florida and the Messi bot army telling you every single reason like why why they... I don't want to hear that shit. Go out and win CCC in Miami. Go out and win it.
01:29:39
Speaker
I want to hear it this year. All right. We're going to call it on that. Thank you all so much, as always, for tuning in another Banger episode. Love and appreciate every single one of you. Like, comment, subscribe, rate five stars, Instagram, TikTok, all that good stuff. I think Noah and I are going to lay down a show on Thursday. Keep an eye out for that.
01:30:00
Speaker
Until then, we out. Love y'all. Peace.