Transcript
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. Here we go.
Speaker: Come on. Hey, O'Shaughness. Let's The Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. The Sounders rule the region.
Speaker: Ooch of a gooch! All creatures, great and small! Rothrock gonna collect it, he does about, runs into the advertising order. Low to our left, ball goes in! Oh, what a goal! Where's my copy? got bunch of them How many do you cost them? 50 bucks.
Speaker: I'll deadline you.
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 Sounder supporters.
Speaker: They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest.
Speaker: Good afternoon, Sounder at Heart family. Welcome back to another episode of Monday Soundcheck. This is our second episode. My name is Nico Moreno. Thank you for being with us. This is part of the Sounder at Heart podcast network, as well as the Sounder at Heart YouTube channel, Regular Programming. I am sitting here with my man, Adam Race, a guy whose hair was so fabulous during the first episode. There's rumors already that he...
Speaker: uses horse shampoo just like one ice figure skater named Chas Michaels Michaels. If you don't like that, you don't understand that reference, go ahead and Google it. But my man Adam, how are you, my guy? How's it going? How are you feeling today? I'm feeling great. It's all natural for the record. All right. There's no no special serums in this. Just blessed.
Speaker: But I'm feeling good, Nico. Great to be alongside you. Second week in a row. We got a lot to talk about this week as we we get into ah a crucial point of the season. I'm excited to get into it. Yes, sir. We had a fun game. Lots of goals, which is always a plus. And in the background, running the board, running the show, really, my guy that as 50 Cent would say, just like Pauly in Goodfellas, you could call him the Don. We know him as J.O. You know him as Jeremiah Oshan. J.O., how you doing, my guy? How are you feeling this Monday morning?
Speaker: You know, I'm doing good. We still haven't figured out how to quite get me on camera, but you can at least hear my wonderful voice. I'll be chiming in from time to time.
Speaker: Thank you. And I'll try to keep it to a minimum so that it's not too much like a haunt. There you go. There you go. And if you're wondering about the Bo Jackson, the Bo Knows Best jersey, this is the one and only time I'm probably going to be able to flex that Raider Nation fan.
Speaker: dumb that I have because we're 2-0, first time in a very long time. So I said, hey, you know what? I'm gonna rock the Bo Jackson. So there you go. It's a soccer show, but going give you a little bit of that football love because I do love football. But Adam, we got some even more important to talk about, man.
Speaker: So what's the headline? what What does Adam feel like the headline is for a 3-3 draw that was fun, it was entertaining, but yet it feels like You're right there, but no cigar. The Sounders continue to not get a win.
Speaker: Where are you at, Adam? Well, I'm going to continue to kind of establish myself as an optimist. maybe maybe Maybe some people would say too much of an optimist, but I think this game, the headline for me is that the Sounders show what they're capable of. I mean, this is a team that just really needed to see the ball hit the back of the net. They've been saying that in post-game press conferences, we just need to see the ball go in. It just hasn't happened for us. You had back-to-back games where you really underperform where you should be goal scoring wise based on how many chances you have.
Speaker: um And I think we can all agree it goes 3-1, beautiful goal by Morgan Whitaker, laid on in the game against Colorado, and you're thinking, okay. know We gave a good effort, but it's just not happening for us. um I thought that i thought that that that was that was done and dusted.
Speaker: um And they showed that they have they have something. there's There is something there. And it's especially nice to get it from the new guys. You know banger from Jovalich, a banger from Caden Clark.
Speaker: um and And what we hadn't seen, I think, even in this run of draws, not not even just talking about the the losing streak that we had, but even in this run of draws, I don't think we'd seen that level of fire and just like a need to to get something done, to get some goals, to get a point.
Speaker: We had not seen that kind of urgency and that execution yet on this run. It's very refreshing to see that coming into this three-game homestand. And let's not forget... Coming into this game, we knew this was going to be a tough out. yeah Colorado team that had just been killing it at home. It was a team that hadn't lost at home since May. yeah um ah ah They had a shutout streak going at home. We broke that up. And in a big way, we broke that up.
Speaker: There is a lot of good things to say about this game. It's just so hard to have those good things to say when it's another game without a win.
Speaker: um it's hard to say this is a win that feels like a draw because the fact that maybe we could have gone and won it and we're just so desperate for that win. But in a vacuum, this is a very impressive point to get.
Speaker: It helps us in the standings because Colorado is one of those teams. We want to kind of keep in the race with us. If Colorado continued on the form, they were, they were going to be one of those squads that pulled ahead and weren't really in that playoff race. um The more teams we keep in that race, the better. And we did that today or the other day on Saturday. And I'm very optimistic about this game, but but everything is yet to prove. And it just, it has to get done on this home. And it has to. This is the point where it just has to happen.
Speaker: Yeah, look, it you could see it in Brian's face and the way he talked about the game. You could see it in Christian and Caden Clark, you know, a guy that scored his first goal for the Sounders and yet couldn't quite, it it didn't feel like he was happy about the result because like you you needed those points. And you kind of felt like maybe you had it.
Speaker: When you compare the first half with the second half, it's once again another one of those, you know, tales of two halves and in where the Sounders just played better in the second half. So I'm totally with you. i understand where you're coming from. This is my headline right here, man. Caden Clark earned Sounders a consolation point, but the injuries and winning history continue, right? So let's talk about it.
Speaker: Let's talk about it because we don't know what happened. We don't know. what is the degree of Jordan Morris's injury, but he was limping for a little bit and he tried to get there. He even got a pass in the middle of a of a play where he was like grabbing his leg and he's trying to just get rid of the ball.
Speaker: Jordan Morris goes out of this game with an injury, and I feel like that's that's big. But it's also great to see Kaden Clark, a guy that right here, you and I sat here talking about, Jeremiah and i on what we learned this week, had been praising as someone who could elevate Kaden the floor of this team, the ceiling even of this squad, that if somebody was going to get hot, was going to be a influential player, Caden Clark was that guy. And him coming in, in that particular time, when you have to feel like Brian and maybe that entire bench just gasped when they saw Brian,
Speaker: Jordan Morris limp for a while, get, get off the game. You can see the frustration in his face and kidding comes in, takes a shot, like, like gambles with it. And, and, and let me not say gamble.
Speaker: Do not let me say gamble because I sat here as well in this same studio and told you guys that he had been practicing that mid range shot. He wanted to take some, man. He, he didn't put all of them in the back of the net that he didn't challenge the goalkeeper in every single one of those, but boy, did he,
Speaker: Tested. He wanted to be able to be a guy that if he cut inside, he had some space. He was going to be able to take a shot and he does it in game. It's a phenomenal shot. Hits the ground. No way that the goalkeeper gets to it because of that second bounce. So look for what is worth. I do think that the Sounders in that second half were excellent.
Speaker: This is another game where maybe the starting 11 has some question marks. You and I sat here, Adam, him and we talked about this is Peter Kingston's time. This is his one audition.
Speaker: This is where he's going to be able to come in and say, i am a starter. I don't think he did himself any favors. But before we get into that, I do want to ask my guy, J.O. in the back about Caden Clark. Why? Because he was also in the...
Speaker: Caden Clark bus before it took off. So, J.O., it's me and you in that bus, man. What do you think about his game, his goal, what he was able to provide here in this game? Look, you score seven minutes or whatever it was into your debut, you get some flowers.
Speaker: Just the fact that he was willing to take that shot I think was great. I was definitely encouraged by that. But let's I don't want to get too over our skis either. He didn't exactly he he wasn't exactly the most influential player in this game.
Speaker: Our good buddy Charlie Boehm shared a stat where he he basically had ah zero duels. I don't think he had any passes. He basically didn't get on the ball until... The moment and then he shined. Look, he took a great shot.
Speaker: it I don't want to take anything away. It was a it was a sweet strike. And I'm encouraged by that. But I also don't want to get to, you know, make it out to be too big of a deal.
Speaker: Yeah. And the thing about the goal for Caden Clark is, you know, the technical quality is there. we We knew that technical quality was there when we acquired him. What we were talking about was, is this a guy who's immediately going to have the level of confidence and comfort that's needed for him? Because that's kind of been the story of his career is that the quality has been there. He's just not been in the best situations. He hasn't always been on form.
Speaker: I think obviously to, you know, get that late goal and get the point is big, but I think a huge part of that goal is that he sees it go in. He he sees that he can produce back in MLS. It's his first MLS goal since 2024, I believe back when he was with Montreal.
Speaker: Um, For his own confidence, we really needed that. We needed another guy in the squad depth that has the confidence to come in and be a game changer. Also, shout out to Derek Richards for the couple of super chats. Appreciate that. Three wins in a row coming. Book it.
Speaker: I'm an optimist. i'm I'm very here for that three wins in a row optimism. And I think it can happen. ah That's certainly one of the things that we're to be ah talking about today. I don't necessarily think that we need to win all three of those games to give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs. um But I'm sorry if I'm diverting this too much, but those are three teams that at home we absolutely can beat. But I saw a comment recently on an article ah that said with this winnable game discourse that teams are looking at the Sounders and saying that's a winnable game.
Speaker: And it's true. You know, we're a very, very beatable team right now. um Of course, not on the last five games because we've gotten nothing but draws, but, but, We need to prove it on this three-game road trip or this three-game homestand. I said it on our last show that we need at least six points um from this three-game homestand. I think that's a bare, bare minimum. I think the goal should be to not lose any of these games and to win at least two. So at least seven points is something to shoot for.
Speaker: But these are three teams that are slumping. ah RSL is perhaps in the worst form of any team in the league since the end of the World Cup break. Minnesota, they aren't that kind of difficult to break down team that Seattle had so much difficulty with last year, especially in the playoffs. um it's It's three games that, you know, we've been talking about time running out for weeks now.
Speaker: this is This is it. The clock's zero. you You do it now or it's there's not much to be excited about, in my opinion, if you can't do it now. And that's why you grab this game and you dissect it. And you try to figure out what it is that you need to do to get better.
Speaker: Christian couldn't quite put it together. He said, just got to be better in certain moments. We cannot be giving up the goals that we've been given. Like, that's all good and well. But it all starts with b Brian Smetzer figuring out his best 11. It comes with figuring out what in the world.
Speaker: you're going to do without jovis for three games so let's get stuck on this game and then we'll talk about that because there is two players that to me were being assessed were needing to really have a big game and i don't think either one of them did so we talked about peter kingston he had a half to kind of prove himself out there he didn't give himself like any glory. i thought that he was okay.
Speaker: As I mentioned, it's very different to start a game than it is to come in late in a game. So, you know, I'm not a huge stat guy. I'm really not. I don't necessarily love it, but he was zero of two with successful dribbles. He had one defensive contribution, two interceptions. He only won two out of six. ground duels and losses only air duel. But just the eye test. That's what I like. I like the eye test. I want to be able to look at it. He just wasn't able to put his stamp on this game. He wasn't able to really...
Speaker: push the envelope on his side, ah create any sort of opportunities that, you know, that's kind of his bread and butter is being able to just make things happen. He put a couple of really good balls. thought he's passing, continues to be probably his best attribute coming from that side. But it was...
Speaker: you know, pretty obvious that Brian wanted to change there on that side. They bring Sebastian Gomez in as well at some point. And I thought that he obviously to tire legs looked a little bit more or a lot more defined on the ball. He was able to do a lot of things, but what were your thoughts on Peter Kingston? Yeah, and we talked about it last week that this was most likely going to be a chance for Peter Kingston to, like you said, have an audition.
Speaker: I'm interested in if Brian had always planned for that to be a 45-minute for Peter, 45-minute for Sebastian type of thing to get both looks and kind of audition both of them. We need to ask that.
Speaker: um and I mean, Sebastian Gomez looked much better. I think that's the main headline. Peter Kingston didn't look bad. He was nine of 10 on passes. Like you said, his passing has been very good, but, but you're right that he didn't, he didn't do anything that really jumped out of the screen. He he didn't have a huge impact. And you want that from a right winger. That's, I think the difference between Peter Kingston playing as a right back and as a right winger is that when you stick them up on the wing, you're like, okay,
Speaker: Now, not only is a little bonus if you create a goal or you run at defense, like this is expected. to you And he didn't he didn't necessarily have that kind of big pop out performance. um And I cannot say the same for Sebastian Gomez, Sebastian Gomez.
Speaker: really good in that second half. He looked yeah so confident on the ball, ah passing, you know, to the outside, to the inside, being able to beat a defender one-on-one. You know, he had his fingerprints all over the last 25 minutes when the Sounders, you know, finally clicked offensively.
Speaker: you know, you know, I want to issue an apology to Sebastian Gomez. I'm not necessarily sure I was, I was all that high on Sebastian Gomez for the last month or so. I thought of you know, he's a, he's a talented kid coming up.
Speaker: I wasn't necessarily sure if he was at the point yet where you could have that kind of performance where he really changes how a team plays, but that is exactly what he did. Um, on Saturday, he was one of the players that the Sounders were getting it to, you know Get it to Sebastian Gomez. He's feeling it right now. He can create something on his own. He's going to free up space for other players.
Speaker: ah So good to see that from him. um I think for my money, that's the best 45 minutes he's played um at the MLS level. He, if we continue to have this this depth issue at at the wing position, which we are, um I think he's absolutely earned to be at the moment one of those first choice wingers with that performance he had.
Speaker: Yeah, he was shifty. You know, he created opportunities, as you mentioned, tried to beat a lot of guys off the dribble. He was successful at it as well. He gets a couple of really good opportunities. He's not afraid to take a shot, which I like.
Speaker: I'm not going to apologize. i You know, there was a point where I did think that he plateaued, but I think he's showing a bit of, a you know, real good understanding of the game. And I think that it's slowing down for him maybe a little bit. And he's getting a lot more confident on the ball.
Speaker: Now, again, he's coming in as a sub, not necessarily as a starter, but out of the two, he has been the one that maybe has looked more the part when it comes to starting off for this particular team. You know, he's had, you know, assists. He's been able to really, get in there as a starter when he's been given the opportunity so at least for me maybe he's winning that battle so far we've still got to talk about you know paul areola being an option uh we'll see what happens with jordan morris because that's going to be a bigger conversation tomorrow we'll be at the saunders uh you know training facility and clubhouse trying to figure out what it is that
Speaker: b Brian tells us, you know, hopefully he doesn't give us the, you're not going to believe, but you're going to believe it. You're right. it Hopefully we don't get that same comment. Cause that's always a ah difficult one. But I do think that there is at least a level of concern for me because you need just bodies. and and And if he goes down and now that gives you the necessity to maybe play Seba for sure and maybe Peter. And that puts me on to the second player, which is Hassani Dotson. He was the other guy that needed to prove himself to us as a
Speaker: Fan base, if you will, the Sounders fan base, us as media members and trying to figure out where he's at. He was okay. He wasn't great. I wish that he would have been a lot more...
Speaker: sharp on the ball and and maybe be able to do ah a couple of other things even even in his own role defensively i just thought that there was a lot of holes in his game i thought that especially within the first half so it was so easy for colorado to just pass through seattle whether it was them sitting back more in a bit mid block or when they did choose to push i thought that runners into the box were just coming in and that's both him and Christian. Runners were coming into the box on touch. Look, Whitaker, phenomenal game by him, right? First start ever. He gets two goals, but man, someone's got to pick him up when, when he comes in that, that, that freely. And now that first goal by Colorado,
Speaker: Also, man, you got to talk to each other, whether it's KKR, right? Colonicos or RNC is just kind of sitting there. And ah forget who's on that side. Peter Kingston, he was just standing there. standing there. You got to be able to talk to each other. You cannot allow Aronson to just have that free of of a cross in. And then the runner comes in so freely. So just your thoughts on that goal and...
Speaker: What does Sonny Dawson did in this game? Well, what Brian had to say about that goal, um he said it was not bad defense, that that was bad possessional play that led to that. And you saw like the ugly miscommunication between Nuhu and Andrew Thomas, which gave away a possession. This was ah it was a weird game for Andrew Thomas, like distribution-wise, because we were coming off of the last home game for the Sounders. Last couple, I thought Andrew Thomas' distribution looked great. He was able to play it over the top of the press. yeah And he was really, that part of his game was really coming to fruition. But it just looked...
Speaker: It looked off in a way that you weren't expecting that to happen because, you know, it's not like it was Stu Hawkins or somebody hasn't had as much game time with, but it's like miscommunications with new who you don't want to see that. That's a guy you're playing with every single game, every single practice.
Speaker: um I absolutely agree that there was a lot of times when runners weren't getting picked up. I remember watching that game and just thinking, how is Paxton Aronson and all that space again, again, again, he just kept being free in and around the box and he's a quality player. He's going find, that distribution into the area and it happened and it hurt them over and over again. And now Colorado have this really, you know top class player in Morgan Winger. I was so impressed with him. the The last goal that he scored, just a ah banger.
Speaker: um He looked great. And when you have a player like that, even able to get touches within the area that easily, bad things are going to happen as the defensive team. Absolutely on that first goal, I think there was miscommunication on the right side. It's too easy of a cross to put in. Kingston's kind of like trailing him lightly and and didn't close him out.
Speaker: um And they got it in Aronson to Whitaker. That started with a miscommunication on the back line. It ended with a defensive miscommunication.
Speaker: And Brian just seemed in the postgame press conference, um you know, anyone who hasn't already seen the postgame press conference, it's not unusual for Brian to be kind of short after a disappointing draw or a loss, but he just, he seemed extremely frustrated specifically with how his team struggled holding up the ball and holding up possession. He said that that was the base of a lot of the things that went wrong um in that game.
Speaker: And that's something that Brian Schmetzer has always wanted his team to be so comfortable and in holding possession, having more of the ball. um And that's been a big thing on this whole winless run is that so many of these games were chasing and that's that's not schmetzer ball. That's not how this team is supposed to play. And once again, I think a big worry point coming out of this game is that there were periods of time where we were chasing and chasing and chasing. We can't be chasing on this homestand. It can't work.
Speaker: J.O., what are your thoughts on Hassani? Both you and i were, you know, talking about the fact that this sort of game when, you know, you need an experienced midfielder, that's when $850,000 that you're paying him a salary were going you know, really come play.
Speaker: the table and and in figuring out whether that was worth it or not. What were your thoughts on Hassani's game in in this particular game? You know, I i suspect that ah Hassani, I don't know, Hassani Dotson's performance has been ah very much eye of beholder stuff lately.
Speaker: He is not playing so, and I guess that maybe speaks to, he's not playing so well that everyone is wowed by him. but like I saw, I saw a player who looked okay, like solid in defense. He is not a ceiling raiser. And I think that's sort of maybe where the frustration comes from is that you want a player who's making as much money as he's making, uh, to be someone who can raise the level around him. And that's not, he doesn't need to be a star, but he he doesn't, he doesn't provide wow moments as much.
Speaker: You know, I do like him around the box, especially on set pieces. Yes. Uh, And, you know, I did think that the Sounders defense dropped off a little after he came out and was replaced by Brunel.
Speaker: But, you know, I was not i was not discouraged by Dotson. I think he probably continues to be the first choice player next to next to Christian Roldan.
Speaker: ah Snyder Brunel still is too up and down, i think, to be a starter. And, you know, the the one play that, or one of the plays that Brian talked about in the post game was at the end of the game when the Sounders had a chance, had a great chance and to pull out all three points. Snyder Burnell's on a break. He's got,
Speaker: Albert Rusnak to his right. He's got Dayan Jovalich to his left. He's got Sebastian Gomez double teamed going through the middle and he forces a pass to Sebastian Gomez when at least in Brian Schmetzer's estimation, the play was to to send it out to Jovalich and then maybe he gets the ball back. Maybe he shoots it, whatever. But it seemed like he had three choices.
Speaker: Only one of them was really wrong and he kind of chose the wrong one. It's a moment for me that watching the broadcast, this was I think this was one of the best shots I've ever seen on an Apple TV broadcast is right after that happens, they pan over to to Brian Schmetzer and Precky and they're looking and they're so mad. they're Oh my God, how does he not see that?
Speaker: Um, and, and Precky's just beside himself and Brian's beside himself. It was, and that really told the story. And I think it's unfortunate, obviously that they don't get that, but it's unfortunate that I feel like that kind of colored the feeling of this game coming out of it. Because like I said, in a vacuum, we scored two great goals in the last 15 minutes of a match to steal a point against a team that had just been so, so good at home.
Speaker: But the fact that Snyder Brunel, makes that one wrong decision and you come out feeling like you could have gotten more. I didn't in real time see Ovalich coming in on the left. um I thought that play down the middle, this was just probably just with the Apple TV camera angle. That looked like the play and it was obviously a very tough pass to complete. But yeah, looking at it again, Snyder's got to make that pass down to the left. You're going to have Day on and a lot of space and you can center it in for for Sebastian Gomez and That's kind of been the story, I think, with Snyder Brunel. I think the Sounders have a real issue right now trying to figure out who's going to fill that role into these must-win games between Snyder Brunel and Hassani Dotson. And I will say um that I haven't been watching Hassani Dotson his whole MLS career, maybe as much as as you two have, but um I agree that
Speaker: with what Jeremiah said, that he's never been a ceiling raiser. I've never come out of a match and been like, you know, Hassani Dotson really influenced that match. He's had matches where he's done everything solid and been very good.
Speaker: But you're right that the amount of salary he's on, he's one of our top 10 paid players, I believe. he There hasn't been enough times where he's been the reason we've gotten a result. I just want him to be better at what he does well, which is defense, right? And is, ah you know, being able to disrupt the game. And he had, I think five defensive contributions. And I thought that he had a couple of, of big moments where he recovered the ball. Well, but it needs to be more than that. If you're not going to be a player that's going to raise the ceiling in terms of on the ball movement and being able to, you know, a progressive passing things of that nature,
Speaker: I just need a little bit more in that regard of where if Christian Rodin's not picking up a guy, that's got to be your job. You got to be the the bodyguard. You got to be able to be a man that is, you know, unchallengable when it comes to the defensive side of the game. you You have to be able to just raise the floor, at least in in in that level.
Speaker: ah Jerome Mack says ah that he thinks – Dodson is ah too reactionary. i mean, I would agree with that.
Speaker: You know, he tends to react instead of anticipate. ah I think that's something he's got to work on. I think that's something that could make his game be a little bit better. So I agree with that. It's Donicus says, J.O., the man in the shadows on the feed. Yes, he is the man in the shadows. He comes out comes out from behind the backboard. Haunting the studio. Haunting the studio. Haunting the So yeah, man, you know that is something that the team has to do better. But just in order to to to move on, I do want to save some of the show to just talk briefly about Jordan Morris. I thought that he had a pretty good game. He gets a header that, you know, it hits the post. I thought that he had moments in this game and he goes out again. i don't want to speculate, obviously, Adam, but you know, how, what was your first thoughts when you saw the injury, you saw what happened, you saw him coming off? I just felt, bad I just feel bad. It's just to the point where Jordan Morris, where I just feel bad for the guy because it's,
Speaker: we were talking in training with Brian about how everything just seems so positive because he's on the field. He's so happy to be out there and playing and doing what he knows he can do and what he has done. And it's just like, here we go again.
Speaker: it It's to the point where I just really hope that this isn't something that that derails his career in ah in a career-ending kind of way, because when it continues to stack like this, I just get very worried. I mean, he's one of my Sounders heroes. I've been you know watching him my entire time growing up as a Sounders fan.
Speaker: um And he's only 31. theory, he should so many healthy games left healthy seasons left um and he was just getting back to the kind of form that i really my personal opinion and i hadn't seen him be in the kind of form he was the last few weeks in a couple of years um i ah obviously i really hope that it's that it's nothing too bad um but it just it looked at the time like this is the same old story jordan just can't catch a break but
Speaker: You know, we'll find out tomorrow. And it it really is going to swing how the starting 11s are on this homestand, how everything is built on this homestand, dependent on if he can be present. If we lose Jordan and Dayon and Paul a week ago, you know, obviously you see the three goals in. So the offense is is there. um But you're you're searching for answers and you're searching for heroes. um You never want to be grasping for heroes at a time like this in the season.
Speaker: Yeah, if you guys are watching, make sure you like, you share, you subscribe, you help us grow our Sound of Heart family. If you have comments, you have a headline. What's your headline for this game? What are your thoughts on Jordan Morris going out? what What do you think? Who's the next guy up? Because to me...
Speaker: Look, again, maybe I'm too high in the Katie Clark buzz here and and and the fan base, but I do want to see him there if if that's a possibility. I think that him playing on the left side, being able to come in and play in those inside pockets might my my work there. At some point, he has some of that a capability to maybe stretch out defenses on that side. ah You know, there isn't a lot of options, right? Because you got to, I guess, figure out that on the on the right side,
Speaker: if Because it seems like Alex Rodan is going to be the center back for a while. Jackson Reagan came into this game for Stu Hawkins. You know, maybe he's going to be back next week. I don't know if you play Stu and Jackson Reagan. I don't know. They kind of feel like the same type of player. So, you know, those are questions that guess we could figure out later. Because I guess you could push Kalani Kosarriensi as a winger. You push Alex to the right. But both Jeremiah and I have been...
Speaker: I don't know, speculating that maybe Alex is not a hundred percent just yet. And that, that hip stuff, maybe that's why you don't want him having as much of a workload as right back is for this particular system. So that left side doesn't leave you a lot of options. You got Paul Arriola, you have, uh,
Speaker: kid and Clark. And I think that's it. That's kind of it. Yeah. I'm, I'm looking at a list right now, just of who we had on the bench, you know, the other day, it's once again, getting to the point where we're probably going to have to start pulling from, you know, from Tacoma or, or pulling from places where, like I said, at this point the season, you, you don't want to be pulling from this is it's, it's dire straits. It really is dire straits. You really hope ah that, that Jordan isn't seriously injured because I definitely agree that Kalana Kosaranzi, he's got great attacking mentality. I think he can fill that winger role, but that's, you know, that's on the right and we, we need some help on the left.
Speaker: Um, you're maybe going to have to play a winger just on their less favored side. Um, it, it's It's all coming together in a very bad way, very bad time. I hope there's a hero that pops up, but this this is going to be a situation where you have a couple of names on the bench that maybe a more casual Sounders fan doesn't even know. um Yeah.
Speaker: And you want to hear something even scarier, people out there? You want to really give yourself a headache? We're going to ask J.O. about it because, look, if Jordan Morris, for some reason, has a significant injury,
Speaker: Winger's not your biggest problem. It's not. You want to know your biggest problem? The fact that Danny Wasowski wasn't in this game because he just had a baby, so obviously he had all the right to stay home.
Speaker: Now he's the guy, and and that is it at striker because Osas is gone. He's making the best 11 in – where is he, Denmark? Denmark. He is in Denmark. He scored his second goal in three games. Yeah.
Speaker: So he's living his best life. He's with his thing. You were able to loan him out. You were thinking that you were fine. Injury bugs bite you in the butt. So, J.O., what do you do at Stryker? If there's a significant injury and all you have is one Danny Mussovsky,
Speaker: How do you replace him? How do you give him some rest? What do you do? I mean, I think you've got to bring up Mark Bronick from Tacoma defiance, right? That's got to be one of those options. And I will say congratulations to Tacoma defiance. They qualified for the MLS next pro playoffs on the last day of the season.
Speaker: They thought they were going to need a win. It turned out that a point was enough, but then they, uh, kind of ah a weird game. They, they got a, they were playing a man up for most of the second, for most of the match. Um,
Speaker: They went up 1-0 on a Charlie Gaffney goal, a great goal. My guy shot out to Charlie. Looked like that was going to be enough. And then in stoppage time, the Timbers grabbed a goal to equalize, send it to penalties.
Speaker: And then the Sounders ended up, or sorry, the Defiance pulled it out. Max Anker made a couple of saves in the shootout. They picked up the bonus point, but it was not enough to jump into eighth. They instead finished ninth. That means they will have to play at Soundsy Earthquakes 2 for the play-in game, which I don't think they actually consider the playoffs in MLS Next Pro. So they are playing in the postseason, but they have to beat the Earthquakes 2 in order to see. And then the way that Defiance works is, um I got into a whole tangent here, I'm sorry. The way that Defiance, the Next Pro works is that the top four seeds all get to pick their opponents
Speaker: in the, in the playoffs. And so if the Sounders beat earthquakes too, they will ah be one of four teams that can be selected to be the opponent for the, for the other team. But the good news is that the playoffs don't start until October 8th, which means that all three of the Sounders home games are being played during a time when Mark Bronick will be perfectly available. So, Hey, uh,
Speaker: Bronick, I think has to be an option to call up. You'd like to think that the Sounders have some free agents in mind that they could potentially bring in, but it's not good. You're absolutely right.
Speaker: If Jordan Morris is hurt, Osase De Rosario alone looks pretty, could could be pretty brutal. And a lot of our audience had, you know, some thoughts about that and some concerns. Now they're true.
Speaker: I just want to, you know, highlight the fact that Danny Mazofsky, who would be our nine, his stats so far this season, 883 minutes played one goal um That was against San Diego ah a while ago. it was It was a while back at this point. he um That was on May 9th.
Speaker: ah That is really been his only positive performance of the year. he has been relegated to the somewhat deep bench for the last couple of months.
Speaker: Absolutely. At the time, I think the Osase DiRosario move made a lot of sense because you just can't you can't predict that this kind of crisis is just going to continue. um And now it's it's it's biting him in the backside. But yeah, it's, you know, Mark Bronick having a great season down down at Tacoma.
Speaker: um And hey, time and time again, we've we've been helped out by by talent down of the Defiance. um and And you're right, Jeremiah, we might really need it right now. yeah Look, you might have to do some sort of false nine situation. i don't know. Put Caden up there. Albert. I don't know. Maybe not Albert, but well we you got to figure something out. It's going to be very interesting that way that plays out. Hopefully we come back tomorrow and it's nothing or it's just something that it's really not that big of a deal. But I'll tell you right now that I did not like the way he came off. I didn't like
Speaker: how often he tried to kind of stay in the game, but couldn't. I just, I don't love the the situation particularly there. But look, before we close up this game, I do want to say that I thought Colorado played a very good game. Miguel Navarro is a guy that, you know, he's an experienced guy. I thought he'd had a decent game. Paxton Aronson was a problem that entire day. i think I continue to feel like Kalani is not a hundred percent,
Speaker: there, like just physically. I feel like that ankle still is bugging him. I thought that, you know, Christian O'Day had a pretty good game. He gets in the end of the a set piece, something that we had been talking about. He could provide. just so good at at set pieces. So that was a positive. But Rustex, two assists, is able to, you know, get himself into having a good game. That's that's a big one. And Jovlich, right? Phenomenal goal. Phenomenal goal. We we we had, you know, kind of preface that the importance of him getting a goal before he goes out on international duty. So he lives on a high note. He comes back. I thought he had a really good game. Love his attitude. Love hit his fight. And there was a point where he got in somebody's face and it's just like, e i ain't taking no shit. i fuck I love, love the way he handles the game. So there was some positives there. Um,
Speaker: Jackson Reagan coming in is a big one. We'll see how that works out here on Wednesday against RSL, but just very briefly. And before we check the standings, what are your thoughts on that ah RSL game, Adam?
Speaker: The RSL, yeah, that that's, you have to have it. I mean, it's RSL. It's at home. This is, by form, ah ah not a good team right now. um you You match up better against them tactically than maybe you do against Colorado. You're coming off a game where you score three goals. And, you know, if this was a much, a team under ah a less tenured coach, a team without those longtime leaders, this is the place where I'd get worried about panic and a lot of people have been talking about like oh the players have so much pressure on them right now the the losing streak is just ah you know every single game feels more and more and more pressure I think this is a team we saw it in this Colorado game that is ready for the pressure mentally it just needs to translate to
Speaker: I have not wanted to hit the, you know, the nuclear button, the the real panic button. I've been trying to stay very positive. If the Sounders don't come out and win against ah RSL, that is going to be the point where I come onto this show next week on Monday and I'm the pessimist and I'm, and I'm doom and gloom.
Speaker: Cause that would just not. And once again, it's not a nail in the coffin mathematically, but that is just that, that that's a point where you realize that, Oh, We're the team that that's a winnable game against. That's us. you know We're the ones struggling every match to to try to grab points.
Speaker: um It's a big, I would say this is the first time this season where a game has actually truly been must win, not just in a mathematical sense, but like in a mental sense, in in ah in a flow sense. You got to get it.
Speaker: Yes, I believe you have 10 games left, but that's three without Joe Vlitch, I guess. ah You're at home against a team that is in turmoil.
Speaker: They got absolutely dominated by Vancouver in a 3-0 scoreline. Lunas is hurt. I'm pretty sure he's out for the season. They have very little...
Speaker: defensively. I think that they get cut up and and just shred it when it comes to it on the defensive end of of things. So this has to be the time for for the Sounders. And now, look, obviously you're putting a lot of stock in a game where you don't know who's going to be available, who's going to be up top for you, and we'll see that coming in. But i don't even think it matters, Adam. I think that it doesn't matter who's out there and what you have to put on the field in order to get something going, but you have to let it all out. You, you, you might even have to be able to take bigger risks, press a little higher, get, you know, ah more numbers, commit more numbers forward, but you have to get this win. It is absolutely key.
Speaker: I think ah ourselves in a 12 game winning this week as well. Pablo Mastroni came out there after the game, A's Vancouver, and he was cursing and upset about his team, not being able to just fight and and just win duels in the box and things like that. So you got to take advantage of that. You got to hope that, you know, you found another gear.
Speaker: I mean, you being able to get as a Sounders getting three goals, being able to come back in the second half, uh, the opportunities that you had, some of the chances that you were able to put together, you got to build on that. And you have to go in to this RSL game and put it on them from the very beginning, get an early goal, get, get that first half as a statement. You cannot wait once again for subs to come in and create the tempo. Look, uh, the, uh,
Speaker: One of the goals, I believe, ah or opportunities, at least that the team had, alex ah Christian Roldan does like a quick free kick. It's just a quick tempo move where it was just a moment where he's realizing, I got to just kind of feed it up quick.
Speaker: Those are the sort of things that the Sounders need to do from the very beginning. You can't wait for the second half to do that. You got to be able to control tempo. You got to be able to to create your power. moments where there is with quick restarts or whatever it is. So to me, this is a must win. Hey
Speaker: everyone, David Goss here from soccer wise, and I am coming to you with our MLS minute presented by continental. We are so excited to be working with some of the best local MLS coverage in the league as part of our new collective. So after you're done listening here about your team, come on over and listen to myself, Doyle and Tom talk about the entire league.
Speaker: Let's dig into the highlights of the weekend and we start of course the Hudson River Derby Julian Hall a Manhattan native a Red Bull Academy grad just wants to kill NYCFC scored the game winner in a 1-0 victory on Friday night Hall scored his 10th goal of the season the same week he got his first ever call up to the US men's national team he becomes the youngest player in MLS history to score 10 goals in a single season 18 years and 178 days is also the third most single season goal scored by a teenager in league history now if they were to play nycfc again he would be going up against a new jersey native and a former red bull academy graduate himself in matt miazga who tom is reporting will be joining nycfc
Speaker: But Julian Hall wasn't the only American teenager who got a call up this week and followed it up with a big performance. Peyton Miller out in New England scored two goals to help his team to a 4-2 victory over over Orlando. He got called for a penalty kick.
Speaker: to equalize 2-2, but came back and scored the game winner for his team alongside Brooklyn Reigns, who also will be a part of the national team. And another set of American teenagers who starred this weekend were for Philadelphia. Now, first...
Speaker: It was Andre Luis, the $18 million dollars signing for Sporting Kansas City, who had two goals in 10 minutes, probably could have had three, but helped put SKC up 3-0 early on. But Philadelphia came back with four goals in a nine-minute span in the second half, capped by an own goal by Zoran Basang to win 4-0. 4-3 for the Philadelphia Union. Frankie Westfield got it started. And of course, Kevin Sullivan had a goal in this one as well. We had some stoppage time drama across the league. Let's start with San Jose playing against LAFC at Levi's Stadium. It was a wild match. An early Aaron Long red card puts LAFC down a man. But Sun and Buonga both scored and late on LAFC was clinging to a 2-1 lead when none other than Reed Roberts, the center back, steps up with a stunner from outside the box to equalize in the 98th minute and send the stadium wild.
Speaker: in cincinnati kevin denke scored a stoppage time equalizer for the second straight game last week it was in the 91st for a 3-3 draw against charlotte this week it was a penalty kick in the 97th first houston to make it 2-2 in the final nashville vancouver each 1-3-0 to extend their leads towards the top of both conferences this week one wednesday game and a full slate of weekend games next week that will be during the international break so we will have all your usmnt coverage coming up as well as mls and nwsl this week on the soccer wise channels this is the mls minute is a part of our soccer wise media collective sponsored by continental tire where we are proud to work with local soccer media partners across the country
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Speaker: We're also looking for sponsors. Send an email to partners at pnwsoccermedia.com and we'll get you all set up. Thanks for listening. you know the Mathematically, you're right. and we're going to look at the standards here in a second. But man, it's it's probably the most pressure this team and Brands Master have.
Speaker: now And the reason I've said that we need six points or seven points out of this three, it's because you have that RSL game. That's the late the least informed team in MLS. Then you have Sporting KC, who are the worst team in MLS by points for the whole season. um If you don't get those two at home,
Speaker: I think that the Minnesota game, i mean, that's a solid team. I don't think it'd be ridiculous that, that, you know, we draw that game. We should still be favored um in that game, but you just saw the graphic Jeremiah had up a second ago that they're all in our stratosphere in the standings.
Speaker: um As we look at at the standings right here, we still have two games in hand um over, you know, Portland who are the the last team into the play in game right now. So if we get,
Speaker: four points of our next two games, we would be ahead of them. We only have one point in hand or one game in hand over RSL and San Diego, but you are given a gift right now as the Sounders, you have games in hand and their games against teams that ah aren't playing well and your games are at home.
Speaker: This is it. that's That's all there is to say. This is it. I don't care about anything after this homestand. We can think about anything after this homestand when they prove it right here. Jeremiah, can you put that standings back up? i'm gonna Give me three teams because not all all these teams, there's a lot of pretenders here that that I could see. I would call Minnesota a pretender. I think RSL is a pretender even though they're ahead ah of Seattle. But give me three teams away from the Sounders. No, you know what? Let's put the Sounders in there. So two teams aside from the Sounders that you believe are really in this race. Cause not, not all of these guys are, i don't, I don't even think San Diego is to be quite frank. Uh, so to me, I think Portland, I really do think that Portland has something cooking over there. I think that they have a really good, uh, roster overall. Uh,
Speaker: Cifuentes, I'm not sure what he was doing in the last game, not putting Jensen in, but I would think that he's going to be able to figure it out. I do like Austin. I know that a lot of people don't like Austin and they like la's LA Galaxy a little bit better because they have more of those top and talent players. But there's something about Austin's just simplistic way of approaching the game that I think is interesting. So I want to go with Austin and I'm going to go with the Timbers as my two teams. Who are your two teams there, Adam?
Speaker: I would definitely agree. Honestly, I think those were the two that I would pick as well. I think Portland, they they do have something going right now. They've they've got ah a squad, I think, that on any given day ah can get a result against just about any team in the West. I would say the same for Austin. I mean, we saw it in that game ah last week when Austin played against Vancouver, where they did not have much of the ball. They did not have many looks at goal, and they still got a a win on the road. They benefited from a little bit of luck in that game. But I always thought Austin, they've they've had a good culture about them generally since they came into the league. And it's the same this year where they have some players on that Austin team that that are real game changers and can fuel you ah towards a playoff run.
Speaker: And I think, you know, you know players like yeah Torres, you know, i one of the best, um you know, right wing, right midfielders in the league. Fakundu Torres is an excellent player. They have those X factors. um But, you know,
Speaker: Teams like ah RSL, teams like Sporting KC in Minnesota, um they don't necessarily have proven s X factors like that. um I think you're worried about Portland as a main contender for that. You're worried about Austin, San Diego.
Speaker: not not as convinced on them as I am for Portland and Austin right now, but those are the teams I think you have to worry about. and the Sounders should definitely be in the conversation as a team that's pushing in there. J.O., San Diego, can they be a team that you think might be able to get into this playoff run? Which ones are your two teams in terms of maybe really having a ah run for this playoff spots in the Western Conference? Yeah, so we're wherere I guess we're we're saying the Rapids are in, and we're looking at the the eight, nine teams. that what We're we basically –
Speaker: Who do we think the two eight, nine teams are going to be? Is that what we're we're kind of focusing on conversation wise here? We got San Diego. We got the Galaxy. There's the Timbers, ah Austin, ah our cell. You know, if you if you think Minnesota can make a run. on no know I think I do like the Sounders chances of making the playoffs right now.
Speaker: i think the to me, what it's going to come down to is is probably going to come down to. The Timbers, the Sounders, so San Diego, and maybe the Galaxy. The Galaxy, the the trouble with the Galaxy is that they've they've played three more games in the Sounders. right I think that's going to be a tough one.
Speaker: i So I'm not as as high on them. San Diego, ah they're so they're so up and down. But I'll tell you, there is something kind of...
Speaker: I don't know. so I have this idea that the Sounders are going to clip the Timbers for the final playoff spot right at the end of the season. and that would somehow be a particular amount of joy that we could get from that.
Speaker: But we'll see. I do like the Sounders' chances of making the playoffs. I think i do think that seventh is still... vaguely within range. I think that that tie against the Rapids keeps it there. You know, it's like, look, the Sounders, if they, but they got it with, if they go nine points on this homestand, I think seventh is totally doable.
Speaker: If they do six or seven points, I think the playoffs are still very much in range. If they do anything less than six points, I don't know that there's really much, much to say about the the rest of the season. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, and look, and there there is a universe where the Sounders struggle and and they don't really get there, right? And ja o I don't know if when you get a chance, maybe you can check the camera. don't if looks them a little bit...
Speaker: is Is it just me or is the quality drop off a little bit? Well, just stream just to be quite honest, that that is a concern of mine that with Joe Vluch being out three games, the possibility of a Jordan Morris injury and you just simply not having enough bodies there is a ah universe where the Sounders just don't get enough points. and and And, man, it would be catastrophic to see this team fall off and and not even make the playoffs. So that brings up a huge question, J.O., audience, Adam.
Speaker: Is not making the playoffs where Brian's job starts to... you know, really come and and maybe have that danger of him being let go. Is the, is the seat hot already? Is it getting hot where we are when it comes to Brian Smetzer?
Speaker: I don't think the seat's hot. I don't believe that that's the point where we are. And it's, It's strange to say that, obviously, with the fact that this is a historically bad run as far as points go.
Speaker: um I remember when the Schmetzer out dialogue was very strong you know a couple years back. um That was all people were talking about day in, day out. And I think it says a lot that that hasn't been part of the dialogue. Maybe until now, people are starting to say it.
Speaker: um I don't think that this is Brian Schmetzer's fault. I think that he's got ah such a difficult task at hand trying to work with this injury crisis.
Speaker: There's only so much he can do. There hasn't been games where I've thought to myself, and you know, Brian messed that up. Brian made an awful decision there. What is Brian Schmetzer doing? I haven't thought that at all. I mean, look at this game right here. Brian Schmetzer brings on Caden Clark. Caden Clark scores a goal. yeah Brian Schmetzer brings on Sebastian Gomez, Sebastian Gomez, an extremely positive performance yeah in the second half. I think you could argue that this three, three draw is a bit of a Brian Schmetzer masterclass.
Speaker: I'm a huge Brian Schmetzer defender. And honestly, I don't even think that it's that close right now to being him being on the hot seat. I think this is more fans.
Speaker: point somewhere. so Something has to be going wrong. What is it? And eventually the finger has landed a little bit on Brian Schmetzer. I don't think it's going to stay there though. I don't think the seat is hot right now.
Speaker: And I agree with you that there is a lot of circumstances surrounding this team that would keep him from being at fault, particularly with the injuries. But I do understand those that don't feel as strongly about keeping him because there have been times where like the Paul Rothschild situation where you didn't really have to play him that particular game that he was just, you could tell that he was being used way too often. You could have done something there. Whenever your team,
Speaker: takes as many hits as this team has had, as many injuries, changing the the way you approach games and simplifying it and maybe not pressing as high, maybe doing things a little bit different, not committing numbers, not not being so forcefully...
Speaker: you know, strongholding to the inverted wingers, you know, things like that. I do feel like maybe Brian has necessarily done immediately, but again, there's just too many injuries and too many things that would keep me from saying that I believe he is the main factor of why this team is where they're at. The only people who...
Speaker: should probably fired as the medical team, the training conditioning, and the sports science department. Those are the guys whose seat is extremely hot. But when it comes to Bryant, I don't think that's the case. However, however, if this team, if the Seattle Sounders do not make the playoffs, I would think that that seat goes from lukewarm to 350 oven hot. Because that is the bare minimum. That is the lowest setting that this fan base demands out of their team, regardless of what's happening.
Speaker: Because they're going to point at acquisitions, the lack, the rough, ah you know certain moments in games where you just didn't do what you had to. But Jeremiah, J.O., the Don, what are your thoughts on...
Speaker: Bryant's matter is the heat is the heat is the seat hot or is it going to get hot if the city doesn't make the playoffs or if they just continue to struggle?
Speaker: Well, i I would say that the seat is not hot, at least from what I can tell. I don't think that, which is, i think a little bit of a problem. Like it's, it's probably not a good thing that the Sounders are on a 13 game win this run.
Speaker: and And there's not really a sense that brian job Brian's job is on the line. Regardless of whether you think he's doing a good job or not, whether or not you think he should be fired, the security that he has, i think, speaks to the the organization at large where they are just a little too slow to do much.
Speaker: You know, i I like Brian. I think that Brian is a club legend. But Ziggy Schmidt was a club legend, too. and ah The Sounders never went through a streak like this with Siggy Schmidt.
Speaker: Now, I think maybe you could argue that the reason siggy got fired wasn't so much because of the struggles that started in 2016, but it was because of the, the way they fell apart in 2015 in the summer. Yeah. And they had to make all these signings to come back. And so I suppose maybe in, if we're using the same standard, we should say like, look, if this continues next year, then that's, that's where Brian might have to go.
Speaker: But whatever. I, I am a little, I feel like there should be a little bit more pressure on him. I'm not saying he should be fired right now. If the Sounders miss the playoffs, I think it's, it is going to be somewhat circumstantial. We'll see why you're like, why did they fall? Why was it? Was it something that he did? Is there something that he could be doing better?
Speaker: I don't know. I'm with you. I think there's almost certainly going to have to be some changes on the physio sports science side. maybe more on the sports science side. you know We'll see. I don't want to put too much blame.
Speaker: i don't know enough about that stuff. But I do think that there's going to have to be some changes in the sort of broadly saying the back office, meaning in the front office, in the in the training room, in the coaching staff. there's got They can't just roll it back and say everything is fine. There's got to be something more than a sacrificial lamb, I want to say.
Speaker: Yeah, and on that regard, I will say that there is – as I'm hearing, you know, in in the hallways of the facility that, you know, there is an ongoing investigation right now. They're talking to specific players that have had injuries that were part of rehabs that have been operated on and asking them, Hey, you know, what are your thoughts on the amount of care that you had, the amount of people that you were working with while you were getting ramped up to play? Did you feel like the, The training was cohesive with some of the rehab exercises, things of that nature. So they're definitely doing the due diligence to figure out what the problem is. So there's probably going to be something there. ah But going back to it, it is about this team being able to figure out how to get out of this hole.
Speaker: And it will be, as ah you know some of our fans here say, Zach Lewis said, if the team keeps giving up three goals per game, Brian is done. Yeah, I would agree. I mean, if you continue to concede as many goals moving forward, I mean, that's going to be a problem, right?
Speaker: Derek Richards says Brian has to go because he's rude to Nico. don't know about all that. I appreciate the support, though. You know, Brian, you know, he's a moody guy, but, you know, I still got love for him. So, no, we definitely, that's definitely not a reason. So, but, but I appreciate the support though. And, and yeah, we definitely think that there would have to be something a lot bigger for him, Brian Smetzer to be re considered to be let go, but let's go ahead and move on and talk a little bit widely about more more what why widely about the league because we had some really good games that,
Speaker: Adam, this this match day, there were a lot of goals. There were some phenomenal goals. There were some, you know, interesting matchups here in the Western Conference. But let's start with yours, because I feel like your game, one, helped out the Sounders, because he kept supporting Kansas City in the basement of the Western Conference. And it was also...
Speaker: a phenomenal comeback from Philadelphia. So I know the game you wanted to talk about. go ahead and tell the people which one it was, what happened, and why you chose this as your best game of the match. Yeah, I mean, this is the best game of the match day. In my opinion, this is one of the better games, of the season overall, uh, Philadelphia union four, three over sporting Kansas city. This is a game for sporting Casey coming in. Uh, if they didn't like win out or close to win out, their season season was over. This is, I think this is a final nail in the coffin. I would say for sporting Casey, they're not really in that race in the West, in my opinion. Um, it starts out just in ridiculous fashion, Philadelphia union. They're one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They're the team that everyone's talking about out in the Eastern Conference. They're really securing their spot as it's looking like ah a pretty comfortable playoff team right now, despite the fact that they had an awful start to the season. They were in a lot of turmoil. They're able to look at Kevin Sullivan. They're able to bring some more
Speaker: more players into the fold consistently, and they've looked very difficult to play against. um Sporting Kansas City, though, they jumped out to a 3-0 lead ah in the first 16 minutes of the game, and it was the $17 million dollars man, Andre Luis, scored, for my money, one of the best goals in MLS ah this season off the dribble.
Speaker: from the halfway stripe. You know, it's reminiscent of Maradona versus England in the World Cup of just you you take it. You take it from absolutely nowhere. You beat multiple players and he slots it away um from an angle. And then five minutes later, really tidy finish by the Brazilian as well with the left foot curling it in from the top of the box.
Speaker: and It was, I wouldn't say against the run of play. Sporting Kansas City knew that they were goingnna have to play compact, um but they were just executing that perfectly. And then they get the third goal off of a set piece off the corner kick.
Speaker: Um, and it's, and you can see just Andre Blake is beside himself with the Philadelphia defense. he can't believe what's happening. This is a KC team that has just, just not been good at all this season. And they're just tearing apart the Philadelphia union in the first 20 set in the first 20 minutes. And it goes to halftime three nil sporting case. He goes to the 60th minute three nil, uh, sporting Kansas city, um, and Philadelphia,
Speaker: three goals in the following 10 minutes. Four goals make that in the following 10 minutes. Kevin Sullivan gets one. There's an own goal in there. Milano Lasky with ah a beautiful strike as well. Damiani with a really nice finish.
Speaker: um This was... this is for a Philadelphia union fan. This is a game that you're going to remember for a really long time, um, in a positive way. And for a sporting Kansas city fan, this is a game that you're going to try your best to not remember at all.
Speaker: Um, because it's just how the season's gone, um, for them. But, I encourage anyone who is an MLS fan to go watch ah the goals from this game. Ridiculous to have all of those in one game, all seven of them. I would say, you know, five of those are are really high quality goals.
Speaker: ah This was, this just a beautiful match. it's just fun to watch. And, and it's not what you expect it to be. You expected this to be Philadelphia union. They run over sporting Casey because they're hot and sporting Casey are not. and And it turned out to be theater.
Speaker: Yeah, i thought it was a phenomenal game because Sporting cu City goes up three very early on in this game. Then there's kind of a scuffle. There's like this fight in between the players and and he kind of really unifies Philadelphia Union. And look... ah Kevin Sullivan's the real deal. Like the the kid just his off ball movement, the goal that he gets in the third goal equalizer to there's like a Rabona pass there from the outside and Lasky with with barely any angle. puts the ball in the back of the net where he's just kind of pushing through fighting, just smacks it, top you know shelf right of of the goalkeepers, phenomenal goal. But this has been Philadelphia. Philadelphia the team that seems to never be out of any game because there's such an understanding of the way they want to attack. They're able to get the goals. They're able to push the the marker.
Speaker: The funny part about this is the for all you XG – ahficionados I think that their XG by the end of the game was less than a goal yeah because, you know, there's an own goal for the four, three, essentially that wins Philadelphia, the game. The chances I think were very low when he came to the rating of the XG, but Philadelphia is just a very effective team that,
Speaker: just bullies you. And I think that's what they did to this Puerto Rico city team that really is a one man show. I mean, they're, they got one pony in, in, in the the show that really gets things going. And to your point, I mean, under least, I don't know if the 18 million that they,
Speaker: you know, paid off for this guy was worth it. I thought that that was an irresponsible amount of money to pay for a player like that. But if he's going to be irresponsible with the way to disrespect teams, then you know what, maybe it's worth it because that is ah a bad, bad man to do what he did to Philadelphia on that first goal. But I agree. That was a phenomenal game, but specifically for our region, it was great to see Kansas City now win that game because, uh,
Speaker: There was a point when I was like, there is no way the Sporting Kansas City is going to win this game and then come and rain in our parade at some point and try to beat the Sounders in a couple of weeks. It's such a gut punch for them because if they get that win, you know, they come out of this big win at home against Philadelphia. They're riding about as high as they have all season, but off that has to hurt just at another level. So they're going to be even on a lower note than they already were.
Speaker: coming in. So you're absolutely right. I'm just seeing that the chat here, ah ah Jerome McCaskill says, I'm not on the cabin hype train, but when the kid taunted the crowd after scoring, I sat my ass down. And that I was talking about this last week, the fact that Kevin Sullivan, you know, I don't to just talk about Kevin Sullivan every single week.
Speaker: um But the the fact that He has that swagger to go along with the talent is is really incredible. And it's he doesn't overdo it. um Like he backs it up and kid's 16. He just got his driver's license.
Speaker: um it It's so impressive from both a technical and a mental standpoint. And he was part of this. He was part of this comeback. As always, he's one of the main driving forces for every Philadelphia game. And and this was one of their best all year. yeah His ability on the ball, his ability to really just obligate teams to worry about him and and just collapse on him. And his composure in front of goal, his demeanor in the way that he's willing to, you know, his vision is phenomenal, right? I mean, you could just see the way he just scans the field consistently. I mean, You know, they say keep your head in a swivel when you're in those attacking areas. He does it excellently. And not to mention that he is someone that understands how to get rid of markers. I mean, there's a lot of times where you see him pick up the ball all by himself. And that doesn't happen just because it happens. I mean, that is by design. That is him being able to get rid of the the the markers on him. So I just love his Yeah.
Speaker: I really can't think of a better prospect, yeah I mean, that we've seen in MLS, at least in MLS, that was a U.S. business National Team prospect that had that sort of understanding of the game. Those are the things that...
Speaker: make you from a good player to a great player. It's not just your physical attributes. It's not just your ability to get at the end of a certain crosses is just the way you affect the game in so many aspects. So absolute baller. I totally agree in that. That was actually the the most,
Speaker: fun game and probably the one that took all the headlines. But I wanted to talk about the LAFC San Jose game. That was a game that I was very intrigued by. San Jose is a bit of a desperate team. And LAFC is a team with a lot of need for a win. They have one win in their last eight or nine games.
Speaker: Obviously, Marco Santos' seat is red hot. There's been... petitions and all kinds of people asking for his head because of everything that's happening. And this was a pretty good game. And look, Sung Hongman gets an early goal. They're able to get in front of it. But Aaron Long,
Speaker: Bad decision in the first half to just, I understand you you were trying to eliminate the the first goal of the game for San Jose, and he did that, but he ends up costing himself a red card because he grabs on to, I forgot who it was that he pulled, but is it's a dog. So obviously he gets the red card and just kind of changes the game, but LAFC credit to them. They're able to continue to stick to their game. They're able to ah push the ball when, ah it comes to transition moments. I thought that Danny Buanga and Sonny were as connected as I've seen them all season. i mean, they were really there consistently. A couple of misses from Buanga probably have this game going LAFC's way. There's also a ah a goal that gets disallowed because of a foul in a Sanjumbo opportunity that would have gave this LAFC team the win. But it is the effort from San Jose. It is a Nico Shakir is who I am surprised, Adam, that he was not part of the call-ups for the UNSPA national team. Cause I think that he has been phenomenal from, you know, his position as a domestic player in MLS, but he, he's just a game changer. But Preston Judd,
Speaker: is the guy that gets the first goal and really rallies this team back to to equalize this game. Timo Werner, just phenomenal ball into the box. Look, Preston Judd, to me, is is one of the better finishers in this league and underrated finishers in this league. Let me put it, underrated finishers in this league. Just phenomenal technique to to get the goal. And then it is Reed Roberts, the unlikely hero in the 98th minute.
Speaker: And this does go back to LAFC not having a better sense on how to close down a game. It's the 97th minute.
Speaker: And ah ah who's Schulte? that The one that's on that side ah in the second half. he He's pushing the ball. He's trying to get over. And instead of maybe just a shuffleboard. Shuffleboard is the 97th minute. He finds himself with a lot of space on the left side. And he gets dispossessed.
Speaker: Just way too easy. look Look for the foul. Try to find a corner. Maybe come back on that and and try to keep possession. You could not give the the the the opposition the game, the the ball, the possession when it's the 97 minute, man. you You got to do more than that. You might just jump on the ball and maybe if you get a ah card because you touch it with your hand, whatever it is, man, you got to do something. But he gives San Jose the possession. It is ah quick move. they They get to the other end. There's a corner and it is Roberts, the center back, who puts in a phenomenal shot from Alton that gives San Jose the equalizer.
Speaker: LAFC loses this game in terms of losing points because it this was a done deal, Adam. This was a game that LAFC should have had three points in the bag, and I do understand the criticism on the coaching staff not being able to just guide this team better in those last final minutes, but I do think that defensively, LAFC has just been too unreliable, and they've given up too many points when they have the advantage on on the scoreboard. Maybe they're not as bad as Miami, which I believe they're down to like 15 points given up when they were ahead in the score, but they're they're pretty bad. And so, look, these are two teams that are going to be
Speaker: In the playoffs, um I would say that if she's a contender. Sounds more of a pretender. But, you know, there are both going be two teams that are going to be in the spectrum of the p playoffs in the Western Conference. Yeah, and I think people really, you're absolutely right. People should be more aware of what Preston Judd's been doing this year. He's got 13 goals. He's had a great break. He's really hitting his prime. And it's not a player that you had your eyes on for the last few years. And he's all of a sudden, he's... He's he's he's really growing with this San Jose franchise into a notable player as they become a notable team in the league. And on LAFC, I mean, for a while now, LAFC is always one of those teams. You see them on the schedule, especially in the playoff match, and you get worried because they've just had this established, you know, they're killers. They go out and they get results. But it just hasn't been the case at times this year with the talent they have on the roster. They should be a much tougher out than they have been.
Speaker: um It's interesting that you call them a contender and San Jose a pretender. I don't necessarily disagree, but at times LAFC are looking like a pretender right now. No. And I think if it wasn't for that firepower, some of the started players and honestly kind of what they've given us over the last couple of years, maybe I wouldn't say that, but yeah, I do think that you're right. There are, there've been many of times where you kind of feel like they're pretenders just going off of the talent of a couple of players because in the playoffs that tends to,
Speaker: not be the case so much i mean teams are gonna force you into difficult games i think the mario santos does need to do a little bit more to get those guys around those two guys to play a lot better i continue to say that the midfield for this lafc team has just lost the the dominance and they no longer have players that can really dictate a tempo and that can hold the possession and then maybe they provide tactical fouls. Sometimes you got to be able to have those guys in midfield and defensively managers. They don't really have a guy that's out there really disrupting the game. And and that has cost them a lot of games. But again, when you have two monsters like Danny Bwonga and Sonny, you know, you got to give respect to that. But look, I mean, I think we all know that Vancouver is the big dog now.
Speaker: Vancouver is the the team running the show. when evolved Forget just the RSL game, the 3-0 scoreline, but Mueller's back, and you can see, again, that the the confidence that he provides as soon as he's backing that team. that that They're going to be the ones that really have something to say in the Western Conference. And I will obviously Vancouver Whitecaps, one of the arch rivals of Seattle. I've really loved seeing the Whitecaps become a big, ah a big team because it had never been the case for them in their history. And I think that they kind of, I think they were due their day in the sun and they've just, it's just a well-constructed roster. There's just not many weak points. They have the star power from outside of MLS, you know, with Thomas Muller. And then they have players who are so established within MLS players like, you know, ah Brian White has been just, he's got 16 goals this season. He's had another ridiculous campaign.
Speaker: They can just beat anybody and they can make beating anybody look pretty easy. um I do want to respond in the in the super chat here. Sean is here for the food asking for the matches to rewatch over the weekend. Definitely watch that.
Speaker: watch that whole um game between sporting Kansas city and Philadelphia. That's, that's, that's nonstop stuff. um I mean, we got a little, I'd say fortunate that, that the the Colorado Seattle game was also one of the most intriguing games um of the weekends. There was a lot of really good, I, I,
Speaker: MLS is heating up right at the end. There've been some great matches right as we start to get closer to decision day. It's an exciting time to be an MLS fan. I think the a LA galaxy, Minnesota game three to win for LA.
Speaker: Uh, that was good. and that's obviously very relevant as well to the sounders and the playoffs. Um, maybe not the result we'd necessarily wanted. Um, as l LA galaxy is one of those teams are trying to pick up games and hand over, uh, but great games around the league. Yeah, that the New England-Orlando City was also a really good game. It got a little bit heated there at the at the end of the game where the the coaches were going to go in at each other. And I i absolutely find that so interesting when that happens. But Perlman and Mitrovic, they were going at each other. Perlman was being held back by either some sort of staff trying to keep him from getting on top of Mitrovic, I think because he didn't shake hands.
Speaker: He just went right through them. But I really do think that Orlando was just hot because look, the the revolution were just the better side over the the terms of that game. And Peyton Miller, who's also one of the guys that you're going to see being called up for the US national team, had a phenomenal game, just displaying his overall speed and getting a couple of really good goals. So definitely one of those games that you might want to go ahead and and and check out because you do have some of the young talent, you do have the star power, and you have some of those you know moments where things get a little bit heated. So that was another game that I found interesting. The poll in the chat right now on who think who what people think should be the replacement for Jovovich over the next three games, that poll is complete.
Speaker: People say Sebastian Gomez. um And as we said before, i think i think Seba, he... He he earned it with that second half. That was really great. We already went over that, but it's, it's not surprising that just by the eye test that the people are going to want Sebastian Gomez in there. um and We appreciate ah Sean's here for the food for the $2 chat. Thank you very much, Sean. Yeah.
Speaker: As we said before, it all comes down to what Brian says tomorrow about Jordan Morris. That is really going to dictate all of the conversation around starting 11s when it comes to the front three, or maybe if Brian has to make some big tactical shift, it's all going to come down to that. It's a lot simpler if you still have Jordan Morris in the fold. If not, it's going to be a little bit of improvisation, I would say, on the coaching staff's part.
Speaker: Absolutely. Jeremiah,
Speaker: What are the two teams that are really, in your opinion, that the the the best of teams in the Western Conference? Because you got San Luis City that had just been phenomenal as of late. I mean, they they seem to just have big click. And you got Vancouver, right? yeah i don't know how much you believe LAFC. But you know what what are the two teams that you really think that that are probably the top dogs in the Western Conference? Well, you you got to like Whitecaps. The underlying numbers say they are even better than their top line numbers and their top line numbers are very good.
Speaker: ah But right now, I think Whitecaps and then everyone else is sort of fighting for number two. ah You know, Houston, Houston. surprisingly good. Yeah. I like Houston too.
Speaker: Dallas has been also surprisingly good, but I think right now, if I have to pick a team who is going to serve, I'm going with the hot hand. I mean,
Speaker: St. Louis city is just looking like they have really put it together. i was very skeptical of their move to get rid of a hardle and to bring in Navajo.
Speaker: And that looks like it's worked out amazingly well. They just qualified for the open cup finals after beating the Rapids. I think they're my, they're my number two team, but white caps clearly number one in the West and And it looks, i mean, right now it looks like a collision course between the Whitecaps and Nashville in the finals.
Speaker: Yeah, I really like Houston because Guillermo is such an electrifying force and they do defend pretty well and they have that Ben Olsen, you know, we're going to just elbow you right in the gut if we have to type of mentality. But i did I do think you're right. I think in terms of just the overall talent, the depth of the roster, because they didn't get rid of Batcher or any of the other guys in in in terms of what they have available, they have a pretty decent bench.
Speaker: I really do think that San Luis and Vancouver are the two big dogs out of the Western conference. And I'm only asking that Adam is because if the Sounders do get into the playoffs and they are able to just fight and grind and get in, you're likely playing one of those two teams and that boy, that is a, a ah hard, hard battle. You know, that, that, that's some cars that you don't want dealt to you. ah So you might be a one and done for the team if if you get, you know, some of those two big, big players. I mean, obviously, the Sounders going into the playoffs, they turn into a different team. They have, you know, the quality. They have the experience. But, man, those are are two difficult teams that you get in front of you. I don't think it's ridiculous to say that if the Sounders find themselves in that situation, that people aren't going to be surprised if that's as far as they go. They just don't match up well against these teams. um
Speaker: I do think when you have a number nine that's one of the best in the league, it gives you the ability to cause a shock. you know We've seen Dan Jovlich score two goals out of nothing already this season.
Speaker: A lot needs to go right. a lot needs to be special for Seattle to get to that point and then cause a shock because, you know, as you guys are saying, Vancouver, oh, that team is so good right now. If it ends up being Vancouver, Nashville in the final, that is one of the most must-watch finals I think we've had in a while. Just on the fact that those are some of the most quality teams we've seen ah in MLS. And what I love about them is that they're two teams that are so well constructed, just top to bottom. These organizations absolutely deserve right now to be the two top contenders in MLS. The underlying numbers, the amount of depth that the both of these squads have, the fact that it's a mix of developing their own talent, bringing it from other places in MLS, bringing it from overseas. I've loved what both of those organizations have been doing over the last few years.
Speaker: um If they end up in the final, that that'll that'll be one of the better and MLS finals that we've seen in the bid, I think. Yeah, so do not forget, guys, that it's going to get convoluted. Sounders play Wednesday against RSL on the 23rd, then again against Minnesota on the 26th, and then on Thursday, October 1st, against Sporting Kansas City. That is a three-game homestand.
Speaker: That is where you either... fight through it or you go down swinging and you start preparing for the 2027 season, in my opinion, i mean, those three games are going to be massive for you to be able to do it. You're going to have to rotate Adam. going have to do some real creative stuff. Like we already talked about, but if you had to choose, right, I think that you go with your best lineup against Minnesota, perhaps I think that RSL, right.
Speaker: Because of their current situation, you might be able to get away with moving some things. I don't even know, to be honest, if how much you can rotate. i really You don't have enough players to rotate. But as Jeremiah said, if you're able to call up some guys from Tacoma, maybe this RSL game is when you do it. You try to figure things out. Because I do feel like Minnesota coming in,
Speaker: rested, because I don't think they have a game during the the midweek, if I'm not mistaken. I do believe that that is the one game that might be a little bit more difficult. And then you kind of hope that, you know, it sporting Kansas City, you're able to just dominate and contain Andre Luis, which is the one guy. And and you got to get, what, six points here? At least six or seven here. I would actually, I would disagree with you, Nico, that Minnesota should be the team you're focusing on.
Speaker: No, focus on getting a win. Put everything you can into RSL because that is the tone setter. momentum Just do it. This is the time to do it. We have proven that we can score. We have proven we can do it against good teams in hostile environments. We've proven we can get points at least, five straight draws.
Speaker: Just go and do it. There's no more time to rotate and and put you know someone who you don't think is your very best option out there. Do it right now. Yeah, man, it's going to be exactly that because you've got to figure out that I don't think Jackson Reagan is ready for 90. So do you start him?
Speaker: Do you let him play 60? How do you really deal with that? Who do you bring in? Are you going to continue to stick with what you have? You could play with Kim. Again, I'm monitoring Alex very closely as well. he you know We'll see where he's at necessarily. And then Kalani as well. So, man, it's just such a difficult position for Brian to be in. k Needing points.
Speaker: having as many injuries as they have. So all you have to know is that you're going to get all the best information right hot as it comes out tomorrow from the training ground with, of course, if you follow Adam, you follow Jeremiah, you follow myself, going to try to get, I'm sure some stories from, from a training ground to just see what happens, man. And if you are a ah person that likes to pray, go ahead and pray. If you want to, you know, hold the, the, the diamond noise or whatever it is that you believe in,
Speaker: because if Jordan Morris can just stay healthy, that's going to be a huge, huge win for this team into this three-game stretch, man. I am so concerned about what's going to happen to Jordan Morris. But, hey, guys, ah again, we are hoping that this team continues to fight, keep us interested, and that you know they're able to push their way into the playoffs, man.
Speaker: Yeah, I'm excited to see what they have. And and as Jeremiah just said in the chat out there, we might we're going have Yamar likely available on Wednesday. This is going to be a team that's looking... at least defensively where we have come to expect them to be. The questions right now are on the attack. Yeah. It's never been more important for, for fans to be monitoring what's going on in the training ground right now. This is the level of, of chaos and turmoil in the back rooms and in the training ground that we haven't seen with this club um for a while. I also don't,
Speaker: I don't want to speak too much on like the physio side of things because I don't know what i'm talking about. I don't know exercise science. I don't know any of of these things, but I know that something's not being done right. and Players are getting incorrect treatment or they're being put out too early or they're not being evaluated correctly. I don't know what it is because I don't know that you know that field, but this is not supposed to happen. this At a professional club, this it hasn't happened um in league history or a Sounders league history. It is a complete outlier. Something is going wrong. We cannot just say that this is bad luck.
Speaker: This is something that needs to be addressed. I understand that the club maybe doesn't want to address it mid season. That's just another, but in the off season, something has to be seriously looked at.
Speaker: There has to be changes. This cannot happen at the professional level. um i don't, it's as simple as that. Something has to change because something has been done incorrectly.
Speaker: Yeah, no, I totally agree. And it is one of those situations where it's just it's just obvious that that that there there's a problem, it's a systematic problem with it. But one thing that I will share, though, is that I had been told that there is a chance that for, I guess, some minutes for the October 1st game against Puerto Rico City. Now, that that's obviously a lot sooner maybe than we thought, maybe like two weeks or so.
Speaker: sooner than we thought. So between the Sporting Garden City or New England game, I think you might be able to get him in, you know, 15 minutes, see where he's at, try to gauge him. And and that's going to be a huge win for for this team. Because look, maybe you have to force for her to play a little bit of nine. in in that Sporting City game if you have to because you won't have Jovillage and then once Jovillage gets back then you continue to get more players essentially for that New England game Dallas Montreal there's some pretty difficult venues you're going to play on the road but
Speaker: All in all, this team is going to have to find something. And I'm going to give you a hot take. I think that Kaden Clark gets back-to-back goals. I think that he comes into the RSL game, he gets a goal, and he earns himself a starting spot for at least a couple of the other two games at home because I believe in that kid that much. i just that There's something about his game that just I gravitate to. ah love his performance.
Speaker: ethics and and the way he handles the the training part of things so far. They asked him about, you know, if is this, what are your thoughts I think it was Jada who asked him about how he's, how he could describe this this team. And he said, look, it's the best situation that I've been in. And to me, a guy with that talent that finally finds himself in a place that he can shine and there is that camaraderie. You see him,
Speaker: celebrate with, I think it was Alex Rodan and somebody else. He has a big grin on his face. I mean, believe me, there's my hot take back to back goals for Kaden Clark. He's going to start to heat up.
Speaker: And you know, when he's hot, man, just let, right, right. The hot hand, right. The hot hand, maybe let him start. If he continues to play well, I like that kid. I think if I if i had to throw a hot take for a player that's going to be crucial, I think people are too down on Albert Rusnak. I think you you you talked about this earlier this season. People are not nearly thankful for an enough for the shifts that Albert Rusnak has put in this year. He's been one of those few players that consistently...
Speaker: is is having good... He has off days, obviously, but I think i think Albert is is due to be one of the leaders offensively um with the with the turmoil on the front three.
Speaker: um You think Caden Clark comes off the bench against RSL and score? Okay. I would love to see it. And i it's I'm glad you brought up that question that he answered in the postgame press conference. He was so quick to say, this is the best situation I've been in an MLS. It's not entirely shocking. He's kind of had unlucky go of things as far as organizations in MLS. But the fact that he knew that immediately, he's only been here a couple of weeks, it says a lot about this organization. i think this is...
Speaker: Personally, for Caden, this is the best situation he could have found himself in. And if he takes it with a positive mentality like he has been and he stays confident, this could be a real career renaissance for him He's still a very young man. We're very happy to have him.
Speaker: And that's the best case scenario, J.O. Last one for you. Danny Mussovsky just had a kid. that There were some comments in chat that, you know, guys who have kids, they all suddenly, if they're strikers, that they can definitely put one in the back of the net. What is your confidence level that Danny Mussovsky starting against RSL could maybe surprise us and put one in the back of the net?
Speaker: I mean, I do think he's a good bet to start. And, hey, look, playing playing a former team, just had a kid.
Speaker: he needs to prove himself. Yeah, let's put him down. Put him down. Bad strength. I like it. Well, you know, we're coming to the end of this show. I do want to thank all of you for the great feedback and for embarking on this new chapter of content for Sounder at Heart. appreciate my man, J.O., working hard on the board, giving us video stats. He's just pushing the limits, baby. He out there working. My guy, Adam, of course, right next to me with all the phenomenal transitions and just so smooth, baby. You you so smooth. You put a baby to sleep with that voice. Oh, stop it, man. So, man, I really appreciate all of you guys being part of it.
Speaker: Thank you for coming on. Make sure you check. Again, subscribe, like, help us get bigger, help the algorithms, comment. Let us know what's up. Everything, all the engaging in comments are more than welcome. We're going to read them. We're not going to get back to everybody, but we're always going to appreciate everything that you guys said. I'm Nick Moreno.
Speaker: This has been Monday Soundcheck.
Speaker: Let's go at Sounders.
