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Sounders appear to be in the market for a Paul Arriola replacement
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On the latest episode of “What we learned this week w/Niko” Jeremiah and Niko Moreno discuss Nico Lodeiro’s return to Seattle, how the Sounders are coping with the various injuries and also look ahead to how they might end up replacing Paul Arriola. From the sound of things, it looks like a replacement could be coming sooner than later.
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Transcript
Sponsorship and Sounders Community
00:00:02
Speaker
This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounders supporters.
00:00:16
Speaker
They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest.
00:00:25
Speaker
Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounders legend. Now i get to do voice reads for the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network. Come on. Hey, O'Shea.
00:00:38
Speaker
Let's go. I'm sorry, Mike Fry. The Seattle Sounders have done it. I don't know what's going on.
00:00:57
Speaker
sounder that has come niola so
00:01:17
Speaker
This is a tiny dog. Nice work on your little yacht thing. What was the thought process in terms who you decided to use and who you didn't?
00:01:30
Speaker
Ever since I wrote a commentary that we didn't take over, seriously.
00:01:41
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Nos
Recording at Lumen Field and Seattle Connections
00:01:44
Speaker
Arietes. We're doing another installment of this, what we learned this week with Nico. And I'm Jeremiah Shand, joined today by Nico Moreno. As always, we're here at Lumen Field. I think the first time we've recorded at Lumen Field. This is the first time we are Lumen Field. And that is something to highlight. We have the beautiful Lumen Field right in front of us where just tomorrow, Nico Lazzadero will be walking through that hallway where he did so many times in that field where he lifted an MLS cup where he lifted championships, CCL at the time, cup, and now he's gonna do it on an orange, awful, I hate orange by the way.
00:02:22
Speaker
but An orange jersey. have to do with Houston, by the way. just I just don't like orange. But he'll be doing that. It might seem weird. It might seem odd. I am looking forward to the, it seems almost certain ovation by the fans.
00:02:38
Speaker
Oh, he'll get a good welcome, I think. All the preliminaries for a Sounders legend. Yeah, so the Sounders are doing a pregame ceremony. i guess that's probably – trying to remember what they did for Ozzy Alonso, but I would say Ozzy Alonso's return is the closest comparison that we can make where Ozzy ended up playing a few a few years after that, but it was a big deal when he came back. And, you know, Nico is coming back probably for the – probably for the last time, i i suppose.
00:03:09
Speaker
But what have you heard from him? What's his mindset? Have you talked to him? what's Is he excited about this opportunity? And what's his, i don't know, how is he feeling? Yeah, unfortunately, we haven't talked and we plan to talk after the game. But in the past and well beyond but well before this game, you know, he's always wondered what that would feel like. And this goes all the way back to when he was in Orlando. And we've had long discussions about how he would feel walking and being in front of the fans that he loved so much. the The main reason why he wanted to come back to the city was because he felt a specific connection to the community and the people. And as many soccer players, sometimes a lot of those achievements that you get, titles, ah you know, whatever you can think of when it comes to being a soccer player, you kind of relate that and you kind of give that to the fans. And he always brought that up, that he just wanted to do it one more time for the fans and
00:04:09
Speaker
But he always wondered what he would look like on the opposite end. Because he's a competitor. And he always said when I'm there, if I'm on an opposite jersey, I'm going to out there for the win.
00:04:20
Speaker
So a lot of, you know, things are still up in the air. You know, what happens when he scores, if he scores, what happens? Brian was very confident he wouldn't celebrate. I was surprised how confident Brian was. Yeah, he's very confident. He's very confident. How confident are you of what Nico will do if he scores? Hey, man, I think that it's 50-50 because it really goes into the emotions of the game. Sure.
00:04:45
Speaker
If there's something true about Nico Lazzadero is that he's a passionate guy. And sometimes passion goes along with a little impulsiveness. So I know one thing's certain. He'll probably shed some tears walking into this field and when he gets that ovation because he's that guy.
00:04:58
Speaker
He'll probably shed some tears. But when he comes to playing the game... If this is a tight 0-0 game, he puts a banner, there's a good chance he just goes off and just really... Rips off his shirt. Rips off his shirt. I don't expect him to get in front of like the bench and celebrate in front of the opposite bench.
00:05:17
Speaker
but But maybe, you know, he celebrates. That said, he is a class act. He's probably thinking more... about the respect to the fans. yeah So there is when maybe he might just give you a little like hands together or you know hands up in the air.
00:05:32
Speaker
But those are all exciting things that that this game come with. And that's why it's a must see. And that's why you you gotta to be. No, it's it'll be, and ironically, I won't be here, which I feel very bad about.
00:05:45
Speaker
But i am I have other ah responsibilities that i I have to take care of.
Game Strategy: Houston Match and Ferreira's Role
00:05:51
Speaker
That said, it's a huge game for the Sounders from specifically the perspective that they just need a win, and they really need a win at home.
00:06:00
Speaker
It's not, I'm not going to say this is a must-win game, but it's a game that they, i mean, but they should they should, and they should feel like they need to win. Look, I was watching that the last Houston game, and they might not be as dynamic and dangerous as they were before, but they could very well ah had that tied that game against RSL.
00:06:22
Speaker
There is a ah goal that gets called off because of an obstruction of an offside, which I hate that rule because it's so like subjective. Didn't really think that that bossy goal should have got it taken back, but it did.
00:06:35
Speaker
That would have you know made it. made all the difference because they ended up losing 2-1. ah Nico played well. Nico is still able to get into that final third. There's a run that he makes. It's a secondary run into into the 18. He gets the ball on the end line and puts a gorgeous... cross over the top for Ponce, and Ponce misses it by a couple of inches. So this is a team that maybe the biggest flaw that I've seen since I've been watching them this season is defensively.
00:07:05
Speaker
They get scored 44 seconds or 50 seconds into this game in a quick moment, exposing the flanks. So how do they... battle with Seattle, think is going to be the the biggest question because Ben Olsen's always been someone that knows how to play Seattle. And it goes back all the way to last season.
00:07:25
Speaker
I mean, back-to-back game, zero goals. He made it difficult, hard for Seattle to get behind his defenders, was a little bit more conservative with his fullbacks that tend to do overload, tends to put Dorsey on one side, tends to put Escobar on the other side.
00:07:40
Speaker
So he's a little bit more conservative when he comes to Seattle. So I'm just curious about it. i honestly think that ah Houston has the tools still, despite not having those X factors that they did last season, to make it hard for Seattle to be at least on the front end, or at least will make it hard for Seattle to break them down.
00:08:01
Speaker
Yeah, i mean, this is a team that the Sounders had to go to penalties to beat in both games that they played in the playoffs last year. Houston's never won here, but they also are competitive here. I mean, for a team, for the record is as one-sided as the record is between these two teams, especially here, lot of competitive games, a lot of close games.
00:08:21
Speaker
It's not like the Sounders have just run over them. And i would i would expect this to be a tough game. game, they do have some trouble in the back right now. you know, they transferred out Michel at the start of the season. He was ah very good player for them last year. he They've been feeling that. And then I think they're down to their, what, third goalkeeper now?
00:08:42
Speaker
and And he struggles an hour. And i he didn't he doesn't vote a lot of confidence. A couple of shots against RSL, either they were gimme's, and he just punched them out out of just being a little bit nervous.
00:08:56
Speaker
his I think in set pieces, he also struggled to be decisive. And that's somewhere where Seattle could definitely pounce on and and try to take advantage of.
00:09:06
Speaker
ah One interesting thing that I saw out of Houston this week is that they actually had a friendly against El Salvador. They did, yeah. Midweek, and that was interesting.
00:09:18
Speaker
I guess it's the same thing as an inner squad, but I don't know. There's the physicality component that I'm wondering if it if it benefits. corey I don't know. Why would they play a midweek yeah friendly this early in the season ah against El Salvador? which i When I saw that, I was like, what is happening here? why and so it was Because there was a lot of confusion. it was on the same day that the Open Cup was being played, and some people on our Discord were like, why...
00:09:42
Speaker
their Oh, it looks like they're starting their their first choice group basically against the Open Cup. And like they're not in the Open Cup. What's happening? Nope. It's friendly against El Salvador. So, yeah, who knows? I don't know how much of an impact or any of that will have. But it's an that's an interesting little ah footnote to all of this.
00:10:00
Speaker
And you talk about goalkeepers. One of my biggest frustrations coming out of the St. Louis game, and I don't want to get too much into the St. Louis game, but – One of the things that did was frustrating is that they were facing a backup goalkeeper and they only put one shot on frame and it wasn't a particularly dangerous shot.
00:10:15
Speaker
And, you know, just get in. And the thing that was killing me is that the St. Louis keeper did not look very confident with the ball at his feet. He did and we he never really got tested on his shot stopping.
00:10:25
Speaker
And so they need to test Maurer at the very least. They need to make him make some saves. Let me make a correction. He's actually Tarbell. I apologize. thought Tarbell got hurt. ah no That's the guy that came in was Maurer. I was double checking because I remember seeing Maurer. It was Maurer. That's where my thing was. what it So he's supposed to be the starter. He was supposed to come And you're right. that That was one of the things that we're not going to about St. Louis, but if there was something that we took out of that game is that Defensively, Seattle did their job, but offensively, they just didn't. they did and they They created half chances, but because of the disconnect with Ferreira, that's where kind of things didn't work out. And and again, this is not this was not indictment against Ferreira, and I said this on on Monday on Lobbens Quarters.
00:11:11
Speaker
I'm not worried about Ferretta the player. I'm worried about Ferretta the player for this system and how quickly he can adapt. Because if anything we got out of this week of what we learned was that he's definitely gotten barely any minutes at the nine.
00:11:25
Speaker
He's been on a minute restriction per Bryant Smetzer. And, you know, today i asked them what did what what did they do to kind of get him more familiar with everything. They got more chances on goal. They got more of a workout. But, know,
00:11:38
Speaker
it It's all about in-game chemistry and people don't realize how key and important that can be, especially for that specific position where I got to know where you're going to be if I'm checking in. You got to know where I'm going to be when we're possessing and I want a long ball.
00:11:54
Speaker
And you saw a little bit of that. I loved your video, by the way, where, you know, Georgie Monungu, he could have easily given Ferrer a shot ah at at a very good look in front of the 18, and he didn't.
00:12:05
Speaker
I thought him and Albert, there were times that Ferrer would make a run. Albert just was a little late to release him. Exactly. So all those things need to be in sync, need to be sharpened in order to have a good game against Houston. Yeah, I would agree with all that.
00:12:22
Speaker
and And you'll probably get it. I will say one thing that was maybe encouraging, if you could... Look at it that way when Brian talked to us earlier this week is he made it pretty clear that Jesus is their number one choice right now at the number nine. Like b he's going to get chances to play there and Musovsky will get some minutes, but it's going to most likely be off the bench.
00:12:44
Speaker
So this is still... Ferreira's job to sort of lose at this point, at least until Jordan and and Pedro are back in the mix, ah which is which is, you know, I think the way that it we would hope it would be, right? Like, this is part of why you bring bring him in, is so that you can weather the storm when Morris goes out or is gone or whatever. But we needed to know that. I mean, we just got that this week. i know If liar, liar taught me anything is that the truth will set you free, baby.
00:13:12
Speaker
It will set you free. And that's- Early 2000s, Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey, that's right. If anything is that, you know, that's what it is. That's all I wanted to know is there was always a reason why he wasn't- I know, it was very strange. It was strange that he was being so cagey about why he wasn't playing more. It was, and I mean, yeah I think,
00:13:32
Speaker
You could draw inferences and you could and i was I suspected that was part of why, but it was weird that ah he wouldn't just come out and say, well, he's on a minute restriction. what do you want me to do? And I guess he did start three times last week, which is another reason that it made sense why he came out relatively early in the St. Louis game.
00:13:50
Speaker
and And and he mentioned that maybe we were a little gun shy about not wanting to push him because, you know, we just had had all these injuries. and And these are these are these make sense. These are totally sensible ah accommodations to make. But sometimes you just need to say them. Don't make me guess what you're doing. Like, just tell us like there's not there's no advantage to be gained by being cagey about minute restrictions.
00:14:13
Speaker
Yeah. That said, I will say i we're seeing encouraging signs from both Pedro and Jordan ah in there. I would say that neither one of those are very – like super serious injuries.
00:14:27
Speaker
They have both been out jogging. They both look like they're moving fine. I'm not saying they're coming back in the next week or even two. But I wouldn't be surprised if both of them are on the – shorter end of the ah the window that Brian gave us, which was four to six weeks for each of them, which would mean Pedro's probably out two more weeks and Jordan might be out three weeks more.
00:14:48
Speaker
And that's not That's not the end of the world. I mean, that this should not be a huge problem. And I think that's encouraging that it's okay. Like, this is the time of year to be cautious with these things. Yeah, no, and, you know, but i you know, off the mics, I got to hear a little bit. It sounds like Pedro's in good spirits. It sounds like he was joking around with, you know, With Jose. With media members. And he just seems to be in a good mood. And that tells you enough about it. If a player is not trying to talk to you, he's completely away. he just seems down. That's something to worry about. I also always ah correlate how much...
00:15:26
Speaker
on the ball training you're getting. If you're doing a lot of like resistant training and jogging and all of these things, but no ball work, I'm concerned. But they did a lot of work. I even saw Pedro shooting the ball. If you're really concerned about it. If they're letting yeah, they don't let them shoot at all when they're. Correct. Because that's where they can hurt themselves sort of accidentally because that is just a different kind of movement and they're always worried about Especially shooting. I mean, passing is a little, but shooting is definitely where they can sometimes, I feel like that's the last thing they let them do before they're letting them run out and play. So those are those are good signs. And Brian seems confident. I gotta i gotta say that. he Brian seems confident in the team, seems confident in the tactics.
00:16:10
Speaker
And, you know, sometimes I'll look for him to be that face of... of just calmness. And he sounds like, it feels like he he, he's really okay with what he has going on with the rotational players.
00:16:26
Speaker
Despite him saying that he'd laugh if I got a ball to the head, you know I do wish him the best and we're happy to see him back from his illness. And therefore I will say that, um,
00:16:38
Speaker
what he has going for himself right now is that there's a lot of confidence in this group, in the unity and and both the the talent that essentially will be on field. It does seem, i will say that one of the things that the Sounders have done over the last few years is that they, and think there is something to be said about The collective being stronger than the individual parts.
00:16:57
Speaker
And there is a sense of togetherness and there's a sense of like that doesn't mean they're always getting along. But I do think that they all believe in each other's motives and they sort of are able to get themselves pushing in the same direction in a way that a team that has fewer has less like existing.
00:17:18
Speaker
relationships will will do. And so, i don't know though, it'll be interesting to see how they could they get through this next stretch, but I think there's reason to feel okay about it. I know last week's result was pretty, got people in the dumps a bit, which I can i can appreciate. It was not the most exciting game, but we'll see. and And there were things that, you know, you just are not,
00:17:39
Speaker
expecting from from seattle and it was a hard team and i don't think people realize how good defensively yeah san luis is and there i think they're right now the they have the fourth longest shutout streak to start a season in mls history which is mean that's something right like uh it's this is not a pushover team thank you for listening to the sounder at heart podcast network which now includes no sanietes lobbing scorchers and the cooler guild We've been independent since August of 2023, but need your support to make sure it continues.
00:18:11
Speaker
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00:18:24
Speaker
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00:18:40
Speaker
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00:18:49
Speaker
It's getting to be that time of year when you need to figure out how to watch Sounders games. If you're an a Alliance member, you are getting a free subscription to MLS Season Pass and you're covered. Similarly, if you're a T-Mobile subscriber, you're also covered.
00:19:02
Speaker
But if you're going to have to pay for one, you may as well give us some of that money.
Supporting Independent Media and Sponsorship Offers
00:19:06
Speaker
By using the link sounderathart.com slash MLS Season Pass, You'll help support independent media while also getting access to every Sounders game every other MLS game, MLS 360, and all sorts of other content.
00:19:20
Speaker
Just to make things extra easy, we'll put a link in the show notes too. Thanks.
00:19:26
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:20:08
Speaker
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00:20:22
Speaker
Hacks and Ferments is a proud sponsor of the Sounder at Heart podcast network. Those excuses won't be here against Houston, of course. Like they need to win this game. like They do, they do. Like this is like a game they should win. And just do two more things. Kim Kihee and Reid both... Both look very close.
00:20:39
Speaker
They look close. Yeah. And those are good things. and And earlier this week, we didn't ask him today, but earlier this week, Brian said that he didn't think they would be available for Houston, but he expected them to both be available for San Jose, which is next week.
00:20:53
Speaker
Although they were full in i mean they were full in training. That's what he looked like. Yeah, it looked like. So I wouldn't be totally shocked if one or both of them were on the bench this week. I'm not necessarily expecting it. I don't know that I would expect either one of them to play, even if they're on the bench.
00:21:06
Speaker
But they might be enough there to, in an emergency, you know, break glass in case of emergency. Because they are a little short. yeah Stu Hawkins and Travion Sousa both played for Defiance last night in the Open Cup.
00:21:18
Speaker
In case you didn't know, Defiance beat westerner or Washington Athletic. club in the first round and now they're going to be playing at Spokane or they're going to be hosting Spokane Velocity in the next round on April 2nd just to get that all out of the way. But both Travion and Stu were ah limited to only 45 minutes.
00:21:37
Speaker
in part because the bench is so short, they can't afford to sort of take a chance and let them, you know, at risk with even the guys who are at sort of, who haven't played at all for the first team ah to, they can't risk them. And that's where kind of the situation is right now. Yeah. And then Obed is out with the U20 for Mexico. New Who is with Cameroon. And he played on Wednesday 90 minutes.
00:21:58
Speaker
He did. Yes. It'll be, you know, I am kind of curious if he has any issues getting back. I hope he doesn't. but it's always an adventure. Tense trick you from over there, yeah. Yeah, and it's, and the new doesn't make it any easier.
00:22:10
Speaker
yeah sometimes, you know, things, you know, miss a flight or something. So yeah, hopefully he gets back on time. However, i would say that, you know, Jay's back. And that's important one. He seems to be in good spirits as well. I have to deal with a family emergency in Columbia. He's back.
00:22:26
Speaker
ah He looked good today. and you know, Brian mentioned today that he and Jackson Reagan were in his office talking about, you know, how can we minimize those mistakes and, you know, being more ready and prepared. And I think those all are all good things because if If anything is true, regardless of how bumpy the first quarter of the Sounders 2025 campaign has been, you could really, if you're a half full type of person, say, look, if you take a mistake here, an error there,
00:23:04
Speaker
Seattle's probably got two more wins under belt and and they just don't know. I mean, I think you can very easily argue that they, on the merits of their play, should have three more points. They should have two more points from Charlotte. They should have at least a point from St. Louis.
00:23:19
Speaker
And really the only game they looked bad in the MLS was the RSL game. And even then, that was one, you know, that was an offside call. They had two offside calls go against them. that could have been a very different game too.
00:23:33
Speaker
So I don't know that they've been, I think their record is maybe a little worse than their quality of play up to this point. But again, they need to show that against Houston if they need it. Right. That's what makes this game so important. exactly and And it's what you just said. ah dish In addition to a three game road trip,
00:23:51
Speaker
at San Jose, at San Diego, and one that I'm forgetting, but ah it is going to be tough stretch at FC Dallas. The Ferrero return. Oh, yeah. hey That'll be interesting.
00:24:04
Speaker
That'll definitely be interesting. So that's three games that, you know, it's on the road. San Diego is a good team. San Jose looks like a dangerous i mean, those are three teams who look a lot more dangerous than I think anyone would have expected ah month ago. Thanks. say or Dallas looks like is a a little bit of a mess, but they are gained they are they have some offense a real offensive but firepower. San Jose has been pretty good, and San Diego has been really good. but those are not those are not i mean I think those are all games where they can reasonably expect to be competitive and maybe even win, but they should none of those are easy games.
00:24:41
Speaker
No, no. They're not nearly as easy as they looked, I
Transfer Market Strategies and Fan Engagement
00:24:45
Speaker
guess, said a month ago. But um looking a little farther ahead, the transfer window remains open.
00:24:53
Speaker
We have not officially heard that they're going to be putting Paul Areola on the season-ending injury list. All indications are that is probably what will happen. Are you hearing anything about how they might fill that fill that space.
00:25:08
Speaker
ah Yes. So i I know for certain that the team is out there looking for players that are experienced, that are clearly not going to have any sort of like transfer fees. So I'm looking within MLS and or a free agent, right? There has been some you know rumors out there about Joaquin Torres or something that doesn't seem to have any legs.
00:25:34
Speaker
um Maybe they've looked at it, but I don't think that that's feasible. We have been looking at at players that might be interesting that I'm not willing to...
00:25:44
Speaker
give any clues on just yet because we like to have that outside your heart. What do you guys to be, ah you know, expecting that? However, you know, I did take it upon myself to just look at things, right? Because if Seattle was able to get a player that maybe has an upcoming And in contract. Yeah. And you're able to, in some capacity, make an exchange.
00:26:07
Speaker
And I'm going to go ahead and dare to say this, but I don't think that it will happen. It's maybe even a cash buyout, a cash transfer for a specific player. I would say they're much more likely to make that type of move in the league. Like, I wouldn't be totally shocked if they spent a transfer fee to get a U22 from within the league. It seems like a very...
00:26:30
Speaker
current Sounders move to take more of a sure thing that from within the league than to shoot for the moon and go with someone that has some, you know, like we were talking about this Nassimiento guy who the Galaxy signed, who the Sounders actually had the discovery rights on.
00:26:48
Speaker
And he's a ah very high ceiling, 19 year old forward out of Brazil. He has not played a single minute yet for Galaxy, even though they signed him like a month ago. yeah and that's sort of the risk that you take when you're bringing in an international player is that There's paperwork, there's betting in, there's just the whole process, especially with a young player.
00:27:11
Speaker
So even if they were out to go go and sign a foreign U-22, which we're getting zero indication that that they are targeting that for a short term, in the short term, it's just that player is not going to be contributing.
00:27:24
Speaker
Certainly not during the current injury crisis, but maybe not even before the Club World Cup. But... Could they do that move from within MLS?
00:27:34
Speaker
There's certainly some intriguing players out there who could be interesting targets. It seems like Miami and Columbus both have a roster that is ripe for ah move one way or the other.
00:27:47
Speaker
You know, you look at a player like a Julian Crosby, Yes. who is on a big number who is not playing at all for miami who has a proven track record in this league on then in columbus you have a player like dewa jones again on a relatively big number i had forgotten that the crew gave up a pretty to pick him up last year from New England.
00:28:09
Speaker
But he's a ah he's a naturally left, or he played mostly on the left as ah as a wingback or a fullback. But he's another player who you can see fitting, both either one of those players you can see fitting in yeah relatively easy. No, 100%. And those are both two good examples. I think Julian might be the the the one that'd be easier to get because Joel Jones is someone that constantly produces for Columbus. yeah Julian on the other side, he has a lot of that Paul Areola versatility and experience. i don't know if he'll be as good of a fit as, as you know, Areola had been.
00:28:44
Speaker
ah But the two guys i was looking at, and again, this is just completely speculation, but Shalowy, you know, 28. Oh, Daniel Shalowy, yeah, from Kansas City. He's got really good moments. He could play out wide.
00:28:55
Speaker
Someone who might be benefiting from just a change of scenery. in a team that can potentially maybe use a spot to go and get somebody else. So that's a player that I found interesting.
00:29:08
Speaker
um Another player that I thought was maybe in the Cubs was in Miami and was Taylor. Oh, Robert Taylor. yeah And we know the Sounders have talked to Miami constantly about Taylor. Like this has been a ah player they have been talking like when I know that they talked to Chris Henderson about him ah the last two years.
00:29:32
Speaker
So I would. Yeah, that's another player who I can see the Sounders being intrigued in. And he's not like he doesn't seem to be playing much. now, right? No, no, no, he hasn't. Not with this roster. And, you know, he has a history of injuries, which I know won't vote well with our audience. They're immediately going to pull the plug in before it even happens.
00:29:50
Speaker
ah but But that's another play that I thought, just looking at salaries, looking at the possibilities. And there's one that really caught my attention. Salary's too high. Might be difficult to get him out of there. But thought Christian Espinosa would be a fun fit for this team. Oh, the San Jose...
00:30:06
Speaker
Yeah, he'll be a fit here. He would be a fun fit He would be a very fun fit here. Is he not a designated player, is he? He's not a designated player. Oh, okay. Oh, no, I make a mistake. That is, he's at 2.1. Okay, so he's maybe a little too high. He might be a little too high, but you know, hey. That would be a fun player. Yeah, I've seen things happen. I mean, I don't know how, how much could be done, but at the same time, you know, we got Ferreira out of a DP. So, you know, whatever could happen. I mean, there's just options. But what I'm here to say is this.
00:30:38
Speaker
The U22 might be a little bit more difficult to get in this transfer window because I'm guessing they want to do a little bit more research. In the summer, there might be more options. The in-league thing makes sense.
00:30:50
Speaker
But if you're able to get somebody now, it would honestly make me feel like the team... is going out there to correct the path that they're in necessarily. And not as if this club and this roster is not sufficient.
00:31:08
Speaker
I'm just saying that by losing an important a contributor, in my opinion, i think that, yeah, if they have the, we know they have the resources and the capacity to replace a Paul Areola and,
00:31:23
Speaker
I think it is sort of an important statement of purpose to go out and say, look, we know we lost a player who is effectively a starter for us. We are not going to just sit on our hands.
00:31:35
Speaker
We're going to go out and try to replace them the best that we can. And that's not just getting a body, but getting a player who we think might be, maybe not, I don't know if it's realistic for them to think, oh we're going to get an improvement over this, but it's totally reasonable to think, why can't you go out and get a player who is capable of competing for starters minutes?
00:31:53
Speaker
honor 100%. That should be their target. Yeah. And, you know we talk about competition. We talk about depth. I mean, hopefully this whole thing works so that, in my opinion, you continue to I don't want to call it fours, but he's going get a lot of minutes. Ferreira, he's going get a lot of minutes out of the nine.
00:32:13
Speaker
And I'm hoping that that continues to be the objective. let' let Let's keep him up there. Not he can play back, yeah but we already know that his game is designed for it, but I want to see him do a lot of stuff up there. So by bringing somebody else- He's too good of player. I think it's almost impossible to argue that his ceiling is not the highest it can be playing as a nine, playing close to goal. He is a goal scorer. He obviously very good at other things. He's got a nuanced game.
00:32:39
Speaker
But if you're talking about how can we get the most out of this player, that's his game. i mean, he should be leading the line. He should. I mean, at least at the very least, until Jordan is here. And i you know and then I hope I think the best case scenario is that he plays well enough where they sort of have to reconsider what kind of how they're using it. And the other thing is that, look, nobody in the Western Conference is running away with this thing. So you and look, it's not like it's a necessity for the Sounders to panic and it's a must win, you know, right off the bat, because this team has done it before where.
00:33:16
Speaker
They don't have a very good half of the season and then they still make the playoffs. But I would like to see that urgency for them to just be better for this atmosphere that you've about. For these fans that come out here, let's get them excited. Yes. Exactly. Let's get them excited to show up.
00:33:31
Speaker
Right. And I think that's something that has sometimes been lost is that this sort of trust the process mentality has led to good results. But it has also led to a frustrating pattern of it'll all work itself out in the end and that's just not that exciting like it sometimes it does work itself out in the end but that's not that isn't how you capture hearts and minds no no way it really isn't and look sometimes again it's not just about the standings or or wins or losses it's just about
00:34:08
Speaker
Having a team that you feel like, and this team can't compete, but but if you add another piece, you are upping that potential, you're upping that ceiling, that expectation. And it's something that me and you have drilled on is what's the expectation of this team?
00:34:23
Speaker
And I know, i know it's not just coasting and barely hanging on at the beginning of the season. I'm gonna use an analogy that I think you'll appreciate because you are someone who enjoys good food.
00:34:34
Speaker
Is that you can serve someone a great meal and it can taste great and you can appreciate what it was. But if it when it comes out and it doesn't look special, that diminishes the experience.
00:34:48
Speaker
It doesn't make it a worse meal. It doesn't make it doesn't make it taste bad. It doesn't mean that it wasn't. well put together, but the presentation matters. The presentation, we eat with our eyes as much as our as our mouths. And I think that sometimes we lose sight of that when, like the the way this team is constructed, sometimes it's like, look, don't, we aren't eating with our, like they've almost decided like we don't need to eat with our eyes.
00:35:12
Speaker
Is it taste good or does it not taste Is it getting you full? or Is it getting you full? Is it nourishing you? And yes, the Sounders have been putting together a very nourishing product. Yeah, and I love that analogy, by the way. First of all, I love analogies and good food. and And as somebody who's paid $35 for an old fashioned because it comes in a little crystal thing with smoke coming out of it and little didn't taste that much better, but the experience was better. And I think sometimes that we could do a little bit better job of presentation. And part of presentation is getting people excited with roster moves and rumors and all kinds of this stuff that is not necessarily the not not necessarily x's and o's and and uh game models and all these kind of things it's it's good it's just the energy the hype and i think that i would love that this is an opportunity for the sounders to do that i guess is what i'm saying and i hope that they know that doesn't mean they have to go out and spend a million dollars in transfer fees or 10 million dollars in transfer fees but if they can just get a player that you go oh I can see him raising the ceiling of this team. Yeah.
00:36:12
Speaker
Why not? And I will say that i am certain that, to 100% I'll bet anything that this team will secure a player before the end of his transfer window. That's absolutely certain in my opinion.
00:36:29
Speaker
With everything, an estimated guest and educated guest of mine looking at the surroundings, looking at what I know, with the m M.O. of the team, I think that there is a certainty that they will go out there get a player.
00:36:41
Speaker
who that is and how fans respond, that's completely, yeah. But it does we are getting good signs from the team that they understand that this is an opportunity to, that they're they're out there actively working the phones and trying to make something happen. But good place to probably leave this, Nico, ElRoloNW on socials.
00:37:01
Speaker
You can listen to him on Lobbing Scorchers on Mondays, right? Pulso Sports. Anywhere else? Are you going to be on TV? any Oh, yes. I'm going to be on TV tonight. I don't know if this will come out before that, 7.30, Washington Sports Wrap.
00:37:17
Speaker
I will be talking Fox 13 News. I'm going to have to be with Michelle Lutka. Big time. Look at this guy. Come on. I'm over there just working for Sandra Hart. But, yeah. and And maybe that's a good point for me. to just just I always have like a little bit of a closing thing with these, and I tend to get in a groove when he comes to that.
00:37:36
Speaker
The closing statement or just moment for me here, this Nikos Luthor thing is a huge deal. And I know fans are going to want to know you asked me about it. And I talked about how much he ah does feel like this is his city and he's going to be so emotional and he's going to be happy to be back.
00:37:58
Speaker
But I also know that there is a a part of Nikko that will come out here with a big chip on his shoulder. because there was so much that he tried to do to get back here that I'm curious of what he'll say in our post-game interview that we have scheduled to see if those emotions you know change or that moment that he has changes anything out of that human sensation of
00:38:31
Speaker
whether Brian did you know ponder upon, and I'm sure he did because he told us, he pondered upon the X's and O's and the possibilities and the you know the the the pros and cons of bringing Nico back.
00:38:43
Speaker
Ultimately, the decision was no. You're not coming. you don't need you, even without us having to pay a penny of your salary. So, It's a human emotion to feel rejected. It's a human emotion to feel that that the team that I kind of played for, in the little that i kind of played and i played for, that I almost put on the map with my sweat and tears, did not want me back. So I want to know what where that contrast lies at the end of the game.
00:39:13
Speaker
And that's something that I'm going to be very focused on, that I'm going to talk to, that I'm hopefully going to be able to rely upon on Sounder Hart as well. And depending on you know how much he gives me, he can just... be a mute. You could just be like, man, I don't even know how to break this down.
00:39:26
Speaker
i don't know how to articulate it but it is something that I'll be looking for. this was this in Seattle? Is this it? Oh yeah, I did remember this place. I had a couple of runnings here. Yeah, okay. That's all I said. That's the way I'll finish it. Thank you for all the comments, the following.
00:39:41
Speaker
Thank you, of course, Jeremiah, continuing to keep this Project is show going. I'm very excited about it. So thanks, man. Well, thank you, Nico. ah With that, we' we'll get out of here.
00:39:53
Speaker
i am Jeremiah Oshan, signing off for Nico. This is Nos Adientes, part of the Sounder Heart Podcast Network. And we will catch you next time.
00:40:38
Speaker
I expect an LAFC who is motivated ah to prove themselves at home, to prove to their fans that they' they're capable of winning in this league. And it's up to us to really brew in the party.