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What We Learned This Week: Yeimar out for a while longer and San Diego match preview
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Jeremiah and Niko discuss a relatively quiet week in terms of Sounders news, but do dig into the revelation that Yeimar Gomez Andrade will be out until after the World Cup. They explain that's more about the emergence of other options at center back and the flexibility that gives the Sounders to bring him back slowly. They also preview the upcoming game against San Diego FC and try to better understand their early-season struggles.
Follow Niko Moreno on BlueSky and YouTube.
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Transcript
Introduction and Seattle Sounders' Victory
00:00:01
Speaker
Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounders legend. Now I get to do voice reads for the Sounder at Heart podcast network. Here we go.
00:00:11
Speaker
Come on. Hey, O'Shaughness. Let's The Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. The Sounders rule the region.
00:00:43
Speaker
Ooch of a gooch! All creatures, great and small! Rothrock gonna collect it, he does just about, runs into the advertising order. Low to our left, ball goes in! Oh, what cross! And what goal! Where's my copy? got bunch of them in the car. How many do you cost them? 50 bucks.
00:01:08
Speaker
I'll deadline you.
Sponsorship by Full Pull Wines
00:01:18
Speaker
This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounder supporters.
00:01:32
Speaker
They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest.
00:01:43
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Nos Adiates on SoundRateHeart Podcast Network and streaming on Lobbing Scorcher's YouTube channel. So make sure you check that out. But we are here in the SoundRateHeart studios. It is Friday.
00:01:59
Speaker
And I am, of course, joined by Nico Moreno for another episode of What We Learned This Week. Nico, how you feeling? Not feeling great. We're in the studio. Shout my guy Noah in the back, fixing the lights, getting things ready.
00:02:12
Speaker
um Just excited about another game. I want to move on from the Sporting City game.
Yemar Gomez Andrade's Return and Contract Discussion
00:02:19
Speaker
So that's how I'm feeling. And it was also a ah really cool week of training.
00:02:24
Speaker
You know, some interesting stuff that I'm happy to share. But yeah, man, feeling good. Yeah, so the biggest, I guess there wasn't a lot of news necessarily come out of training this week.
00:02:34
Speaker
But one of the pieces that we got confirmed today was that Yemar Gomez, Andrade, who they had been talking about potentially coming back before the club or before the World Cup, is definitely going to be on the shelf until after the World Cup.
00:02:49
Speaker
And they're talking about it being somewhat related to the injury and the way it's healing. But it also seems like a lot of that is they just don't feel any need to rush him because not only is Alex Roldan playing very good at center back, but Tino Lopez is playing very good. And now Kim Keehi and Ryan Saylor are both back and fit.
00:03:07
Speaker
So there's just not a numbers need to bring. There's no, I mean, Yamar may be the starter, but defense, it doesn't justify necessarily risking any potential injury and let's get him back fully fit.
00:03:18
Speaker
And so, that you know, it it won't be for a while. won't be for two months from now. I get more than two months, three months from now. But don't What do we, what do we make the AMR? Most importantly, the team's playing well and they're winning. I mean, that's the reality of it all.
00:03:34
Speaker
This is one of those situations where there's a difference between how the player feels and how he is, adapting to the ramp up of the training and what the MRI shows you.
00:03:51
Speaker
Yeah. and And I'm glad that they are being very careful. about making sure that if we're going to bring him back, it's when he's 100%. And so I had been saying that I had no doubt that he was going to come back prior to the FIFA World Cup because you saw him on the field. I saw him today playing goalkeeper. Yeah, he definitely would get to And extending out there, you know, and stopping the ball. So, you know, he feels like a guy that...
00:04:16
Speaker
His demeanor is, I need to get back. I want to be in there. He's a guy that's obsessed with the game, right? He's ah someone that hates to be watching the game from the suite or from the bench. So he definitely has that desire to be back. But at this happened with like Ozzy Alonso, where you have to protect the player from himself. yeah And so I'm glad that that's what the team is doing.
00:04:41
Speaker
And I can understand also from his perspective, this is a contract here. He's going to be out of contract in the end of the year. And so he wants to get out there and prove that he deserves a contract. And I suppose in some twisted way, maybe this helps him stay with the Sounders because it's not, you know, his his price is not going up while he's hurt.
00:05:00
Speaker
But it sounds like he kind of does potentially want to stay here. yeah So it might not be the end of the world for everyone, but I'm sure that is on his mind at the very least. No, it has to be, right? I mean, that's a good point. And I'm not going to deny that all players understand that
Stu Hawkins' Injury and Career Path
00:05:17
Speaker
there's negotiations at the beginning of the year, that you don't get those, then situation like this happens.
00:05:23
Speaker
And you're like, man, I really want to get back out there. What I would say is that he is definitely someone that beyond the team and the connection to the club and what he's been able to do here when you win with a club and you are as successful as he's been with a club, you have this affiliation, this very organic love for the badge. And I think that he has that, but also his family is very happy here with the exception maybe in the winter when they, they do go to Argentina. Cause you know, i think most players do. I think that he loves the city here. So um I hope that he gets back,
00:06:04
Speaker
when he's ready to go. But, but I do think that those negotiation that's always in the back of, of his head. And that's probably what he wants to come back pretty quickly. I do think that he's someone that has a profile in the center back group that no other player has. all right totally agree with that. There's nobody in the team that has physicality, nobody, nobody. And you talk about his passing or all this and that, but when he comes to being a pure defender and being a physical specimen, that demands respect,
00:06:33
Speaker
almost like Shaquille O'Neal in the paint, that gives you a ah different level of of defender. And so that's where I think that he has no problem. He understands how good he is. And I think that look, if the Sounders wanted to let him walk, maybe teams out there ready to go out. I have no doubt. I have no doubt that he'll find someone. He's going to playing soccer next year and he'll be making a fair amount of money one way or the other next year.
00:06:57
Speaker
The one downside, not downside, but the one player who does seem to be maybe in a more in a more nebulous place is Stu Hawkins. And we asked about Ashmetzer about that today.
00:07:11
Speaker
and he, you know, he didn't have a lot to say other than it did not sound like he was in the immediate plans. He spoke highly of his skill. He spoke highly of, you know, his potential, but clearly not in the short-term plans. And he is at least for now playing with defiance. Yeah.
00:07:32
Speaker
Man, Stu Hawkins has been plagued by injuries at the worst times possible. Whenever it's Stu time, he gets injured. And that has hindered his ability to make his mark with the team. yeah That has handicapped his ability to grow and develop with very well-deserved minutes on the field.
00:07:59
Speaker
And it's to a point where... Other players are getting those minutes and they're performing at a level that all of a sudden it puts you in a predicament of just going lower and lower in the pecking order.
00:08:18
Speaker
And not anything against two. And it's not that he's playing himself out of it. he's done Nothing his fault. not none None of it is his fault. But it is a credit to the other players. And and and we'll talk about Tino because don't want to make it up about Tino right now.
00:08:33
Speaker
But Stu... I have no doubt that is a an excellent prospect. And he's a very well-mannered kid that loves the game. He's so poised on the ball, has all these attributes to be this very good center back.
00:08:51
Speaker
But if you're not healthy, no it's tough it's tough. It's tough. And I think the other thing with him is that he needs to be playing at a level higher than defiance. The reality is that he's done everything he can to prove himself with defiance.
00:09:04
Speaker
And it's really hard to see a pathway to first team minutes. And, Look, it's not a competition between him and Tino Lopez, but Tino Lopez right now has shown everything that he deserves the minutes that theoretically would be going to Sue Hawkins.
00:09:19
Speaker
Hard for me to see Tino Lopez barring injury, not getting those minutes. He has played absolutely fantastic. Like we said, great guy. Alex will Dawn has been in the words of Brian Schmisser of revelation at center back. Yeah. He's going to continue to get some minutes there and Kalani coast be in part because Kalani coast of Yenzi is playing really good at right back.
00:09:38
Speaker
You add it all together and it's just hard to see stew's pathway to first team minutes. And I think everyone is going to be best served if he is able to, they're able to find a loan for him somewhere, because again, he should not be toiling away at Tacoma defiance. He should be playing high level first team minutes somewhere USL championship to me is like the bare minimum where he should be going.
00:09:59
Speaker
I think there's a better, there's a pretty good argument for him to be made going someplace like Sweden or, you know, a sort of second tier European league where he's going to compete against grown men and be able to ideally get minutes there.
00:10:14
Speaker
And, you know, if not that, then who knows, maybe he he does go somewhere else in MLS. I don't know, but Colorado, Colorado. I'm sure they they love they seem to love the former Sounders. Uh,
00:10:24
Speaker
But, ah you know, I don't want to spend too much time on that. i What were some of the other observations you had from training this week? Well, i'll start with the one that's a good segue. Look, Tino Lopez, over the last two weeks, I have been focused and just completely amazed with his athleticism.
00:10:45
Speaker
his growth, his confidence. And look, I'm talking about a player that is not starting, right? Or it's not starting. Maybe Wednesday, maybe mid midweek, he might start, but but right now he's not. But he's been so...
00:10:59
Speaker
Freaking good in training. I mean, I find myself amazed of his athleticism and his poised on the ball, the way he he reads the game. There was this play in scrimmage where he intercepts a ball with his head. He brings it down. He...
00:11:16
Speaker
looks up, finds the player out wide. I mean, they had been playing him not so much as a left back, but like in a three-man setup where he's pushing high on his end.
00:11:26
Speaker
And the kid got wheels. He's got wheels, man. He's got wheels. He's got vision. Man, I just, I absolutely love what I see from Tino Lopez. So,
00:11:37
Speaker
I'll start there. And I'm starting where maybe I shouldn't because he's not going to start this weekend. But I've been dying to say it and I didn't get to be here last week because Tim was here. But, man, he's just been so good.
00:11:50
Speaker
The thing that's so funny to me about Tina Lopez is when I would watch him at Defiance and watch him train with the first team before this year, my reaction to him was always, he looks like he can play.
00:12:03
Speaker
he He looks like he fits in. But I don't ever remember feeling like, wow, this guy is a player. He's going to be potentially a starter in this league. I just never, i never got that from when I saw him play. Whereas even like Stu, sometimes at Defiance, he was doing stuff where I was like, no, this guy has got a huge ceiling and maybe it was the age bias. I don't know.
00:12:23
Speaker
But man, Tino, like you said, every week, every time he gets on the field, he's doing stuff that it's like, no, this isn't just fitting in. This is actually raising the level in some ways. He's not just out there not making mistakes. He's being ah aggressive and progressive, and he's actually doing things to make the team better.
00:12:42
Speaker
And that's ah that's a pretty special, ah yeah i mean, he's he's a real player he's a player who I think has real potential to be a starter in this league. ah Totally. And I think that if, if it's not soon, I think that there's going to be a lot of teams are going to be interested in him because he's taking advantage of every minute. He's gotten yeah all the way to that San Jose game, which is, I will forever in my mind be the Tino Lopez game. yeah I think that, you know, if he plays midweek, he's going to show up. He's going to do the work. It'd be funny if you played it against San Jose again, wouldn't it? No, that'd be great right because you know he was so good at it right in in the first run and if you go back to that San Luis game that was another game where he was like flawless in in that particular game right so yeah it's those are the things where I'm just like man he is someone that's going to take advantage of those minutes so whether there is with the Sounders or elsewhere I think that there's something be had there but i don't want to spend too much time on him because I know that he's not starting this week so let me move on to
00:13:39
Speaker
Jesus Ferraro, man, I think he's looked really
Jesus Ferraro's Integration and Sounders' Playmaking Strategy
00:13:42
Speaker
good this week. But beyond the field, to me and all of you guys out there, he just seems to be a guy that has really found his spot, not just in a soccer sense, but in a human aspect, right? Like he told us today that he wanted to go to a storm game. He wants to go to a hockey games. that Last year was, you know, little bit weird. He wants to sort of put himself on the Seattle sports map, think. Totally. And I see that on the field. Today, he was doing all these little dances. And again, that's credit to Schmetz and and and the the coaching staff because do some really fun stuff that really gets guys going. But today, I really... Today and actually this whole week, I've seen him just loosen up and and become one of the guys, right? He's always had... ah
00:14:27
Speaker
a little bit more of a serious take to, to, to the game. And he's got friends. He's cool. But, uh, just over the last couple of weeks, just, he's loosened up and like really getting tight with this group. And, and I love to see that in going into this game, particularly,
00:14:43
Speaker
I look at, and we'll talk about San Diego here later on in in this episode, but I think that him and Albert, they're going to have a field day with this San Diego defense. And so when I look at what he's been able to do this training week, he's been good on the ball, shot after shot. I mean, some on the post, some have been saved, three or four goals.
00:15:07
Speaker
I don't like mid range, something that we've been asking, right. to in the last game Yeah. And last game he was, it was a little of a bit of a shame that they didn't get the result that they wanted and deserved.
00:15:20
Speaker
because I think we would have been talking about Jesus Ferreira different, you know, because it was a really good game from him. I think it was the game where he in some ways looked the most comfortable. He took a bunch of shots. He was a little unlucky not to score. He had one that got saved off the crossbar.
00:15:35
Speaker
had two other shots where they were sort of open looks that he created for himself and he just pulled them wide. One of them was saved. He looked really comfortable. He looked really good. And I'm really liking what I've seen over him, especially over the last four or five games where he just seems to be looking for his own shot and is just much more, you know, much more in the game and involved. And I think that's going to bode well for everybody.
00:15:59
Speaker
He was the epicenter of every yeah good attack that the Sounders had. And i mean, have been on record talking about how influential he's been from day one this season and and how, you know, how high it was about what he provided for this team.
00:16:15
Speaker
Because if there's something that the Sounders haven't been able to really get since Nicoladero has been a true playmaker that makes that team a lot better. And I don't want to,
00:16:27
Speaker
I know what you're going to say because I don't want to dismiss or take any credit away from Albert Rosnick. He's not a playmaker in the same way. He's a different kind. of to I would say that he, like, and I don't know that Albert is even, even though he ends up with a fair number of assists, playmaking is not necessarily the way I would describe him. He, he is capable of hitting a lot of good passes, but he's not, you know, he's not breaking guys down off the dribble.
00:16:53
Speaker
He's he's good about getting his own. I think in some ways he's better at getting his own shot than Jesus is. But that's where we're seeing Jesus develop. And I just think that they're comp they're more complimentary. They become more complimentary. And it's funny to think about this time last year. we weren't wondering if they could be on the field together.
00:17:10
Speaker
True. And now they look like they really belong together, which is just kind of funny how those things sometimes work. That's my favorite lineup. and And we heard it from Albert and from Jesus this week, where in the biggest games that the centers have had, and in my opinion, when they've looked the best, yeah there's been dual tents.
00:17:26
Speaker
And... Ferreira even broke it down today where it's difficult for that left back to figure out who he's going to defend, where he's going to go. You have two playmakers where, you know, Ferreira's using that inside lane and he's that pocket winger and Kalani is coming at him and stretching it out, making sure that he keeps that lane ready to go.
00:17:48
Speaker
And then you have Albert Rosnack doing his thing inside. So to me, Jesus, and this is credit to Danny Jackson from KJR. I think he was spot on on saying, Jesus is a goal scorer that's been turned into a playmaker. And now he's a pleamate he's a playmaking goal scorer. And that's a great combination to have, right? Because he could playmake, he could be another point of reference inside the 18.
00:18:17
Speaker
i If there was anything that I thought was
00:18:22
Speaker
especially great about what the Sounders did and in supporting Kansas city was how many opportunities they had inside the 18. They did a really good, I actually thought they did a good job of moving inside the box. cool The problem was that they just, every time they vary the, every single time, every attack they had, it seemed like was against packed in defense and they needed to do a better job of creating. I know.
00:18:46
Speaker
Brian's are rejected the, my use of the term transition. But what I mean is opportunities where they're attacking space and, and there's probably a better term for it than transition, but that's sort of what I have in mind is, is when they're, they're, they're able to get numbers and they're able to force the defense to be defending not in a set position, but, you know sort of retreating back anyway, they were not able to do that against
Challenges in Sounders' Attacking Strategy
00:19:13
Speaker
sporting Kansas city. And that's something that they're going to hopefully be able to do against San Diego. Cause San Diego plays a style that is a little bit more open to that. Totally. and And it is hard to do. And I get what you're saying. And I think that,
00:19:27
Speaker
as where he used to with Brian, I don't think he gave your ah question enough credit because there were moments, I got to tell you, I mean, Jesus created at least two opportunities inside that final third in pressing moments, but they were very seldom. They were very rare. right um and And I don't know if if Brian necessarily gave you the the credit of saying, hey, look, in my opinion, me, me Nico Moreno, I thought that their press was ineffective compared to other games especially considering how bad sporting kansas city exactly because the team that should they should have been able to exploit and they're active defending because right for me yes ah obviously kansas city that the team is going to drop deep they're going to play against the round of play
00:20:13
Speaker
But they should not be able to create seven clear chances on goal with 32 or 33% possession because in those moments that you were able to just bring him back, you were having a hard time getting the ball and not allowing those chances to happen. So for me, I totally get it. I think that there were two or three moments of transition, but they were not as constant and effective as they typically are. Yeah. ah You know, the other thing that caught my ear this week today, in fact, was when Brian Schmetzer was asked about the number nine position.
00:20:49
Speaker
And what he said was, I'm waiting for someone to take a hold of it, I believe is the quote that he used. Or or make it theirs or own make it. Yeah, own it. But he basically what he was saying is something that I think we've said in one way or another various times is that it's not that the Sounders don't have a good number nine. They have three capable number nines, at least maybe four.
00:21:10
Speaker
What they haven't had, though, is someone who is going to stand up there and just sort of like, no, I'm the guy. And that's sort of what and that's what you know Danny Masofsky did at times last year. Even Jordan Morris at times was able to assert himself like early in the season. I thought he made it very clear that he was capable of being the sounder starting number nine.
00:21:29
Speaker
And no one has really taken that mantle and been able to run with it. I don't know that they have a single goal from a number nine who started now because both of Danny's goals came from off the bench.
00:21:42
Speaker
Osazi's goal came from off the bench and Morris's goal came as a winger. And so, they They just need someone. And it seems like Jordan ideally is going to be that player. You know, I expect that he's going to start this week and he's starting because that's how they get the most talent on the field. But Brian also said there's going be times this year where they aren't necessarily starting the most talented team. They're starting the team that matches up best with the opponent.
00:22:08
Speaker
But a big part of that is going to be who's our number nine. And I think what Brian is saying is someone needs to grab this thing and say, look, I'm the number nine. Everyone else is my backup.
00:22:19
Speaker
Yeah, mean, I don't usually toot my own horn, but me, me. I mean, the way I asked the question was, are you... getting enough out of your number nine. Like, you know, if your number nine is occupying space and it's allowing your wingers to get goals like, alber like ah ah ro Rothrock has, and it's opening up Jesus to get some goals and maybe Albert gets on the score sheet.
00:22:43
Speaker
Maybe that's good, but you know, what else do you need? And I love the way he said, i just want somebody to own it. I want somebody to grab it. and And, and look, to be honest, even with Jordan Morris, we we haven't had someone who really owned a position since Raul Reyes. I would have heard that. Where it was, on the i you were never wondering, hey, what's Raul playing today, man? don't know. He's playing the wing. No, he no was your nine, right? yeah He was that that killer in front of goal.
00:23:07
Speaker
He was the guy that going to get you where you needed it to be. He was the TNT, the gunpowder, that that that point arrow at the end of that stick. And that's what you need right now. And so that ninth position to me,
00:23:22
Speaker
is where the attack hasn't quite entered that zone of <unk>re we're exploiting our maximum potential.
00:23:33
Speaker
And for a team that when it comes to the talent level, perhaps it's not in the same scale as dailyley ofcs or the or Vancouver Whitecaps or whatever it may be in terms of like the salary or whatever you want to call it, they need to be at their, at their best.
00:23:50
Speaker
And I still believe, and this is an unpopular position and I get that. The comments are going to be great. um I still think that Jordan Morris is the guy. And as much as he hasn't necessarily grabbed it and owned it and and made it his...
00:24:07
Speaker
That's my favorite lineup. it's it is i think It's with Jordan at the nine. And Paul at the left. On the left side. Absolutely. I don't think that there's a lot of debate there. Well, maybe there is debate there. There is debate. I should say oh there's any. You're crazy. He's not a nine. He's a winger. There's not as much doubt in my mind. i should say that I agree that there's a lot of debate about it, but I do think that Jordan, because the thing is, Jordan is the only one who sort of is able to make those runs behind. He's people are crazy if they don't think he's good at hold up play. He's might be there, but in some ways he he's like their best. They're not watching close enough. Right.
00:24:45
Speaker
He's probably their most effective presser. Yes. At the nine. Yeah. At the nine. That's what i mean. And he is. Yeah, sure. I think you can argue that maybe his variety of finishing, like the way he finishes is not as varied as some of the other guys, but he's a good goal scorer. If they can get him going, that is by far their best option. Now, if,
00:25:08
Speaker
if they want in the summer and they want to open up the checkbook and they want to sign a world-class number nine or something, look, I'm not going to tell you that you can't improve on Jordan, but for right now, the way that the roster is built, at least for the next four games, to me, it's obvious that Jordan should be your number on nine. And I think that, you know, may and again, maybe he doesn't start on Wednesday or something, but they really do need someone to sort of step up and just proclaim I'm the number nine.
00:25:33
Speaker
This is my spot. You got to take it away from. Absolutely. And, look the the The thing that I consistently say that you and I are are good at doing is that we stay consistent with our own thought process. And both you and i since last season, since last summer window, we've said, if there's a position that we would love to see come in here from this U22 or is whatever it may be, it's a nine. And I think that time has given us that validation because we're
00:26:07
Speaker
As much as I love Osase and a lot of the things that he does, as much as I've learned to respect Danny Masovsky, despite all of the, you know, like debating that I had to do about him not doing what he did last season, which as we all see, it's not going happen. um Those 20 goals are not coming through that door. not Not this year. And then Jordan Morris, who the finishing has always been a thing that he...
00:26:32
Speaker
is struggled with, but I do feel like sometimes there's some unnecessary and none unfair criticism on it. um He is the one guy left that's going to be able to take you to that spot. But,
00:26:44
Speaker
That's the only position where I'm like, man, if there's if you could bring somebody that is the next guy that's going to take the torch from Jordan, then go get him. go get him. I don't care where he comes from. He doesn't got to come from Argentina. He doesn't got to be Brazilian. He could be Scottish. whatever I don't care. Just get me a guy that's going to come into the league and own that position for the next five years. Because now we see the struggle of not having the number nine. Yeah. And I think that's one of the things also that we sometimes get a little caught up in is, well, who's going to, are you going to put this new player? And I think one of the things that the next stage of MLS evolution to me is that you don't have a, you don't just have a starting 11.
00:27:29
Speaker
You have a eighteen a group of 18 players who could all be starting it any given game and that there's real competition and that there, no one's spot is secured. And I think the Sounders have done a good job of building towards that.
00:27:43
Speaker
They aren't there yet. I mean, they they dot I think they have a they probably have 14 or 15 players who in any given week could be starters. But i do I just think that there needs to be more high-level competition. and And yeah, sometimes that means bringing in a player who is and a that's already playing a position of strength for you or that you already feel like you have a potential starter at and making them compete and making them go for it.
00:28:07
Speaker
I don't know if that's this is the year that the Sounders will actually spend the money to make that happen, but I think that's what that's the mindset they should have. Yeah. And look, for what it's worth, I do think that this team to the summer has enough to stay in the shield race yeah and be really good offensively, but they have to unlock Jordan Morris. And and look, for what it's worth, Jordan Morris himself yeah has to take it. and And I said this on Monday. Look, I don't want to patronize Jordan Morris. He's a self-aware guy.
00:28:44
Speaker
The injury happened. He's been back for several games. Now it's next level. Turn the
Preparation for Match Against San Diego FC
00:28:51
Speaker
page. Own that position. I love the fact that he opened his mind into playing the wing and this and that. yeah But I know that in his hearts are hearts.
00:29:00
Speaker
He's been working so hard to be a nine So own it, Jordan. I know you got it in you. Bearded, angry Jordan. That's what I want to see. A guy that don't don't care. He's going to come at your jugular. That's what you need to do when you're in that final third. And I think that San Diego...
00:29:19
Speaker
It's a good place to start. Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, with that, why don't we take a break? We'll come back and we will talk specifically about San Diego FC.
00:29:30
Speaker
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00:31:27
Speaker
Welcome back to Nos Adientes on the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network and the Lobbing Scorchers YouTube channel. Nico, we've got a game against San Diego FC, and this is a team who pretty much on paper looks a lot like the one who...
00:31:45
Speaker
just kind of cut through MLS like hot knife through butter or whatever ah last year, but they are in a bad way right now. They are winless in eight matches, which is astounding number to say out loud.
00:32:00
Speaker
They have not won since they beat Toluca three, two in CONCACAF champions cup across all kinds. So I think that's like, might be actually nine matches across all competitions that they've not won a game.
00:32:11
Speaker
And just last week, they ended a five game losing streak. and they were up 2-0 against LAFC at home and then had to settle for a twooo tie. What is going on with San Diego FC this year?
00:32:27
Speaker
In my opinion, my humble opinion, I believe that is a club that it was too high on their own product. And I believe that they thought that they could bench, not even bench, put Chucky Lozano in the freezer in a c salary cab league where DPs are extremely important, not bring anybody else and still be okay because Mikey Vars is a very good coach because you had a team that understood the principles and essentials and the soccer module.
00:32:57
Speaker
And look, to be honest, it's a very talented team. It is. But you need those players to keep up with the growth of MLS and I also believe that a lot of their young players, and maybe this is something that they had not realized, the word prospect is dead for a reason because there's a lot of potential for you to be a really good player, but there's a lot of learning curves that go through. And I think Dua is one of the most interesting, probably the best defensive prospect in MLS.
00:33:32
Speaker
But he's learned the hard way that soccer is hard. And it's been red card after red card. been mistake after mistake. It's been, you know, all these things. I have said for years that give me an Aniba Godoy any day of the week.
00:33:48
Speaker
But by the time, he's undefeated. And if you don't have a backup for Aniba Godoy at this point in his career, he's lost a step or two. And by the time he's the 65th minute, he's lost three or four. Yeah. And That's what happened against LAFC.
00:34:05
Speaker
Godoy was getting stretched out. He could not handle the amount of room that he had to cover. McVay's having to push up. It's a team that just became in disarray.
00:34:16
Speaker
And LAFC took advantage of it because they do have the firepower to do it. And now LAFC started rotating, but they had players coming off the bench. And when he came down to Bradstacks, they were the better team at the end of the game. so If I had to come up with a conclusion of why San Diego FC is not the San Diego FC last year, i would say that between depth and a decline performance,
00:34:47
Speaker
effectiveness on the field from several players. They're just not as good as they were last year. This is also a team that has been decimated by red cards. They have seven red cards this year.
00:34:59
Speaker
Sure. And I think three of those are duos. They are three. I think three of them are duos and three of them are McVeigh's. There you go. Do actually do I want to ask you, but McVeigh has three. i mean, this is a team that that's your two starting center backs have five red cards. That's a problem.
00:35:14
Speaker
The other thing that they're running into is that, you know, and I think we always knew that they were not quite as deep as a lot of other teams, which is natural. They're an expansion team. absolutely That is one of the costs of being an expansion team. that You just have not built up a roster over many years.
00:35:29
Speaker
But they have been hit a lot harder, it seems, by injury this year. And they've also, some of it self-inflicted. The whole Chucky Lozano thing, I don't know what's going on there. Clearly, he did something that they felt was beyond the pale. That's why they're just letting i player who they spent $8 million dollars to bring in and who they're paying $3.5 million dollars a year to just sit on the not even sit on the bench. to just be on the roster. Just hang up.
00:35:54
Speaker
But then right now, I mean, I'm looking at their injury report that just came out. They've got five players listed as out. And and um man Emmanuel Boateng out CJ Dos Santos, the starting goalkeeper who just came back, took another, took another knee to the face.
00:36:07
Speaker
He's out with a concussion. It looks like a Kamado is out. Lewis Morgan. ah One of the players who they really thought was going to step in and help raise their ceiling pick up. Right. He's out.
00:36:18
Speaker
And then Sysniega is out. And then the the biggest one is the injury to Sergov, the defensive midfielder who did he was he best 11 last year?
00:36:30
Speaker
Oh, I don't know if he was best 11, but he was right there. Yeah. He was right there for best 11 last year. And he has been, this will be, I think the third game that he's, he's missed. And, you know, all these, they were already sort of struggling a little bit, but all these injuries are really exposing their relative lack of depth. and totally that's clearly a problem.
00:36:52
Speaker
Yeah. No. And because, uh, They have the dual sword. I don't know if that's a dual two edge, two edge weapon.
00:37:04
Speaker
Is that what it is? sure Is that what it is? Double sided sword. Yeah. I'm over here trying to figure that out. i was trying to translate it from Spanish to English, but when you have a coach that is set on his waist, yes this is the one we're going to play. We're going to press high.
00:37:22
Speaker
We're going to, Dominate possession. And I don't care who's on the field. This is the way we're going to play. Right. You are going to find times where that's not going to pan out.
00:37:34
Speaker
Right. And by, you know, having a plan B, you're going to have issues. And, and that's where, in my opinion, this team has been unable to just get results. Sometimes the result is about just grind it out. like The centers have done it this season.
00:37:50
Speaker
smash and grab. Like, doesn't matter how you do it. It's all about just getting results. And so, with that in mind, when we talk about this Sounders game and the tools that they have and the absences that they have, think it matches up pretty well for the Sounders because they're team. Of course, you would have said that last week, but anyway. no, I said that last week, but I did, you know what? I do want to make sure that people know that I was concerned that the Sounders are going to drop points because I don't know.
00:38:19
Speaker
To me, there's always those teams that the Sunners tend to drop points at. and And I think I heard somebody tell me that stats don't really follow this. But I thought Sporting and City away, RSL away. They definitely have that reputation. Yeah, where where things just kind of fall apart. But at home...
00:38:36
Speaker
against an expansion team that is as open as the San Diego FCR and in a midfield that, look, I promise you that going through this game, andni look at Anubo Godoy in the second half.
00:38:50
Speaker
Pass the 60th mark, do this gas. So I think that the Sounders, with the way they handle, the way they play through pressure, And the the true passers that they have. And hopefully a very good game by your dual tens.
00:39:04
Speaker
And I think this is going to be a good game for the Sun. You'd like to think. And this is a team who has given up at least two goals in each of their last 10 game. Other than when they had one game where they gave up one goal to Houston.
00:39:17
Speaker
But other than that, nine of their last 10 games, they've given up at least two goals. This is a team that is seemingly ripe for the Sounders to sort of get right. And this is a really important stretch for the Sounders. If they, you know, we talked about this at the beginning of the week with the with the Sounders, is that if they want to stay in the supporter shield race, there's no points they can afford to drop in this homestand.
00:39:40
Speaker
They've got three games against Western Conference opponents. First one, San Diego. You've got to get three points there. Look, the Wednesday game against San Jose Earthquakes, that's going to be tough. This is the hottest team in the league. It might be the best team in the league.
00:39:54
Speaker
In a normal circumstance, you'd probably be okay with one point there. They already beat them ah on the road. But now they're in a position where if they want to be Supporter Shield contenders, probably need to win that one. And then, of course, la Galaxy at home, that's definitely a a must-win game.
00:40:06
Speaker
And then hopefully you have a little bit more room to to spare when you go down to LAFC that closes out the pre-World Cup stretch of games. But this is going to essentially make or break whether or not they're in the Supporter Shield after the World Cup.
00:40:21
Speaker
Yeah, and look, San Jose, no Nico Shaqiris for a while. He won't be back by Wednesday. Timo Berner might not make it as well. He's questionable.
00:40:32
Speaker
So maybe that gives you a little bit of room to rotate and do some things on Wednesday. But this particular game, you got to take it for exactly what you said, right? I mean, you got to earn points immediately. You didn't just do the unthinkable on the road to drop points at home. i mean, that, that would be, you know, you might want to just not do the other and just take care home. So you're hoping that that's what happens. And and this is the way that San Diego FC can do that.
00:41:03
Speaker
I think set pieces are going to be key. ah When it comes to just delivery into the box, whether it's to free kicks or corners, um,
00:41:15
Speaker
Ingberstin is a very good player on air. I think that Dreyer has phenomenal delivery. You got McVay. You got Dua. You got a lot of players that can really beat you up top.
00:41:28
Speaker
So you got to take care of that. Silly mistakes. If there's a team going to take advantage of pressing moments and turning the ball over in your own half,
00:41:39
Speaker
is San Diego. That's how they got a couple of the ah the goals against the AFC. That's the way they've gotten a couple of goals this season. They're a very good team in transition. So you've got to be mindful. You cannot have the Christian Roldan mistakes that you had at Sporting Kansas City. Those unlike mistakes, they cannot happen. You have to be poised on the ball. got to take care of possession.
00:42:01
Speaker
Whether you... And I don't care about about possession percentage. I don't care if you go 40 or you go 30. But that 30 and that 40 better be very good. Yeah. And they better be purposeful, right?
00:42:13
Speaker
So you've got to be able to take care of that. And finally, you cannot allow Andres Dreyer to get in this game. No. He has to be eliminated. He's a killer. He has to get minimized. I don't care if Pellegrino gets a goal. I don't care if Balacari gets a goal. You just don't want Dreyer being the guy that gets going in this game.
00:42:33
Speaker
No, he is a very, very dangerous player. Anders Dreyer was pre a lot of people's MVP last year in the non-Messy edition. Newcomer of the year. He did win Newcomer of the year. i mean, he had an amazing season last year, and he hasn't been quite as blazing hot this year, but he's still got six goals, six assists, ah more than anyone on the Sounders. so I mean, he's a very, very good player, and the Sounders need to be hyper aware of what's going on with him.
00:42:59
Speaker
But as I always say, the Sounders are at their best when they have a team that opens up. That's not going to bunker. That's not going to play deep. And I think that there's a lot of opportunities where Bambino, he is a player that gets high pretty quickly and he gets caught up in those situations.
00:43:18
Speaker
higher moments on the field. So can the Sounders exploit that? Can they get Paul Rothrock behind on that end? yeah Can Jesus Ferreira be able to put a Kalani through? I think Kalani is going to have a lot of room to run with as well. So how good you are in the flanks, how good you are out wide is going to be key in this game, but it's really going to come down to your key and most essential players. To me, Jordan Morris, Jesus Ferreira, Christian Roldan, all those guys have to have a really good game.
00:43:48
Speaker
And look, I am boldish about this game. i I think that Seattle should be able to put three on San Diego. So to me, that would be nice if the Sounders are at their best, if the Sounders are playing to the level that I know that they've played this year, it should be a 3-1 win for the Seattle Sounders.
00:44:07
Speaker
I would definitely take that. Well, let's, I want to talk about a couple other little things before we get out of here
Discussion on Vancouver Whitecaps' Potential Move
00:44:13
Speaker
today. One of them is this ongoing save the cap situation. Yes. ah I just want to reiterate that.
00:44:21
Speaker
We don't know what's going to go on here. it It is, it does look increasingly likely that the caps could potentially move. I just want to reiterate what a massive mistake that would be. And I get it. I understand that the caps can't just sustain losses and losses and losses and that they are, you know, if we believe everything that's coming out of their side of things, that they make the least amount of game day revenue, that they lose the most money year over year.
00:44:48
Speaker
Look, I get it. Those are, those are problems. But I still think as a league, if you it's worth taking those losses because Vancouver is a fantastic soccer market. And I and I there was a story in The Seattle Times today that's talking about what's going on with the Vancouver World Cup organizing and the show that they are putting on there.
00:45:10
Speaker
It's going to be soccer central. I just think there's so many good things going on with Vancouver around soccer on the field and even in some ways off the field that you would be crazy to walk away from this market.
00:45:23
Speaker
And I really, really hope something can be figured out because I selfishly love going there. I love them being part of the Cascadia cup rivalry. I, I love Vancouver as a city, but I just think that even from a totally cynical point of view,
00:45:39
Speaker
It's a market that is worth investing time and energy into. And hopefully something emerges that keeps them there because I think it would be a massive mistake. to Don Garber, I'm talking to you.
00:45:52
Speaker
Do not allow this criminal act to happen. I need you to keep the cabs in Vancouver. This is a franchise that has something that MLS doesn't have.
00:46:07
Speaker
That as a South American, I can tell you is the biggest stigma that... The Yanks have as a league, which is you guys have no history. You guys have nothing that really puts you into the soccer culture.
00:46:25
Speaker
You have that in Vancouver. You have a community and a franchise that goes back 20, 30 years. 50. 50. fifty 50 years, 50 years.
00:46:38
Speaker
How many clubs, how many teams do you have in MLS that can provide that for you? How many fan bases can say that about their team? Do not allow this to happen.
00:46:50
Speaker
If you want Vegas, hey man, I'm cool. Have Vegas. it with expansion team so they can get Mbappe or whoever it is that they want to get into that team with some new DPs or whatever.
00:47:02
Speaker
But it would be a mistake to take Vancouver, a proud franchise, a phenomenal team right now, That hasn't been good forever. And now they're good. And now going to take it away. Now that they have a superstar. Now that they're in mouth of everyone. Now that they have a global stage.
00:47:22
Speaker
Now that they've been able to play CCC. And be a protagonist in that tournament. And people are turning their heads. And I've done shows talking about Vancouver. Talking about LAFC. Talking about the Sounders. And now you're going to take it away.
00:47:35
Speaker
Do not allow it to happen. Save the Cavs. The fan visit serves it. But mainly MLS needs it beyond the money. That's more important.
00:47:47
Speaker
History, pride. That's where it's about. Yeah, I will just second everything you said that I think you said it very well. And i you kind of touched on this, but I think one of the things that isn't getting talked about enough is that Vegas is.
00:48:02
Speaker
a market that has already passed its peak. I think you, if you wanted to get into the MLS into the market in Las Vegas, it needed to be years ago.
00:48:13
Speaker
There's now about to be five pro sports teams there between the Raiders, the A's potentially, we can get to the whole other thing. ah The oh Las Vegas Knights, the Las Vegas Aces,
00:48:28
Speaker
Look, they might get an NBA team. It is just not a good time, especially to bring a relocated Whitecaps because the only team that has the teams that have really...
00:48:40
Speaker
registered with Las Vegas are the teams that were expansion teams that are theirs, not the teams that are coming in. i The A's are never going to draw in Las Vegas. The Raiders, as you unfortunately know, do not draw all that well in Las Vegas.
00:48:54
Speaker
And if you're thinking that tourists are going to go watch MLS, no, that is not going to happen. It's not viable. And look, as a Raider fan and with family in Burbank and Los Angeles, that they're,
00:49:07
Speaker
our season ticket holders that travel the two hours to Oakland, you're not going to get that for the Whitecaps. You're not going to have the LA market coming in to go watch the The caps the way the Raiders do.
00:49:24
Speaker
And same things go for the A's. You think anybody wants to watch Moneyball in Vegas? That's not Vegas. And that's why, you know, I mentioned Enverpay. Because if you have an expansion team, you can do whatever you want. And you can get the the lights of Vegas into a team. But nobody in Vegas is going to go want to watch Andres Kubas as good as he is. Or Brian White as good as he is. Or AZ Jackson as good he as good as he is, they need the big names because it's Vegas. They need Beyonce and they need Celine Dion. I don't know who's out there. You know, the Michael Jackson. So, and ah I forgot where i was at the Mandalay Bay, but you know, all that I'm just losing my mind over here, but that's what they need. They need that big type of of of player.
00:50:10
Speaker
and And look, if there's any, if there's any way, to do an LA Knights type of situation yeah is an expansion team. Absolutely. Making it theirs. Hey, Vegas, this is you. This is what we're going to bring you.
00:50:23
Speaker
Then maybe you have a shooter chance at it. But if you bring franchise like Vancouver, you're dying in two places. you're You're killing that franchise and you're putting a pretty yeah bad...
00:50:39
Speaker
team that people might not be able to watch. I'm not saying they're a bad team. I'm saying that this fan base is not going to feel attached to it. I agree. If you make it from... just l LA from just Vegas. And this is what you were bringing you guys. Then you might be able to just jump on that bandwagon, but not with Vancouver. It just, it makes no sense. I agree. I agree. Well, that seems like a good energy to end on. Yes. ah But I'm hyped over here. We are. We're high excited hyped.
00:51:08
Speaker
We'll be back next week on here. ah want to say thank you to everyone who is both watching and listening to us. If you have not watched us yet, Hey, Come check out our ugly mugs in the this new Sounder Art Studios with the on the Lobbing Scorchers YouTube channel.
00:51:25
Speaker
But with all that said, I'm Jeremiah Oshan getting out of here for Nico Moreno. This is No Sardietes, and we'll catch you next time.
00:52:04
Speaker
Let's go and Sounders.