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Kickoff: Previewing the Seattle Sounders offseason!
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A big offseason lies ahead for the Seattle Sounders, with plenty of roster decisions to be made regarding key players from the 2025 squad. We've got the latest updates from Niko Moreno on where things stand, then we'll give our takes on what moves we might see in the coming weeks. Later on, we'll dive into some MLS Cup Playoffs coverage and some USMNT punditry after the Yanks started the November international window with an impressive 2-1 win over Paraguay.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Setup
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Lobbing Scorchers was previously recorded and streamed live on YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers. If you want to listen or catch these episodes live, see the video, and see all the rest of our content, go to YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers or LobbingScorchers.com slash YouTube.
00:00:22
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be a real scorcher today. What the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be a scorcher.
00:00:44
Speaker
Good morning, everybody. Welcome in into another episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff. I'm Ari. That's Nico. We appreciate you all bearing with a little bit of a late start here this morning, ah but it's going to be worth it.
Seattle Sounders Offseason Overview
00:00:56
Speaker
We've got a big show. We're going to be diving into some ah Seattle Sounders offseason coverage as they tinker with their roster ahead of 2026. ah Nico's got the latest updates on a few guys that ah decisions are going to have to be made on or in a couple of cases,
00:01:13
Speaker
It sounds like have already been made. We're going to talk about that at the top of the show. We're going to talk about the MLS Cup playoffs ongoing. ah The Seattle Sounders aren't in them, but they are still going on. And there's some good matchups coming up. So we'll talk about that a little bit.
00:01:29
Speaker
And then later on in the show. We're actually we're going to be diving into some U.S. men's national team punditry. We're a long time popular U.S. men's national team pundits around here. But the U.S. was back at it within the November november window.
00:01:45
Speaker
ah They had a friendly against Paraguay. It looks like Nico is frozen. um Friendly against Paraguay, and then they got one against Uruguay coming up tomorrow. I had some thoughts on the Paraguay friendly, and now Nico is out of the studio.
00:01:59
Speaker
So I'm going to cook a little bit at the top of the show here solo while ah while we wait for him to tap back in. ah Tech goal difficulties in unheard of. event for lobbing scorchers, but it looks like we got some here this morning. The late start actually was not due to, uh, to tech difficulties, but we've got some now.
00:02:17
Speaker
Uh, Nico should be back in just a second. Uh, while we wait for him to do that, uh, everyone please like the video, subscribe to the channel.
00:02:29
Speaker
If you haven't, uh, we're going to be, we're going to be grinding all off season. So, uh, Definitely sub to the channel if you've not done that yet. And we got Nico back in the studio. Like the studio, sub to the channel.
00:02:43
Speaker
ah Buy the Lovings Scorchers hot sauce, lovingscorchers.com slash sauce. ah Follow us on Instagram. Follow us on tikt ta TikTok, all that good stuff. Nico, welcome back into the studio.
00:02:54
Speaker
What's up, man? how you feeling here on this Seattle Sounders offseason November morning? Hey, what's going on re audience happy to be here a little bit nervous about this um Technical issue that i'm having i'm hoping that uh, it's all good now. It looks like it's fine He kept kicking me out, but we're good.
00:03:14
Speaker
So hey, you know what? That's what happens with lobbing scorchers. I was gonna be ready for a little Curveball here and there when it comes to the techie stuff. Uh, but yeah, look it's um It's been good, man. It's been therapeutical to just at least get some other news out, start thinking about 2026 and forgetting, turning the page a little bit for the most part on, you know, the way that the Sounders exited out of their MLS playoff contention.
00:03:46
Speaker
ah Obviously, you know, Someone like me has been obsessing a little bit over the game, so going to be watching it more than I should um over and over again. now But that's just in terms of seeing what this team can look like next season.
00:04:00
Speaker
So that's of where we are, Ari. Yeah, i'm you know, I'm not going to say I enjoy the offseason more than... the season that would not be accurate. It's always better having having games to watch and talk about or cover.
00:04:12
Speaker
But the offseason, I think, has its ah has its own merits. It's not like there's not content to to be had with the offseason. I love covering ah roster movement, not just with Seattle, but around the league. It's ah soccer is one of the most fun sports with the with the transfer stuff and following the new team players that your team might bring in, picturing him in the New Jersey.
Speculation and Negotiations for Key Players
00:04:35
Speaker
Uh, so I'm looking forward to diving into all that, uh, not just in this episode, but in the months ahead and, uh, find out how the Seattle Sounders are going to look in 2026. twenty twenty six And I think what's going to be interesting is, you know, just how much turnover there really turns out to be with this team.
00:04:52
Speaker
ah I tend to think the roster is in a pretty decent spot and the changes that you're going to see ah might be more peripheral than, you know, rebuild whole scale changes.
00:05:04
Speaker
But usually there, usually there's at least a couple of things that happen ah with the off season and with the roster that, i didn't I don't necessarily expect or you don't necessarily project. A lot of times there's stuff going on that we might not even know about. You know, there's been reports on the Paul Rothrock negotiations, also on the Obed Vargas situation.
00:05:27
Speaker
ah But i would I would venture to guess there's going to be at least a couple out of out of left field in the couple weeks and months ahead here that weird aren't we haven't even been thinking about or talking about. We're be like oh, that guy? They're moving off that guy?
00:05:38
Speaker
Or this guy's coming in? So... That's always exciting. And we'll be tracking that on our shows here all off season. So definitely keep tuning in each and every week. Nico, let's start with ah ah right there with the updates on some of these storylines that we're tracking with the roster, with the off season.
00:05:56
Speaker
Now, ah not in full, full swing, but it's in it's in swing for the Sounders. I got a couple names written down here. um We got Obed Vargas and we got Paul Rothrock to ah talk about. Let's start with the New Who, though. you were You were telling me you had a New Who update, and I'll just lay the context for anyone who might not be in the know. We were talking about New Who on the last episode, and you were saying that he's a guy that ah you think actually there's a chance he could ah end up getting moved this offseason, either within MLS or elsewhere.
00:06:29
Speaker
And someone who did respond to that report was... knew who Noah cut up a little reel of your of your report on that and posted it on our on our Instagram, on our socials. And Nuhu commented on our Instagram reel, and his response to the the report that he could get moved this offseason was a lengthy sequence of cry-laugh emojis.
00:06:54
Speaker
So that's what Nuhu thinks of the situation. i appreciate him weighing in with that insight. In all seriousness, you know, ah having having him... ah make his take known there. I liked it. I appreciated it. It it gave us a good glimpse into where his head is at. And, you know, the report was regarding him. So I would want him to ah get that out there if he wanted to get that out there.
00:07:16
Speaker
ah But Nico, I guess, ah I don't know if you have any ah thoughts on Nuhu's thoughts on the situation, but is there any update from what you've heard on the ah on the possibility of Nuhu leaving the club over the offseason?
00:07:30
Speaker
Yeah, I just wanted to add on, obviously, because ah of not just his comment, but everyone's comment. So let's start what the Lion obviously commented there. First of all, I'm not going to add too much on it, but i will what I will say is that those laughing emojis might not mean what... you you guys think out there if it uh makes you believe that there's no truth to that uh i think this life anymore just being something else but i'm not gonna talk for new uh i'm gonna i'll tell you i don't want it to start and i don't want to talk for him either but i'll give you my interpretation of the when i see uh that many cry laugh emojis in uh in succession basically what he's saying is like
00:08:14
Speaker
Nah nah you're bugging No I ain't going anywhere That's what I took it as but i That's what everybody takes it at But we're just going to leave it there That's not what necessarily those mean But ah i just wanted to add on to the situation Obviously this was a commentary that I made late in the show ah Was it last week right? Yeah ah And I didn't get to actually add more context to it.
00:08:46
Speaker
But the situation is very simple. Nuhu is going into his last year of contract, meaning his option. He is making a little bit under $600,000. He has been a player here for a long time. i think he's improved his game a bit, ah quite a bit, actually, specifically on the attacking end. I think that his decision-making has gotten better. I think that his services into the box have gotten better.
00:09:14
Speaker
And his defending is just as good. Clearly, there's been moments there where he's maybe lost his head. There's been some situations where he has not ah been the better, he hasn't had better judgment outside of the pitch, right? I'm not talking about following a guy or not, but just a moment where maybe he's just impulsive.
00:09:35
Speaker
But if you're trying to keep Nuhu, He's in every right to ask for a lot more than what he's making now. And when you look at the way the roster is built, I just don't know how much more than necessarily the team can give him. I think that there's a fair market, and that was the main point of the ah comment that I was making, the opinion that I do believe that he will be – um in that trade block, because you do want to make sure that you get something for a guy like New Who. New Who has been in this organization for a very long time. And there was a moment in time where this team could have probably made a couple of million on on on moving him, but they decided to hold on to him. And they he's been in for a while and he's been successful.
00:10:21
Speaker
He's been such a key part of the defense. But I do believe that this year, It's a bit of a transitional moment, transitional year. And therefore, I believe that he's one of the main guys that is going to be part of what Craig Weibel referred to as the turnover would have to do a lot with transfers.
00:10:41
Speaker
They're not going to let anyone go for free. So for me, that's all context to some insight, some opinion, some of the things that I kind of put together before I i talk, before talk.
00:10:55
Speaker
said Say something of that magnitude So I just wanted to add on so people can kind of Follow along on why There is a very good possibility That a guy like Nuhu Who could go out there to Not just within MLS but Liga MX And I'm adding that with a little bit of like ah a wink.
00:11:16
Speaker
Liga MX could very well be ah a team, that a league that could be interested to bring on a guy like Nuhu and you know pay him a a lot more than he's making right now.
00:11:27
Speaker
I hadn't thought about ah Liga Mechis as destination for Nuhu, but I feel like that could make some sense. I could see the the argument for it from a roster strategy perspective, like you mentioned, going into the last year of his contract. is one of those guys that We've talked about a few guys that have earned raises, Paul Rothrock and Danny Mussovsky being at the forefront of that.
00:11:49
Speaker
ah But I do think there are teams in MLS and elsewhere that would probably pay new home more than Seattle is ah for what he can provide. It was a bit, it was a mixed bag of the 2025 season for new who would on one hand, know, you had,
00:12:03
Speaker
on one hand you know you had ah you had a couple of, let's call them ill-advised red cards. The one in Vancouver comes to mind. ah The one obviously in Kansas city, he made international headlines for. So, you know, that was in the negative column, but you know, to be fair, Nico, I think after, after the Kansas city,
00:12:26
Speaker
Red card. I don't think he did anything egregiously ah bad or stupid for pretty much the rest of the season. You know, there was maybe a couple of moments where he was teetering on the edge or getting in a guy's face or whatever, but I don't remember anything crazy.
00:12:39
Speaker
And I thought by the end of the season, he was actually, know, you know He I've never been I've never for one second of my life subscribed to the whole passionate anti new brigade that contingent of people is out there a lot of my sounder at heart colleagues I'm very good friends with are like at the forefront of that.
00:12:58
Speaker
I've never I'm an independent thinker Nico I've never subscribed to that. I think that. And are one of our callers, Kenny, always ah always defends Nuhu and he calls him a scapegoat.
00:13:09
Speaker
i I kind of agree. Like, I feel like his mistakes, they get magnified and they get blown out of proportion ah because it's Nuhu compared to other guys who can make the exact same mistakes and no one says anything.
00:13:21
Speaker
And then no one ever gives him credit when he makes like a really awesome ah defensive play tracking back or he wins a 1v1 with Denny Buonga or helps the team win a game because he's helping neutralize an opposing attacker like we see him do a lot.
00:13:35
Speaker
So I think he he does a lot of work for the team that doesn't get credit. And I think it's another one of those situations. I've i've been saying this about Danny Musovsky and ah you and I see that situation a little bit differently. I'm sure we'll talk about that over the offseason.
00:13:49
Speaker
But I see the new who now that we're talking about the potential of new moving on. I see it in a similar way as it might be something that. ah that people think that they support. And then the reality of losing what he brings to the, ah to the defense that that could set in next year. And this is a team that's already got some defensive issues.
00:14:09
Speaker
I would argue outside of, ah of the left back. I know some people are going to say that all the defensive issues that the team had this year are purely to blame on the left back. and literally no one else. That is not the case.
00:14:20
Speaker
If anything, I thought he was kind of holding stuff. He was one of the people holding stuff together back there when there was some issues with the, uh, with the CBs and the team just kind of not managing games well and, uh, knew who was, uh,
00:14:34
Speaker
knew who was balling. So I don't necessarily, from what he brings on the field, I think there's going to be some discourse of like, oh, he got these red cards this year. he was He's like this liability for the defense. I don't see it that way. I never have.
00:14:49
Speaker
seeing it that way. ah you know i But you have to think about these things from the lens of how it affects the roster and the salary cap and all that. So from that perspective, I think you know it's at least something that could happen and that we got to be ready for the possibility.
Obed Vargas Contract Dilemma
00:15:07
Speaker
And that's one that we'll be tracking. Nico, how about Obed Vargas? You got anything new on this situation? This is obviously going to be one of the big ones that ah that everyone's going to be tracking all offseason.
00:15:21
Speaker
No. yeah We were talking about it on KJR, but you got anything new on Obed? ah Yeah, you know, I talked about it on KJR. I talked about it with Jeremiah on our what we learned this week.
00:15:34
Speaker
But you got to be ready to wait patiently on this one. And that's tough to do, especially because of the possibility that you're very likely with this negotiation extending and feeling like it's not going to quite get there.
00:15:57
Speaker
You immediately begin to panic in into two ways, right? One is what we talked with Jeremiah, the necessity to move him in in the January window more as a as a fire sale a little bit, a little bit of a panic sale because you know that you cannot allow the window to close before he extends his contract because if the window closes and he hasn't extended his contract and he
00:16:30
Speaker
Ultimately, it's betting on himself that he's going to be healthy all the way through the summer. And then we all know what happens in the summer. He gets approved. Pre-contract he ah has ah the ability to eventually walk away on a free and that is just Malpractice Like if that if that happens then that is a Disaster of cataclysmic proportions man like there's just no way there's no way Yeah, exactly. So that's the panic and the other panic is
00:17:03
Speaker
what happens once we move them like he right right off the bat, right? I mean, ah is the team maybe losing on on and some extra cash and some extra capital that he they could have brought for him from different ah clubs? What if you're getting, you know, kind of low ball for him and you kind of put it between, you know,
00:17:24
Speaker
ah ah a c tu situation where you're thinking either I get stuck with nothing or I try to give what I can to make this work. But what I'm hearing about the negotiations is that the the team can only give Ovid so much. And depending on where that is ah compared to what his camp wants, that's a big, difficult situation. And obviously you have a a ah young player that has given you everything that possibly can.
00:17:55
Speaker
He's had the right attitude always, right? Regardless of whether he probably should have been compensated for his contributions. And when it comes to understanding talent and the talent recognition, maybe getting him an extension in 2023, maybe as late as last year, would have been very convenient for the team because 2025 comes around, he has...
00:18:21
Speaker
he has a breakout year, his value goes up and certainly he's in every right to ask for more money. So now the situation gets really convoluted and it's a little bit of what the player feels like he deserves and and probably rightfully deserves.
00:18:40
Speaker
And then the team and the the limitations that they have, as well as what It happens with Obitz's future, right? I mean, look, he he clearly wants to be part of the U.S. best national team.
00:18:54
Speaker
like I've said it once and twice, and and I'll say it a thousand times, moving to another club this close to the World Cup is a bad decision for anyone that is on the...
00:19:07
Speaker
bubble of making or not making a roster because you never know what's going to happen going into that team. You don't know how long you're going to without playing. And there's always that thought of you need to be in rhythm. You need to be ready for the World Cup. So for me, I feel like there is a situation where if all this goes sideways, the player himself is hindering a lot of his objectives this year.
00:19:32
Speaker
The team, the club is hindering their objectives to try to keep a player that they that they've loved, that they've groomed, that you know he's been part of the academy for as long as you can. So he's another one that I feel like could have a lot of negative effects for everybody involved.
00:19:45
Speaker
They're going to take a bunch of ah criticism until this is resolved for not signing him to the U22 extension earlier this season. I can already see it happening in chat. Guys, i'll just I'll just tell you, and Nika, you can tell me if you disagree or have had differently.
00:20:03
Speaker
i think a big reason that that didn't happen was likely... in large part, if not majority part, because, ah because from his camp, they figure that his, his value is on this like skyrocketing trajectory. And I don't think they wanted to sign anything early that could end up not being reflective of his value later I don't necessarily think that was a situation where the team was like, oh, we're not goingnna we're not going to do it yet. We're not sure about this yet. We don't know if it's the the right strategy to get them on this U22 extension. I think they're prop those i think though if I had to guess, I'm just speculating, but i would I would speculate that those...
00:20:46
Speaker
talks probably were broached and i think his I think his camp has been very like we know we know the value that we have we're gonna wait we have on our hands right now and that we're gonna have on our hands the better he plays which he played better and better and better all season till by the end of the season he looked like a bonafide superstar i i don't think it would have made strategic sense from his perspective or his camp's perspective to sign it at that time like you can you can make it about the weibel thing if you want but that's just like the reality if he doesn't if he he and his camp don't want to sign that because they think that their value is his value is going to keep increasing then they're not going to sign that and they shouldn't and they didn't and it worked like he ended up
00:21:29
Speaker
being even more valuable by the end of the year than he would have been when he would have signed that. Like, Nico, is there anything off base there? or or Because I could be wrong about that, but that's just reading between the lines. That's just what it seems like to me.
00:21:43
Speaker
No, yeah, I... I know for a fact that negotiations for to get him extended were as early as as the spring this year. And obviously, to your point, Obed, understanding his value and the things that he wants to get to secure his future, he changed the presentation, right? He had a different agent than he does now. he that That's part of that timeline of when negotiations started this year ah was that Obitz Camp decided that they wanted to go with a more experienced, more...
00:22:20
Speaker
um I don't know how to call it, uh, Savier. That's a good word. Savier, uh, agent and, and, and representation obviously get more for, uh, what, what they deserve. Right. As well. Right. And you're trying to make sure that, uh, your, your player, if you are,
00:22:40
Speaker
his parents trying to secure his future. So you do bring somebody else in who does make negotiations a lot harder because he clearly has a different strategy. Like you said, he knows his value. He wants to try to get as much as he can. And I think that's all part of what happened this year.
00:22:57
Speaker
But to me, where I feel like Craig, maybe fell asleep on is doing it before this year, before this breakout season, 2023, 2024. That's when I think you should have extended ah player like Obed. And in the same sense, even Paul Rothrock, if you signed Paul Rothrock to a longer deal last year, you don't get all of, you know, the marketing that happened this year.
00:23:27
Speaker
There's, he was another player with a breakout year. And then that just goes back into giving a player leverage to say, hey, you know what? I need more. I want more. And now that leverage obviously varies. There's a lot more leverage on Obed's part than there is on on on Paul Rothrock.
00:23:45
Speaker
And that's why the negotiations are extremely different in the way they we can see those, obviously. ah But yeah, that's the situation. you're You're spot on in where you are going at with your thought process.
00:23:57
Speaker
ah Just devil's advocating for the sake of discussion with Rothrock. Could they have anticipated that he would emerge and break out to this extent where he has earned the type of raise that he ended up earning? I mean, like, you know, it's arguably a little 2020 hindsight to be like, oh, you should have known that Paul Rothrock was going to emerge as like the face of the franchise, you know, like. You could argue that that was a little harder to anticipate.
00:24:25
Speaker
And then, ah you know, as for the notion of signing Obed to the extension in 2023...
00:24:34
Speaker
the same logic could still apply. Like is could maybe they tried to do that. And he was like, no, I'm not going to do that yet. I want to, I want to see what I can pump my value up to and, and let the chips fall.
00:24:45
Speaker
That is one though. Like if I'm given what I think of the situation, that is one where ah Obed's one that they could have gotten in front of, because we all, know we all saw this everybody knew from the moment that he started playing for the first team when he was like 15, 16 years old. And,
00:25:02
Speaker
years old and That's a situation where if if you're if you're on it, you're on your stuff, like be proactive and get that done. But it's just one of those things where people talk about it like they know what happened in those negotiations ah behind the scenes, like for a fact.
00:25:20
Speaker
And, you know, we don't actually we don't actually know that for all we know, like they could have tried to get that done in 2023 or in 2024. And it was camp that was. and and it was his camp that was That was not down, you know? So that we just don't know. As far as I know, that's not the case. Now, I know for sure it was in 23 because there was an injury that he was dealing with after... He had the back thing.
00:25:46
Speaker
Yeah, he had the back thing. I believe that was the year. But I know for sure that it wasn't in 2024 or i think that it would have gotten done. I think that if you were to offer...
00:25:58
Speaker
Obed, what you're offering them now or maybe a little less in 2024, you know, they're probably taking that deal. And again, that's with different representation. Now he's got, think he's Gilberto Morris agent. You know, they they share an agent now.
00:26:11
Speaker
um And obviously he's a guy that is going to be a lot more of a horrible type of negotiator. So, yeah, hurt that his agent is a he's got that dog in him.
00:26:23
Speaker
Yeah, so for me, that's probably, you know, we have, I think I've been very um straightforward about giving Craig Weibel credit for a lot of the things that he's done correctly.
00:26:36
Speaker
But I do feel like at the negotiating table,
00:26:41
Speaker
I don't know if he's his forte. I don't know if he's done enough to make me feel like... Garth Lagerwey was a guy that on the negotiating table, he was masterful. I mean, he he wasn't...
00:26:55
Speaker
He wasn't bullying anybody, but it's just the way that he talked into negotiations. that that lawyer He's got that lawyer swag. he can Man, I'm just telling you, every single guy that I talked to when he came to negotiations with Garth, I don't know how he did it, man. But at the end of the day, I was signing that paper.
00:27:10
Speaker
I mean, it was just, you know, and even when they would leave the club upset, they'd be like, yeah, man, I thought about it. And that guy was just spot on. Roman, yeah. Oz, Aussie, Nico.
00:27:23
Speaker
I mean, all those guys are like, yeah, mean, Garth was just that dark that guy when he came to negotiate and he just made make made me understand it. So that's the one thing that I think Craig has fallen a little bit short on and maybe the situation is part of it. So if we get an opportunity to talk to Craig Weibo, because there is that if, I'm hoping that at some point the Sounders...
00:27:43
Speaker
Finally, let us know when the end of season presser will be. i think a lot of the questions are going to be about Obed Vargas. Yeah, no, I mean, that's ah that's going to be, I think, the biggest storyline to track, that Rothrock. We'll talk about Rothrock in a second. Nico, just the vibes right now.
00:28:03
Speaker
Do you think Obed Vargas is on this roster come 2026, or is he playing elsewhere, whether it's ah in Europe, Mexico, somewhere else?
00:28:16
Speaker
Right now, I don't see how he is. Right now, I feel like
00:28:23
Speaker
Everything all my everything that that indicates that these negotiations are going to get through and he's going to sign an extension for two years and an option and will very likely be here for at least another year and then you continue to grow your value.
00:28:42
Speaker
i don't see that. Everything indicates the opposite. Everything indicates that The team it's is gonna get some offers this this winter and they're gonna have to take one of those. And in the summer, those,
00:28:57
Speaker
Offers would probably be a lot better, but I do believe that if push comes to shove, the team is going to have to be obligated to get what they can get and take one of those offers in the winter.
00:29:10
Speaker
let's Let's just say for for the sake argument that he is not on the roster in 2026. They sell him on, they get a decent bag for him, ah but he's not on the team. That is one the biggest challenges biggest losses from the 2025 team that you could possibly have.
00:29:29
Speaker
ah You know, theoretically you should be getting a bag for him, but like as, as far as what he does on the field ah he's one of the most important players on the team. And really he and Christian have kind of you know, they become the real engine for sort of how the whole system works on both sides of the ball.
00:29:48
Speaker
How do you feel they're set up to potentially have to replace that you know does it change how you approach with like what types of big acquisition like you have to go find somebody to sign at that spot to now pair with christian or do you try and do it internally like they did with obed the first time i'm really high on snyder b but that would be a gamble that would be a projection you don't really you don't have as much security that that'll work as you as you might with a player with more pedigree and experience that you bring in from the outside
00:30:20
Speaker
ah But there's also no guarantee that ah that that'll work. So ah assuming that he is he's not on the team next year and Salomon, how do you see them handling that and replacing him?
00:30:32
Speaker
ah do you think it would be from outside the organization? Because we haven't even talked about this, but JP announced ah his his option was not picked up and he announced that he's moving on. He would have been, even if he there was a scenario where he came back, he would have been depth at that spot, not the...
00:30:49
Speaker
presumed presumptive starter week in, week out in the double pivot. how do you How would you see that situation playing out if they have to end up replacing him? If I learned anything from the Sounders this season is the importance of their concepts and how sometimes just having a player that understands the system is better than getting a guy from the outside and just plugging him in.
00:31:17
Speaker
This season they've dealt with a bunch of injuries, and it always felt like because of the next man up mentality that was working, but it was beyond the next man up mentality. It was about a team that, as Ferri Juarez has indicated, have been through this three-year process of getting where they are offensively.
00:31:36
Speaker
And when it comes to the identity of a team and the concepts and the way that you set up on the field and the understanding of what other players are going to be at, that's key. So although you might lose a a level of eliteness at that position, i do feel like it's going to be...
00:32:00
Speaker
um Substituted with internal players So Danny Leyva is a guy that I think is a shoo-in for that position I think that he's grown He understands the system He's a guy that doesn't have the dynamism that Obed has and and And he's not as good of a Or that Snyder has, I would argue Or that Snyder has, I would argue Like oh I like I like Danny I think he took some ah Really genuine steps this year And I don't mind him being a guy to soak up Those minutes I do think there's more Upside and a higher ceiling with Snyder That's just me That's just me And that could be the case I don't see it that way ah But you know we that That's obviously something that is still to be determined Right I mean Snyder's 18 He's a guy that He has been a product of the academy He's looked great right He's found the back of the net
00:32:54
Speaker
Often he seems to be a guy that always gets into the right spaces. I've talked about his composure, but I think that Danny Leyva is just a more cerebral guy. I think he understands spaces, to field awareness.
00:33:05
Speaker
And again, I think athletically he's gotten a lot better. And although again, he might not be as good as of a progressive dribbler. ah think his passing just makes up for it. and ah And I believe that he would be a perfect um candidate to just get that position.
00:33:21
Speaker
Right off the bat and you figure out if he can improve on that, if he can make that next step to be just at that level, or if you need to have it more of a committee.
00:33:35
Speaker
to try to replace a guy like Obed Bargues. He's a generational talent. so So do you do a committee along the lines with him and Snyder Brunel? I do believe that, to me, Danny Leyva is just a more ready pro.
00:33:49
Speaker
ah he He just has more experience. He's a guy that, ah again, i believe he'll be waiting for the shot. So he plays with a huge chip on his shoulder. So for me, he's going to be that guy that comes on.
00:34:01
Speaker
ah So just to conclude, I do believe that You might lose a little bit ah of that edge, but i have confidence that Dedeleva could come in, have a high floor, and work into having a high ceiling.
00:34:16
Speaker
ah James is saying sign a destroyer number six to let CR seven get forward more. I, I um love that
Team Strategy and Key Contributions
00:34:23
Speaker
idea. I've been saying for, for a while that they, that they they never really replaced the Aussie archetype, like of the, of just that in that enforcer, that destroyer Christian plays that role for this team, but not, not in the same way that a, that a six, the profile of a,
00:34:42
Speaker
of Ozzy does. So if they, if they can find a guy, that's more of just that, that guy who's like not a nice guy, that dog, that's good. That guy who's going to really get physical, take a yellow card ah sometimes when it's needed, basically just like um if you can find the guy who's exact type of profile as Ozzy, I think that would be a big addition to this team.
00:35:04
Speaker
And I've been saying they should do that for years. I would love it if they did do that. I do think, I mean, there's ah there's multiple ways you could do this, though, because I think Danny Leiva did earn more minutes this year. i agree with that.
00:35:16
Speaker
ah I'm very high on Snyder B, and i think he I think he has to get more minutes next year. He showed enough this year that you have to give him a bigger role and see if he can take a similar developmental trajectory to Obed Vargas.
00:35:30
Speaker
You know, is he going to hit that ceiling? Probably not, but I think he's got a very high ceiling. ah so I just feel like... they I feel like there's a little bit of inconsistency there from, from our viewers and, and I love to hear more on it, but we can't sit here this year and call Christian Roldan or MVP, a best 11 caliber and, and rightfully say that he's the best six in MLS.
00:35:56
Speaker
And all sudden say, we need to go out there and get another six. Like that, that's just not how it works. So ah for me, Christian Rodin is embodying a lot of parts of that Aussie type of game. He just does it with more of a hybrid of everything he's learned from every other player. You know, we asked him about every single person that he's been able to be influenced by, Nico Gonzalo Pineda.
00:36:23
Speaker
ah He mentioned um one that threw me off, and he's escaping me right now. But, you know, he's had so many role models that I feel like he just doesn't do – that disruptive part of the game, but he does that and more.
00:36:38
Speaker
So I would disagree. i think that you got to continue to build on what a phenomenal and arguably his best season with the Sounders has been for Christian Roldan and make him that six and make him that guy that's going to be doing that effort, covering that space, being that defensive jogger or not. I feel like that is what you need. And then you got to put him next to a guy that could do a little bit of both more of a two way player where, you know, I think again, the perfect, uh,
00:37:10
Speaker
Partner so far has been Ovid, but now you got to try to figure out if Danny can do that. Yeah, no i hear I hear what you're saying. i think what's interesting about it is with Christian in particular, you have a guy who's so adaptable that you can sort of You can sort of tailor how how you play around how whoever you're putting next to him. If it's a Danny Leyva, Snyder Brunel type situation, then you you have him in that more defensive enforcer destroyer role.
00:37:42
Speaker
But if you had a profile player that had more of those attributes, then... then you can have him use his attributes going forward and in attack and as a facilitator, which he's really good at all that too. So I guess it's kind of a good, a good problem to have in that way. You know, you got a player that's so complete and versatile and adaptable that, you know, you can sort of you you can tinker with your tactics based on on that. And it's probably, it could still be effective, but either way,
00:38:13
Speaker
i agree with I agree with what you're saying overall in that ah maybe the the fact that Christian is probably more of that Aussie type or has more of that Aussie to his game than then i give him credit for. I don't really think of him as that type of player, but he kind of, he is like he, if you look at the dirty work he does, the ground that he covers, how much he runs, he's getting into slide tackles. He's playing physical, you know, he's not the biggest guy, but he can, he can do all that stuff.
00:38:41
Speaker
And ah it is it is remarkable. Like when you watch him play, you yeah yeah it's a dash of Gonzo Pineda, dash of Ozzy Alonso, throw in some Nico Ladero. Like he's yeah he's studied under all these dudes and he has elements of all their games.
00:38:53
Speaker
And that's that makes him among, I think, the more valuable assets in all of ah Major League Soccer. so And that's what makes this ah duo so...
00:39:04
Speaker
hard to contain. And when it comes to this pivot, teamwork's what makes the dream work, baby. I mean, you know, the fact that they can both go and, you know, we've heard that from Freddie, we've heard that from Brian, is having two guys that can, if at times Christian needs to get hired, needs to be jumping at breaking down those clearances, and once he gets that ball, he immediately is on the attack and Oben needs to hold...
00:39:32
Speaker
that That's part of that that that duality that I feel like is so key when it comes to that system that Brian and and and Freddie and this coaching staff kind of put together.
00:39:44
Speaker
So having a full six, having, let's call him a David Flores is a guy that I really like to be a just destroyer. He used to be with Toronto. He's no longer there. But he's a guy that I have my eye on because he was a guy that was just going to pick up the ball. like that, a guy like that, yeah.
00:40:00
Speaker
Yeah, and then he was going just make the easy pass, get back, he's going to hold. But for this specific system, you just need that one-two. ah Jeremiah O'Shane, he commented that he – how could that help, you know, not not having one more attacker? You know, I feel like that's kind of what makes that – that's what makes this team so difficult to defend.
00:40:26
Speaker
and And why offensively they've been so much better this year is having two guys that can do all the work. Ozzy Alonzo is my favorite sounder of all time. So ah any notion of ah getting a guy that's like reflective of and everything he was about is always enticing to me. But I mean, I don't think it's...
00:40:49
Speaker
It's not like dead to rights crucial. It's just kind of one way that you could ah that you could approach it. Nico? But you brought up a good point, though, on JP. I mean, just the fact that they are willing to obviously not pick up his contract. He has said his goodbyes.
00:41:03
Speaker
ah We'll see where that ends because I do believe that – Joe Pablo is a guy that has a lot of decisions to be made with his career, with his future.
00:41:15
Speaker
His family loves it here. His kids love it here. So I do believe that there's still a chance that he changes his mind or that there's other possibilities there.
00:41:27
Speaker
ah so But that like I said, going back to what we're talking about, the fact that they're able to say, you know what, JP, we love what you were able to do. ah You're a guy that could possibly be ah a great depth piece, but they see a lot of potential in Danny Leyva and Burnell and other you know possibilities at that midfield position.
00:41:50
Speaker
they They have to be confident in order to tell a guy like like JP that you know it's it's it's not going to work out Unless you can come and do other things for us.
00:42:02
Speaker
Shout out to JP, by the way, let's just give him his flowers. Great sounder. ah they They don't win CONCACAF Champions Cup without that guy. He gave his ACL so this club could win CONCACAF Champions Cup and worked really hard.
00:42:17
Speaker
to come back was a great, was a great leader for this team. a great locker room guy all the time that he was injured, worked his way back. I feel like he never, that we he never quite hit the heights again of best 11 JP, who was one of the best players at that position in the entire league. This guy had an 11 assist season, I think made the best 11 was a key reason this team won CCC. So I know he hasn't been like an impact contributor for this team since 2022, but But the impact he did make was seismic. That was one of the better signings that ah that was in the Garth Logger way era. But that was one of the better signings they they ever made. like Like they do not win.
00:42:58
Speaker
He drew the penalty kick in the away leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, I want to say, or one of those one of those really big road CCC games in Mexico. He drew a huge penalty kick. So.
00:43:09
Speaker
Shout out to JP, man. i got I got nothing but positive things to say about about that guy and everything he brought to this team and did for the squad, did for the city. Nico, you got any JP send-off thoughts other than what you already said before we hit one?
00:43:25
Speaker
We got one more roster update, ah free agency take, and then USMNT punditry, and then then that'll be it. But any jp anything else on JP? No, I think that JP was a ah great find by the scouting department. I say the name Sean Henderson time and time again because if you remember that, that was the window where you got JP and Yemar Gomez-Andrade.
00:43:47
Speaker
Those were two huge guys. That was a sick window, dude. Oh, my God. And gets here 100%. ah hundred percent And JP gets here because the Gregory deal falls through because Bahia wants too much money for Gregory, who at some point ends up being in Miami. And then JP gets here. But JP was the perfect fit. The guy with all the intangibles, the guy that's such a professional. I call him a guerrero, a warrior of the field. That that is...
00:44:17
Speaker
how I would describe ah guy that's willing to do absolutely everything, including, as you mentioned, leaving his ACL on the field for you because that's JP. He's a guy that was key on and off the field. He was a leader. He was a guy that provided a lot of that edge. He was more of a leader with his play than his words.
00:44:41
Speaker
But everybody knew that when JP was in the game and he was – fighting 50-50 balls, and being a guy that directed traffic, being a guy that any moment could, as he did ah many a times, just get the ball, the dribble through, put it in the back of the net in his best times here with um the Sounders when he was a MVP finalist in MLS.
00:45:07
Speaker
That was the JP that we got, and I make him – a huge contributor for the success that the Sounders had in the 2022 campaign. And then moving forward, I mean, the the the things that JP was able to do for this midfield, there's just not enough that you could see on the stat sheet because that just wasn't his game.
00:45:29
Speaker
But I thought that he was such a key cornerstone for this team's success. Absolutely. ah All right, Nico, one more here. You said you had a Leo Bernie update.
00:45:44
Speaker
yes yeah Yes, yes, yes, yes. Maybe you haven't heard a lot this season. Yeah, I had heard that, and it might not be a surprise to many, but I know that there are some people that were high on on Leo Bernie. I was high on Leo Bernie, but I think that his inability to stay healthy and to get consistent minutes and it's a reason why the team did not pick up his option.
00:46:08
Speaker
So it sounds like he is a guy whose option was not picked up. We'll see what that what that means. I also just recently heard that um Jacob Castro's option was not picked up. So if there's any other options there at the goalkeeping position, we know that Tom Dutra is a phenomenal player.
00:46:28
Speaker
coach of goalkeepers. And this all goes into whether or not Stefan Fry will be back next year. i I'm a, believer that he will be back next season and that he will be on the bench being a guy that is a substitute for um Andrew Thomas. ah I know that Brian has, I believe on KJR said that that it was going if he was to come back, there would still be some sort of battle for the position. i just, I don't quite see it that way. I think that Steph is ready to take the next step and and the next step in his career could be just,
00:47:03
Speaker
being a backup for a little bit and and allowing his body to just not have the responsibility to beat that guy right off the bat. You know, we heard so many times from him, pains and aches that his body just couldn't take it. that There were times that he doubted if he could continue.
00:47:18
Speaker
So to me, guy that is as prideful about this club and that is a huge part of the community as he is, there'd be no better job for him than to be, you know,
00:47:30
Speaker
Helping this team out just continue to get better Now I say that and Obviously have no Conversation with him and and he could very well be a guy that's like look I still have gas in the tank because that happens to Athletes you have no idea how many times soccer players are Feeling one way In September and they're feeling a whole other way in December or January.
00:47:53
Speaker
So we'll see what happens with, with Steph, but i I would love to have them back in in any capacity for this team. Leo Bernie and Jacob Castro, you know, not the most splashy of names on the roster, but that does that does move center back depth and goalkeeper depth onto the priority list for the offseason. And especially like you mentioned with ah the Stephen Fry situation being ah TBD. but I mean, from everything that it sounds like, ah he's he's planning on coming back for one more year and we'll see what happens with that. But ah just real quick before we get into my free agency take, if Stephen Fry does come back next year, it'll, it'll,
00:48:35
Speaker
you think it'll be a situation where Andrew Thomas takes over as the regular starter and it kind of flips to where Stefan Fry is, is the one who's taking like leagues cup or open cup or, or what have you, is that sort of how you see it ah
Goalkeeping Changes and Future Prospects
00:48:51
Speaker
playing out? Cause that's kind of how I read it.
00:48:53
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. That's exactly the the role that I feel he'd be more than happy to take. This team is going to play in a lot of tournaments and, I think that there's plenty of moments where he'll be able to play.
00:49:06
Speaker
He would still continue to be a guy that's passionate about the game, first on the practice field, helping everybody out, and then being ready at any time that his number is called, whether it's through injuries or whether it's through other tournaments.
00:49:19
Speaker
ah So, yeah, to to me... There is no other guy that I'd rather have on on the bench and supporting under Thomas. So, yes, I think that that's the role that that he would fit. and And, again, we know that they're a guy like Tom Dutra would not be making that decision on on Jacob if he wasn't either thinking about bringing him back at a different number or there's just other guys that could potentially fill that position. Yeah.
00:49:43
Speaker
Or there may there may be ah a point where there is a better option for Jacob Castro elsewhere, right, where he could be a starter. And I never take that – I never put that past the club because the Sounders have always been so good about doing right by guys and sending them to better – opportunities And if they see Jacob Castro being a guy that has been really good, that I think has a great frame, i you know, I really like Jacob Castro.
00:50:08
Speaker
But if there's an opportunity elsewhere and and not picking up that option could mean that he goes somewhere else, then they'd be happy to do that. So, you know, there's many reasons why that could have happened. But I do believe, to your point, that, yes, the role for Stephen Fry for me next year will be just ah be the backup to Under Thomas.
00:50:26
Speaker
We got James with her first super chat of the show. Thank you, James. Appreciate the support as always. He's got an idea. He says, trade Roof Snack, play Jesus Ferreira at number 10, sign Espinoza. James, I'm actually, I'm glad ah you brought...
00:50:38
Speaker
that up because that was uh my next topic for us nico which is uh we've been uh we've been talking about free agency a little bit and christian espinoza was uh was one name that's on that list walker zimmerman was another we were talking about but let's talk about christian espinoza again nico because i got some thoughts i got some thoughts here um First of all, did you read anything about the circumstances under how he became a
Christian Espinosa's Free Agency
00:51:06
Speaker
free agent? Because it's pretty funny.
00:51:08
Speaker
ah From what I read, I think Tom Bogues or Paul Tenario was reporting this. ah But apparently the there was like a club option that they had on him that they like missed the deadline.
00:51:20
Speaker
Yeah. so he was actually not even supposed to be a free agent they were going to bring him back but some through some like i guess clerical error day didn't end up exercising that option and now he's free for he's a free agent for anyone to sign i'm not sure if if that's exactly what happened but it's something like it's something like that like they didn't they didn't want him to be a free agent Now he is.
00:51:43
Speaker
ah Nico, the Sounders should be in on this, man. And they don't even have to trade Rusnak because you got Ryan Kent coming off the books. And, you know, there's there's we'll see what happens with Obed. We'll see what happens with guys like Moose and Rothrock.
00:51:56
Speaker
But there should be regardless of what you think of Rusnak, there should theoretically be cap space and financial room to sign Espinosa if you want him.
00:52:08
Speaker
They should be in on this. Imagine this attack. If you add Christian Espinosa to the mix mix and say, say you do lose Ryan Kent and you do lose Paul Rothrock in free agency, but Espinosa is one of the guys who's soaking up those, those minutes.
00:52:24
Speaker
I think there's, there's potential issues there as far as I'm not really sure what he is, ah what he's like as a work rate two-way type player like Jesus Ferreira.
00:52:35
Speaker
is he could he that could be part of his game it could not be part of his game at all i don't know but i do know that brian that's a big thing for uh for brian schmetzer but like just the fact that this guy came available when uh when he wasn't supposed to be now he's out there this is one of the most talented players in the league, so dynamic from out wide.
00:52:58
Speaker
ah his His wide service is incredible. He can hit the through balls. He can play centrally or out wide. I don't need, the only downside I can think of Nico is like potential issues with his system fit with Schmetzer ball and like work rate.
00:53:14
Speaker
And does he, does he bring it on defense and pressing and all all that stuff? But as far as pure attacking talent, dude, like, ah if they saw If they get Christian Espinosa, that would be a freaking home run. if they If they do the due diligence and are like, this is a guy who's a good locker room culture fit and tactical fit, and they bring him in, i would be I would be stoked, man. I think this offense could be it could be a big boost to an offense that racked 87 goals.
00:53:42
Speaker
All kinds of comps. What do you think? Am I off base at all with this, or should they be should they be going for this? I love Christian Espinosa.
00:53:52
Speaker
I think that at 30, he's still a guy that he's so creative. Not that old. um Not that old. No, he's not that old. you know and And he's a winger that can do a lot of things for you.
00:54:06
Speaker
I do feel like a lot of his game um would be in question in terms of the system. I do know that he's obviously played some wingback and he's been defending, but it's a different type of defending. The pressing triggers and things like that for...
00:54:22
Speaker
Brian's match are so important. Usually the guy on the left is the widest guy for um the Sounders and Christian does like to come inside a lot. I mean, he could, he, he plays the right obviously as well, but that's where Ferreira would go.
00:54:38
Speaker
i don't know if I would make that switch necessarily Albert to Spinoza. ah yeah I'm not a stats guy, but if you compare the stats over the last couple of years, I mean, Albert statistic has been so much better.
00:54:52
Speaker
Then Espinosa? Then Espinosa? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like it's roughly comparable. Like, they're they're both they're both guys that you can be pretty confident that they're going to get, like, a 10-plus goal, 10-plus assist type season for you in any given year.
00:55:10
Speaker
Yeah, let's see. For...
00:55:16
Speaker
2025, just MLS play because I'm looking at the MLS page. It is 10 assists, 11 goals for Albert, and it is 12 assists, 4 goals for Espinosa. 2024, 4 goals for Espinosa, 14 for Espinosa. Albert, 2024, 10 goals, 16 assists. mean, you know, it's pretty obvious, but not just stats guy. I'm
00:55:36
Speaker
alber twenty twenty four ten goal six sinesis i mean you know it's pretty pretty obvious but i'm not just a stat i'm i'm ah i feel what you bring in on the field.
00:55:47
Speaker
That's just the way I handle, you know, that's the way I approach soccer. ah And even at that specific moment, I wouldn't make the sub. What I would say is that I would love to add him on if like the way you started this, this comment in this conversation, if I'm getting rid of ranking in the books, which is like a million something, if you um are getting or possibly not unable to sign Paul Rothrock back, then yeah, you could definitely be able to mix and change it. If I could bring in Chris Pinoza at a TAM level deal and I'm i'm paying them 1.2, I'll take that all day every day. Oh my God, that would be fire. That'd be fire. If they do that, extend Craig Weibel for 10 years.
00:56:35
Speaker
but but I would want that with what I have already. I just feel like yes we are. i agree with that. The the like swapping him for Roosnack thing is that's just like a backhanded way to get your Roosnack dig in. But in my hypothetical, you're key. You have them both.
00:56:49
Speaker
You have them both. Why not? Look, and and I love James and I love how he, he's extremely smart and he he definitely comes in and he ah makes a lot of good points. But I think that the counterpoint to this is everything that,
00:57:03
Speaker
you've seen from this offense this year. Like you cannot forget about the 86 goals that this offense scored. And all of it is based on the group, the collective play, and that collective play needs all those guys.
00:57:19
Speaker
You need the dual cam type guys like Ferreira and Albert. It just doesn't work the same if you don't have one of those guys. Now, Christian, love the guy, phenomenal, great on set pieces.
00:57:30
Speaker
ah Services are just delicious. He'd be in a much better team with much better players. He wouldn't be forced to be the guy, which in my opinion would up his level of effectiveness and productivity.
00:57:44
Speaker
But again, there's a lot of ifs and there's a lot of things that ah perhaps ah if you're moving on from a guy like Albert, I just wouldn't necessarily love. But I would love to add him on. Add him on. If you can get him in, i would absolutely take the hit. And as much as I love Paul Rothrock and I would hate to see him go, I'd be you know not so sad to have a guy like Spinoza in instead.
00:58:05
Speaker
it's It's just such a good fit, dude. It's just such a good fit. I don't know. The more I've been thinking about it, the more I'm like, ah there's because there's going to be some roster movement at that ah at that position group. ah you know georgie Georgie is a guy who's going to be making a push for for more minutes, but you add Espinosa, it's like perfect. you can You can play him out wide.
00:58:29
Speaker
he's super He's super reliable, super dynamic, ah great greatest assist guy. i think I think ah think he and Rusnak are more similar, frankly, than ah then a couple of people in in chat are trying to portray.
00:58:45
Speaker
i don't think... Like, if you actually did make that that swap, the idea that it would be, like, this massive upgrade... Like, their assist production is is roughly similar. Rusnak is...
00:58:57
Speaker
a little more goal dangerous at least on the stat sheet uh but like any scenario where you could uh you could have them both and have espinosa as one of your one of your wide players i would be all about that they should be in on that i hope they do that uh miko uh usmnt punditry to uh close it out you down for some uh usmnt talk because let's do it man i'm excited actually a good game in spite of why ah Yeah, I got some I got some takes.
US Men's National Team Analysis
00:59:24
Speaker
I'm a longtime dedicated USMNT pundit, but no. so i was ah So I was I'm really popular among the fan base, too. They all love me and Noah. Oh, yeah, me too. They love Noah. They love you. They love they love us all. We're very, very popular among the US men's national team fan base.
00:59:40
Speaker
ah But Nico, I'm actually I'm going to I'm going to talk. ah I'm going to talk positively. about them. That's why I wanted to bring it up because I actually have some positive things to say. i So I was watching the Paraguay game on Thursday last week, whatever, whatever day that was.
00:59:54
Speaker
And yeah, i was working it for the ah editorial desk. So I had to watch I I don't really, i watch them sometimes, but I don't, I'm not like, oh, if the USMNT is playing, I'm locked in on that. I haven't been that that way for ah like the last year or so. I got disillusioned with the, with the program and defected to Canada. And the first thing I'll say is that ah I stand, I stand by the bit of renouncing my US fandom and defecting to Canada.
01:00:21
Speaker
That was a good bit. And so I'm definitely not retracting that, but I will say, I will say I was watching this, this Paraguay. game and, uh, they They won the game, but I was i was impressed with a lot of ah a lot of what I saw. And my first takeaway, Nico, was, ah you know, ah we've we've given the USMNT a hard time over the last couple years on this show. I personally have clowned on ah Mauricio Pochettino lot, and I think deservedly so based on the results and the performances that we saw in their last window ah friendlies where, know, I think we, I came out of that and I was like, I'm not sure and this, that this coach knows what he's doing. The players don't look like they know what they're doing either. They also, there's just like, there was just this like energy and intensity issue that should not be there for a national team.
01:01:15
Speaker
And it was concerning stuff. And it kind of seemed like the program was ah spiraling. ah But my takeaway, Nico, is that kind of since, since that time, ah I think Pochettino is doing a ah ah good job, like an actively good job.
01:01:32
Speaker
And, you know, i ah we we gave them a hard time the last couple of years. i ah I get on this microphone every every week and I just fire off my takes. Sometimes the hit rate is higher than others.
01:01:43
Speaker
I'd like to think my hit rate is decently high, but I'm not always right about everything. And I always try to be the type of person that ah can admit when I'm wrong. I think I might have been... the Wrong about this guy. He's kind of cooking.
01:01:55
Speaker
The things I liked from this Paraguay game, the energy and intensity stuff was no longer an issue. They were playing hard, which that's like the baseline of when I look at the USMNT, I'm like, are you playing hard?
01:02:08
Speaker
Are you playing with your hair on fire? Do you look like you care about like representing players? soccer in this country on the international stage is that, do you feel the weight of that? ah The way they were playing against Paraguay, they felt the, ah you could tell they felt the weight of that. They were playing, they were playing hard. They were playing with energy.
01:02:25
Speaker
They were playing inspired. ah And the actual tactics themselves, you know, I'm not a big tactics guy, ah but you could tell that they're, he's coaching them up to be very like proactive. They're pressing their asses off.
01:02:38
Speaker
They're winning the ball in dangerous areas. They're a lot sharper on the ball. than they were previously. And they're also, i just, I just really enjoyed watching them play against Paraguay. Like they would win the ball and it was like instantly they're, they're on attack and ah sending balls into the box, like putting the defense on their heels, getting them scrambling. It was fun to watch. I was watching. I was like, this is like good footy. Like,
01:03:01
Speaker
Uh, they're, they're entertaining. They're, they're generating chances. Like what squad am, am I watching? And then they even, uh, I'm so used to that team. Like when they need a goal in a big moment, I'm like, i already know they're not going to score.
01:03:13
Speaker
They're not going to score it. They can't score it. They don't have a minute to score them in this game. Gio Reyna who had a fantastic game, uh, set up a game winner for Balogun. That was, that was well taken. They get a game winning goal.
01:03:25
Speaker
uh geo was fantastic like going into the game his usmnt stock was not it was it was a debatable at the very least and he went out there he bammed a goal in the in the fourth minute he looked active he looked sharp he was he created the chance that led to the balligan game winner and uh so that that was big for him but i don't know i just got to the end of that game nico and i was like damn like I think Pochettino is actually kind of cooking. And I was one of the primary people who was giving him a hard time. And I was like, I don't think this guy knows what he's doing. The team looks terrible.
01:04:00
Speaker
This was a name hire. And, uh, i don't I don't think it actually was the hire that they needed. All this stuff. I had all those takes. So, you know, if I'm going to be that guy when they're playing poorly, when they actually have a good performance like that and it looks like he's got them cooking, I'm going to give him his credit for it.
01:04:17
Speaker
And there was no way you could get to the end of that game against Paraguay and and and feel any different than like that team looked Really good. And ah the way the way I see it is like, if they play roughly to that level, I'm not saying they're gonna like make a big run at the World Cup or win the World Cup or change the way that people view American soccer.
01:04:38
Speaker
But if they play roughly to the level that they played in against Paraguay. If they just do that at the ah at the World Cup and let the chips fall where they may, but just play with that energy and intensity, that type of sharpness in possession, that type of proactive footy that they're playing, if they do that at the World Cup next summer, ah regardless of what the results are, people would be like, all right, that was fine. That was a good...
01:05:02
Speaker
acceptable showing for the USMNT. And I think they could get some good results if they played like that. They looked pretty damn good. So anyway, that was my takeaways, Nico. I was surprisingly impressed with how Pochettino and the gang looked. Now they got Uruguay tomorrow. So that could, it could, this could all blow up in their face and they lose four zero and look like a joke again.
01:05:22
Speaker
and But so far, so good in the November window. i ah They look pretty good. Did you, did you see the game or did you have any thoughts on this? Yeah, maybe because I watch a lot of the UN Smith national team, but I wasn't as impressed. Now, that doesn't mean that I thought it was a bad game. I thought it was ah good game. And I thought, and I would agree with you, that Pochettino is moving in the right direction. And I'll tell you why in a second.
01:05:47
Speaker
But I want to start by saying that i that's your ah ah skepticism on the coach is something that's very normal you know when it comes to coaches.
01:05:58
Speaker
But it's something that I constantly... Try not to do ah because I've always said that when it comes to coaching specifically, you got to respect the process. And that process typically takes three years.
01:06:10
Speaker
You got to allow a coach to be able to put in his tactics, to put in his tactics, mythology of the game, his identity. You got to, especially when it comes to the national team level, you got allow him to figure out the ah player pool.
01:06:26
Speaker
that That is the biggest, more and most important thing about being a national head coach is being a guy that picks the right guys to fit in a system that you want in order for that system to work.
01:06:39
Speaker
And that's why it takes a long time. I've always liked it. I thought that his biggest Pochettino's biggest obstacle was Changing the chip from being a club head coach to an international team head coach because it's completely different.
01:06:54
Speaker
I've heard it time and time again from a ton of head coaches that have had that change move quite rapidly and and it's night and day. So I'll just go there. I think Pochettino is doing a great job. but you know He has been doing a great job at figuring out who the pull is, at bringing in MLS guys, or regardless of what league you're playing for, if you have consistent minutes, if you are a guy that I think is going to be good for what I want to see on the field, I'm going to bring you into camp.
01:07:22
Speaker
hit Plain and simple. Now, this time around, now that he knows exactly what he's getting ah but with those guys that bring in tangibles, those guys those guys that are big our more system guys, now he's trying to figure out what are some of those really talented players that are out there that can that I could add on to my squad.
01:07:40
Speaker
And I think that's what the Gio Reyna situation comes in. Gio Reyna comes in as the guy with the least amount of minutes left. of any guy in the national team that was just called up.
01:07:52
Speaker
But you call him on merit on his talent. Now, as a guy that is admittedly a Gio Reyna, don't know if hater, but doubter. I never doubted his talent.
01:08:04
Speaker
I never doubted that he's a guy that's extremely talented, that if he wanted to, he'd be one of the best players for this national team. But you doubt his commitment. You doubt his heart. You doubt the intangibles.
01:08:15
Speaker
You doubt his health and his consistency. So those are the things that you still got to see from a guy like Gio Reyna. But I love the game. I thought that he came on. I thought that he was aggressive. He's a guy that maybe when you doubt him, I played the best.
01:08:28
Speaker
I was doubting him. I didn't think he deserved a call-up this time around. But he was lucky that Pulisic was in cold-up because of injury. That McKinney wasn't part of this camp because of injury.
01:08:39
Speaker
There was a lot of other guys that just were not part of this camp. And that's why he has the call up and he makes the best of it. So I'm glad I'm happy for him. I still need to see more to call him a lock-in. But if it's on talent alone, on talent alone, of course, you got to bring him on. You got to take him because he's distinto.
01:08:56
Speaker
he's one ah He's a different guy. he's just He's built different. And those guys are usually important to... you know, get get your team across in a World Cup. Again, I'm not saying he has to be a starter.
01:09:08
Speaker
I'm not saying he's a guy that is going to come in and just put the team on his shoulders because that's what I don't that's what i doubt. I've always called him a Petro Frio because I feel like he has an icebox in his chest because he just doesn't have that...
01:09:19
Speaker
greediness, that bloodiness, that that that that that fire in them, that if the if the game is on the line, I want more of a Christian guy or or a one more of even Pulisic, I feel like is a lot more firing than a guy like Gio Reyna. So let let's stay there.
01:09:35
Speaker
What I think are the three biggest objectives that were accomplished in this game that, again, not not amazing because Paraguay is a good team, but anyone who follows Paraguay and has followed Gustavo Alfaro, the coach of Paraguay, knows that he's known for Great defense, known for being a disciplined team with a lot of grit, but not necessarily a great offensive team.
01:10:00
Speaker
And I think Paraguay put the United States in a lot of uncomfortable moments. They scored that goal on ah on a breakaway where Joe Scali cannot He cannot be a center back for the international team.
01:10:13
Speaker
That's what we learned out of this game as well. He cannot be a guy. I would rather you bring in a guy like McKenzie. I'd rather ah you obviously Chris Richards, a guy that you know you would you would hope that that that's there.
01:10:28
Speaker
um I would be even willing to in credit to Paul Tenorio on this because he kind of laughed about it, but he talked about Tasman's Being a guy that could drop in and play as one of those three center backs.
01:10:40
Speaker
I agree. The guy is a behemoth of a man. And he's good on the ball. He's defensively sound. To me, if you bring him in and make him part of that three-man back line, because they build like that, right? He's a 3-4-2-1.
01:10:54
Speaker
I think that works. But part of the things that you got out of this is that now you're making those clear cut decisions. You're starting to figure out where things go. So we already talked about Joe Skelly cannot be a ah defender.
01:11:07
Speaker
um You talked about Balgan. He wins his position, no doubt. There's no longer a debate. Ricardo Pepe had the easiest. Oh, my God.
01:11:18
Speaker
I mean, he all you have to do is put it in the back of the head. Reese, come on. and and yeah What happened with the Ricardo Pepe? I thought he was the guy. Man, Ricardo Pepe, he did not do himself any favors. And I just think Balogon is a guy that I still wanted to see make sure that he won this job.
01:11:37
Speaker
Because, you know, was it Hadji Wright a better option? Was it him? I was a little bit on the fence. And, you know, he he won it. I think Balogun against a very good defensive Paraguayan team and a guy that didn't get the ball a lot, that struggled to get on the ball and then essentially puts away his chance.
01:11:53
Speaker
That's what you want to see out of your nine. um Miles Robinson is a guy that I still continue to think that he's not quite there for the MS national team. Part of that goal in that breakaway was him being out of position.
01:12:07
Speaker
i think that he struggles. He, he relies too much on his athleticism and that puts him in bad situations. So I would like to see some changes there at at the back lines. But I would finish with,
01:12:18
Speaker
Destin Arson, ah those two guys, I thought they were outstanding. You have a big question mark on Anthony Robinson. I don't know if he's going to be healthy enough. He hasn't been healthy.
01:12:29
Speaker
So having a guy like Arson have such a good game was very important in this game. And then finally, i want to give credit to my guy, Christian Roldan. 75 minutes. he was a he was extremely good. He's a guy that continues to know.
01:12:44
Speaker
This is the way the Sounders play. There's a lot of the concepts that are currently with the national team that he knows and understands. He had a couple of shots blocked by Gil. um I think that he's a guy that can continue to get better.
01:12:59
Speaker
And I could see him as a starter. If Tessman goes to center back... I think that there is a chance that Christian Rodin could be a starter for this team. and And I know I'm going hear it from the UNSB national team fan base.
01:13:11
Speaker
They're going to absolutely crucify me for that take. But if you move Tessman to center back, I do believe that there's a chance that Christian could be there. Because Tessman was very good. And Tessman and Tyler Adams, that's probably the best duo that you're going to put in terms of ceiling and talent.
01:13:28
Speaker
And I think that's what Pochettino might go with. But if you put Tessman a line back... There's a spot for Christian there. So to me, there's still a lot of things that need to improve overall. But I think that this game lets you know that Pochettino is on the right track and that this team could be very good ah next year in the World Cup.
01:13:49
Speaker
Yeah, um we're we're we're out of time. I could go on this for another 20 minutes. But before we get out of here, just just on the Christian component of it, another thing I think you have to credit Pochettino for is it's not just with Christian. He's, he's and i've been I've been noticing this even back to when the team wasn't playing well.
01:14:07
Speaker
He's calling in like, he's he is, research you can tell, he's researching the player pool, watching the film, learning about all these guys. And he's just deciding who do I think based on my knowledge of the game and my years coaching this game at the highest level, who do I think is the best?
01:14:23
Speaker
Who do I think is going to fit my system and my identity the best? That's who I'm going to call in. He scouted up the entire pool. He landed on Christian Roldan as one of those guys that fits with his style and his identity and his personality.
01:14:35
Speaker
type of player. He called him in He gave him he gave him ah chance to succeed in a clear position with a clear role, which is something that Christian never had with the USMNT before that no one likes to talk about that, but he never he they were playing him all over the field.
01:14:50
Speaker
He had no like instruction of what he was doing or how he was supposed to play. He was just getting sent out there, and then everyone would crash out when it didn't look super great. Uh, guess what? He has a coach that clearly believes in him and is putting him in a, uh, position to succeed.
01:15:06
Speaker
And look what's happening. The USMNT bots are so deep in the mud on this, bro. Like how, how good he's been playing. and the fact that he is in all likelihood, not just going to be on the 2026 world cup squad.
01:15:21
Speaker
Uh, he could be a starter on that squad. And it's like, Yeah, get slammed, everyone. We in Seattle had to sit here for the last however many years and listen to these absolute degenerates who don't know what they're talking about, who don't watch the games, talk about a player that we all we all love for everything he does for the Seattle Sounders every week. But ah we had to watch him get trashed on by these absolute morons every single week.
01:15:47
Speaker
What's happening now, guys? What is happening now? Where are all the takes at? It's funny. you You go on Twitter still, and you still see but they were lot there was bots crashing out about the fact that he he actually almost scored in this Paraguay game, ah but it was that it was it was the type of its just shot that kind of went right at the goalkeeper. he was kind He was pretty open, but it was from the top of the box, so it wasn't like the easiest shot of all time. Yeah. And he creates the second goal. I mean, the pressure of Luna and Christian is what forces Caceres to drop that ball where he did.
01:16:17
Speaker
Bolligan picks it up. It's the one-two with Reyna, and that ends up in the second goal. So, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, exactly. He created the second goal and plays like that where he wins the ball back by pressing and creates a dangerous opportunity and creates the game winning goal.
01:16:33
Speaker
Guess what? That's how you get more minutes. That's how you earn starts. You know who's noticing that? Pochettino and the coaching staff. And they're going to see that and they're going to keep playing him and they're going to keep starting him in big games in all likelihood. And you're going to have to watch him do it at the World Cup.
01:16:47
Speaker
And there's nothing you can do about it because he's just that good. And he's proving it because now he has a coach who's letting him show it. So ah if you if you if you've been typing away on Twitter for the last eight years with your little Pulisic avatar, get slammed.
01:17:03
Speaker
You lost. Hold your L. You suck. You don't know what you're talking about. And everything you've been talking about for the last... seven eight years you have egg all over your face and everyone who's not in insane us qsmnt keyboard warrior is literally laughing at you because all of everything you've been typing about everything you've been typing about not just related to christian rolled on but to every opinion you have means nothing and no one respects you guys so that's what i have to say about uh qsmnt to uh
01:17:35
Speaker
To close it off there, hold your L. You guys just to have been taking some of the most catastrophic, embarrassing, lack of ball knowledge L's on this and every topic related to the player pool. And I, for one, love it.
01:17:50
Speaker
I'm laughing at you all like I always have been. because you lost. And that's all I have to say about that. Mic drop. Nico, that's it for this episode of Lobbying Squirters kickoff. Thank you all for tuning in Love and appreciate all of you.
01:18:03
Speaker
Like, comment, subscribe. I really got to get out of here in short order. I got to get on a word call.
Upcoming Break and Listener Engagement
01:18:10
Speaker
We'll catch you guys this week. Probably going to take Thanksgiving and stuff off. That's what I'm planning on, Nico.
01:18:16
Speaker
Thanksgiving and Christmas time, we'll be taking off. But other than that, we'll be ah we'll be on here grinding all off season. So appreciate the support. and Comment, like, subscribe, share the video, buy the hot sauce.
01:18:28
Speaker
All that shit. Yeah, that's right. Love you guys. And we'll ah catch you on the next one. Peace.