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Lobbing Scorchers: It's Time To Start Tino Lopez (BONUS)
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Lobbing Scorchers is a production of Just Once Media.
Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Recent Tour Reflection
00:00:01
Speaker
Bonus content. Bonus content. All right. Do you want me to bring us in or you bring us in? ah you can do it.
00:00:11
Speaker
Welcome in to your bonus episode for the week. I'm Ari and that's Noah. And we just got back from Spokane. We did 7 billion shows. we We were in Vancouver before that. We have not slept much. Kind of been the Lobbing Scorchers
Travel Plans and Considerations
00:00:34
Speaker
Roadshow, Loki. Yeah, I was thinking, but and you just said, you're like, can we go to Monterey?
00:00:39
Speaker
Can we go to the Tigre Stadium? mean, dude. into it. are about $600 a person, and an Airbnb around $200 total. Ooh. flights are about six hundred a person and an airbnb is around two hundred dollars total ooh So it's definitely doable.
00:00:56
Speaker
It's just a midweek kind of travel situation, which just always- There would be logistics. I do have a job that like I should- It's funny, like the people who I work with are also like basically all MLS bloggers, so I can't lie and say I'm sick because they watch the show there would be There would be some taking off work type stuff that would have to be done to make it happen.
Stadium Visits and Weather Concerns
00:01:17
Speaker
But I will say, man- like Just watching that game last night, that looks like one of the craziest venues in the world. i would love to go, It looks so fun. The weather looks like shit. I'm genuinely, I'm telling you, it's supposed to be 90 degrees every single day for the next two weeks. Well... Is is there steam? Isn't it like, ah am I tripping or does it have like a enclosure type situation?
Challenges of Playing in Mexico
00:01:41
Speaker
I don't know, but I can't remember. But either way, the crowd looked looked absolutely electric. They had like the phone lights out yeah and all that stuff. And when they were absolutely lambasting FC Cincinnati, everyone was going crazy. It just like, honestly, you know, the result could go sideways for sure. It's a lot of MLS teams. The results do go sideways, but it's going to be an awesome experience for the team to get to play in an environment like that. Like, yeah this is what it's all about is getting to play in games like this, playing stadiums like this, play against teams like this. So it's honestly, that's kind of why i another reason why i feel like now give me these guys instead of trash ass FC Cincinnati. Yeah, I don't know. I'm,
00:02:24
Speaker
Fuck, we we might have to go, dude. We might have to go. Might have to go. it sucks, but it it's it's for the content. We have to go to Mexico? Dude, I already flew to fucking Spain.
00:02:35
Speaker
feel like we could get a redo on that. We might have to bring our video guy, but there's no video to be be had in Coca-Caf Stadium, so maybe maybe we could just do it anyway. I feel like they they got to be less less strict in Mexico. but I don't know about that, but there would still there would still be a ton of content to be there's that to be got in Mexico.
Seattle's Prospects in Tigres Series
00:02:55
Speaker
And also, also like especially if they're travel there's the content but it's also like games like this don't come around that often. No, they just really don't. So no. And I haven't been to Mexico in a long time. And I, well, I haven't ever been a match in Mexico. So Tigris would be a good one to go to considering. We'll see. We'll see if we can make it happen, but either way, we can get a sponsor for the trip.
00:03:21
Speaker
Ooh, see, now we're talking. Now we're talking. i don't know. I mean, i don't know. Like, how are you how are you feeling? I mean, we talked about it on the ah on the main show, but how do you fancy Seattle's chances?
00:03:36
Speaker
um I don't know. I think they'll be fine. I i really, it's it's hard tell. They there first. They play there on the A's. I think that's way better, being able to play there first.
00:03:46
Speaker
Remember in 2022, they had to play there first in i came a couple of their series, I yeah think. And they were able to tutu it on the late PK. That's all you need to do. You just need to get out of there with a goal. I don't think that team, they, they got boat raced by FC Cincinnati when they had to travel to, uh, to the U S for their road leg. You think them coming to Lumen is going to go much better. It might like maybe, but I would, I would be surprised if they come to Lumen and like put it on Seattle. That would, that would surprise me. I could see a scenario where they put it on Seattle in Mexico, but them putting on, putting it on Seattle in Seattle is harder to imagine. Yeah, I don't, I i think they'll be fine.
00:04:27
Speaker
I'm not i'm not not scared of Tigres, but I'm not scared of them. Watching them last night was a little scary, but it's also like the the team they're playing is not up for this moment. No, I think, i think yeah. If you are more up for this moment than Cincinnati is, then you have a chance. I think on a two-lake series, especially at Lumen, it'll be good. And it's going to be at Lumen on grass.
00:04:49
Speaker
Yeah, I didn't even think of that. That is kind of actually the negative of it is like you don't get the turf you don't get the turf advantage. People complain about the turf, but I always point this out. That is something that opposing teams crash out over. like you're right It's like you're already in their head before the game even starts yeah because they're complaining about the surface. Yeah, exactly. ah But also a nicer surface. I think it may be the first game played on that grass.
00:05:18
Speaker
would be cool. That would be cool. A nicer surface could also lead to some better footy. I don't know. But either way, at least think that they're going to make it a series. would be surprised if what happens to them, what happened to FC Cincinnati happens to them. Yeah. It's definitely, I also don't want to discount the possibility because literally pretty much did happen to them last year. It did. It did. And it happens to most MLS teams playing Mexican teams in CONCACAF Champions Cup. The FC Cincinnati outcome is closer to what you're going to see than taking any sort of positive result at all. But, you know, maybe see the 2025 or 2022 rehash here because...
00:05:58
Speaker
That first leg, like all all you have to do is keep it close. Honestly, if you're down by one goal after the first leg, you're in it. Even if you're down by two goals, honestly, all you have to do is score one and you're back in it. So it's just, you got to just really not let it go off the rails in the first leg.
00:06:15
Speaker
um Noah, did you have an agenda that you wanted to get to for this bonus? Yeah. I think you were saying that you had a Snyder B. I have a few agendas that I, because we didn't do agenda check today. let's it. But I thought if you guys pay for it, like you should get My first agenda here, and I'd love to hear your take on this, is that, and I i think the stock is up. I've been saying this.
00:06:42
Speaker
Snyder Brunel might be better than Obed
Player Performance and Strategy Evaluations
00:06:45
Speaker
Vargas. There was a specific sequence in this game in Spokane where he just dribbled through, i think, 25 players. Yeah, it was awesome. Stayed on his feet, was fouled, got the advantage, got back up, got the on the ball again, and then was fouled again and won the foul.
00:07:02
Speaker
i Never, ever, ever saw Obed doing that that yeah that early in his career. Snyder is... he Yeah, he started doing that exact same thing last like year or two. but yeah Yeah, but like Snyder is a whole different level being this green.
00:07:23
Speaker
Yeah. i See, I think there's there's such a difference in experience and sample size at this point. like It's hard to declare that right now, but what I will say is I think there there are the signs of that.
00:07:36
Speaker
There are the signs of that. He is not more advanced than Obed was at the same age because Obed had been playing for like pro soccer for like three years by the time he was 18. Snyder is just breaking in at age 18.
00:07:51
Speaker
eighteen But what I've been kind of, how I've been framing it is like at the same experience level, same amount of games played this early in their careers, I think Snyder is further along than ah than Obed was. He's I think better than possession than Obed was at that at that stage. He's more goal dangerous than Obed was at that stage. Obed really only got goal dangerous towards the latter half of last year. And I wouldn't say he was effectively goal dangerous. He was, he would get there. He would get some shots, but I wouldn't say he was someone who I was always like, okay, I, when Obed's on the ball, we're going to score. You know, when I started feeling like that was like right at the very end, right? During the Minnesota series, the last game in Seattle before game three in Minnesota,
00:08:33
Speaker
That was where I was like, damn, you know, he's probably about to leave the club. And that's unfortunate because if he played an MLS next year, he would probably be like a six to eight goal, 10 plus assist type of guy. But I think Snyder is showing the upside to be that type of guy. Like he's he's very, very talented. and He's very talented attacking player.
00:08:55
Speaker
more so I think then more so than I think Obed was. And he has all of those same attributes in possession. And like we've talked about with the foul drawing and stuff, they're very similar.
00:09:06
Speaker
And it's, it's just, it's, it's just great to see because it's like you lost Obed and you basically just have another one You regened, you regened. And now you have Snyder playing at pretty much. I think it's a pretty similar level to what, to what Obed was playing at.
00:09:23
Speaker
So you, you really, you were able to sell Obed Vargas and not really lose all that much in terms of quality in your lineups because of the level that Snyder's playing at. So, I mean, yeah, I can't, I can't speak highly enough of that kid. Like the that Spokane game, he was brilliant. He was so good in that game. He has been just lights out, man. I mean, he's stepping in for one of the best young players in the entire league. And like, I don't really see that big of a drop off.
00:09:50
Speaker
And I think he should start at Tigris. I do. Yeah. I know a lot of people are going to be like 18 years old, play the more experienced guy, play Hassani Dotson. Give me Snyder. I trust him pretty unconditionally at this think pretty clear. I think this team is at its best when he's the one out there. I think it's pretty clear that Snyder is better currently with the chemistry that he has with this team.
00:10:15
Speaker
than Hassani Dotson. I'm not saying that Hassani Dotson is a worse player than Snyder Brunel in his current form, but I think that... Snyder's been training with this team for like five years. Exactly. The difference is that he knows these guys way better than Hassani Dotson does. And in a series like the Tigres series, that's you need that. Hassani Dotson was playing sloppy in the midfield at times because he was misanticipating his teammates you can't have that happen when you go to mexico you just you can't you can't have that happen yeah also we don't know if he's even going to be ready with concussion protocol i i get i don't even know they were at training today but you could i don't know if they got an update on him you could throw petkovich out there if you're trying to But like, he's more of like a 10 though. Well, yeah. And especially true. Yeah. And especially in this game too, it's much more important to be solid defensively than it is to try and go gangbusters to score goals. And Petkovich would be the guy that yeah to play if you're really trying to get more goals. Here's my second agenda. And I think that this will go into being defensively strong.
00:11:17
Speaker
Yeah. I think you need to start a certain young CB. I think Tino Lopez perhaps might, could, should start in that Tigre series, depending on how he looks, because I'm assuming he's going to play again um this weekend. so But at the expense of KKR is what that would be.
00:11:40
Speaker
It would be at the expense of KKR. Again, though, KKR is the attacking option. Tino is the defensive option. This is a defensive situation. I wouldn't mind. You keep you keep Alex, push him out wide.
00:11:51
Speaker
He's going to play, maybe have him play a little bit lower. And you have KKR as a super sub who he has that Rothrock mentality. He has that dog in him.
00:12:02
Speaker
But like he is a liability sometimes defensively like he can be. And I think that gives you a better option if you play Tino and and Alex out wide. I just think that's that's potentially like a way better option.
00:12:18
Speaker
i don't know what that I don't I don't think Brian would do that, though, frankly. Tino makes me more nervous than Snyder, but I'm kind of learning just to stop questioning it if Schmetz shows the trust. Dude, that's when Schmetzer announced that Tino would be playing ahead of time at a press conference and he's a center back, that's how I know he's ready to play. Because Brian Schmetzer does not play center backs who are not ready to play. That's never something he's done. He would rather play Alex Roldan at center back than bring in someone who who is not good enough. His team relies on that defensive core more than just about any team in the league. He's not going to play someone that he doesn't believe can start day in and day out. And I really do think Tino can start day in and day out.
00:13:08
Speaker
No, he i mean he looks like it so far. He's shown nothing to indicate that he can't. It is a different ballgame, a different animal when you've got these Tigris guys running at you. ah But he doesn't know.
00:13:19
Speaker
no You know what I'm saying? like He's in the position where he doesn't know. it's It's just another game for him. sure You're so early in your career, man. Like... It doesn't matter. You're just as hungry as any of those Tigres guys. You're probably more hungry. Yeah. Wow. This is my first international competition. Like I'm going to eat. He's such a level headed guy. He's very unflappable. He's such level headed guy. And I don't know. I think that could give you an advantage as well. Like it's just, you know, he doesn't have an expectation on him.
00:13:52
Speaker
He doesn't have it. No, I don't mind it. ah I do also really like how the Alex Kalani back line has been looking. But, it um you know, it is still Alex playing out of position.
00:14:04
Speaker
He's also given no indication that that's really any issue at all, even against a really good team like Vancouver. I thought he was pretty much lights out. So I think what you'll see Schmez do is run the same. i think he would I feel like what he likes to do when he got when he's got something working in a tournament, he just keeps running running with it. yeah And so I wouldn't mind that if he does that. Because I do think...
00:14:26
Speaker
Tino has shown that he can be trusted in this situation, but you you do run a risk there of, say he is getting absolutely mobbed on and put under siege by these really good Tigris attackers and he has kind of a honker or a bad game.
00:14:40
Speaker
You run the risk of damaging some confidence there or putting him in a situation that he's not ready for. But, I mean, I guess it's up to Schmetz and the coaching staff to make that calculation. Like, if they think that Tino is ready for it and that he is up for it, I trust their judgment
Pete's Journey and Inspirational Vlog
00:14:55
Speaker
on that. I mean, they subbed in Obed Vargas in the CCC final and turned out fine for one of the best players from the Sounders. And, you know, we got the whole Pete subplot right now.
00:15:07
Speaker
Pete's clearly earned some of that trust. the The King Pete, fire nickname, by the way, King Pete. King Pete. i I mean, they have to sign him, right? Yeah, Schmetz even said after the last game that he he was like, I don't know exactly what the mechanics of that situation are going to be, but we have to, he's in. like We have to get him in somewhere. He's earned it, all that stuff. so unlikely Unlikely story, too. Just like the whole thing. like he is He's a cool dude, and
00:15:38
Speaker
Yeah, he's just been playing well, man. Like he's just been nice. So if you guys have not checked out his vlog channel, his YouTube channel, it's sick. So it's, it's, it's sick because you're like, Oh, I guess this is a you know, guy who's been around the team at UW and he was vlogging like, this is fun, this is cool, like this is a cool day in the life type of idea that he had.
00:15:59
Speaker
And he really, man, he could have been a documentary filmmaker, like he really documented his entire year playing for U-Dub, all the road games they went to, he was just filming the whole time. But the other thing that he was filming the whole time was these training sessions.
00:16:13
Speaker
that he was putting in to try and make defiance and to try and get in with the Sounders first team. And it's honestly, now that he's making it with the first team, it's kind of fascinating documentation to go look back on. Cause I was watching it last night and I was like, wow, this dude was literally out there at Cal Anderson or the Seattle U field or whatever. it was him, a trainer and one former Seattle U teammate or a kid from a community college. And it's just Pete in those two guys. And they are just grinding. They they throw the cones down. They're doing these drills. He's running, he's passing, he's shooting hours a day. And he filmed all of it.
00:16:52
Speaker
And you're looking at it now from eight, nine months ago. And you're like, ah you wish you could go back and be like, keep going, dude, because this is going to pay off. like this is it And it really kind of just shows like, if you want to make it doing this shit,
00:17:08
Speaker
That's the type of stuff that you have to do. And if you do do that and you're dedicated to it and you've got enough drive and you've got enough passion for it, you can make things happen for yourself that you wouldn't even expect. And it was pretty sick, honestly, to go back and watch and look at that and be like,
00:17:26
Speaker
that's what he's That's what he's doing right now, and it's actually going to pay dividends for him. He's not doing this for no reason. like It's going to not just get him on Defiance, which is all he was trying to do when he was started doing it. He was literally just trying to get on Defiance so he could get tape to get on another team, and it paid off so much that now he's literally getting first team minutes. So honestly, more shout-out to Pete, but also shout-out to him for literally just having the camera going that whole time because – I think there might be a perception that it's like, oh, well, if you're vlogging, are you locked in? But it's like he was the most locked in you could be, man. He was literally out there doing the most thankless stuff that you could be doing for a pro soccer player. And...
00:18:11
Speaker
he's making it so like you got to give it to him but ah go check out his channel honestly if you haven't because it's like it's heartwarming because you see him doing the most unglamorous shit you could possibly be doing all the way from when he's on you dub to training by himself to all the stuff he was filming with next pro last year and he made it and he has his own YouTube following And I was reading the comment section on some of the recent videos he put out of people who have actually been ah following his ascent. And they're like emotional about it. They're like, wow, dude, like you inspire me.
00:18:48
Speaker
Like watching what you did inspires me to go after the stuff that I want to do like in my life. So it's like that's that's awesome for Pete, man. It's just cool. We love Pete, dude. that's I think that's a perfect place to end, honestly.
Closing Remarks and Gratitude
00:19:00
Speaker
Yeah. Shout out Pete.
00:19:02
Speaker
And shout out to you all for being YouTube members and tuning into the bonus show. We love and appreciate you guys. We're going to keep doing this all season. So thank you for tuning in and we'll see you next time. Peace. Bye.