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Sounders FC - LAFC preview
108 Plays2 years ago
Trebor Tracy has been running Angels on Parade ever since they left SB Nation last year. He joined us to talk about LAFC, how they felt about last season, what they thought of all the offseason turnover and where expectations are now.
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Transcript
Introduction and Sponsor
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey, this is Christian Roldan. And Jordan Morris from the Seattle Sounders Football Club. And you're listening to NOS Arietes. This episode of NOS Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of NOS Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounders supporters.
Seattle Sounders' Victory Recap
00:00:20
Speaker
They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, the Pacific Northwest.
00:00:28
Speaker
A.O. Shen! Let's go! What a save by Fry! The Seattle Sounders have done it! MLS Cup win! Here come three years through the middle to crown it the vehicle! And now they truly can't stop the celebrations. It's the Sounders' MLS Cup! Niko Liddo leaves out!
Interview with Trevor Tracy
00:01:12
Speaker
Is that what you young people call twerking?
00:01:26
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of NOS Adietes, sponsored by Fullpool Wines. I am Jeremiah O'Shan. Joining me today is Trevor Tracy of Angels On Parade. They are an LAFC and I guess Angel City and, uh, what's the other, what's O-C-S-C? Is that right?
00:01:45
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So obviously we've talked to Angels on Parade many times, always with Alicia though. So this is Trevor's first time on the show. Welcome to the show, Trevor. Thank you for having me. I appreciate you reaching out. Excited to be here. Yeah. So first off, tell us how things are going and the independent life of Angels on Parade.
00:02:08
Speaker
It's going good. Last year was our first year independent and it was definitely a learning season. I would say a lot of it was kind of building the foundation and just making sure everything ran as smooth as possible, given what had happened. And this season is a lot more getting our hands dirty and making sure we kind of expand in terms of the content we provide. So a lot of exciting things happening for 2024.
00:02:33
Speaker
Cool. Well, it's always good to see sites like this surviving and hopefully thriving. Uh, but again, thank you for doing this. Obviously we are talking about the season opener for both teams, which is on Saturday at one 30. It's on Fox, uh, obviously as well as MLS season pass. What is the, the mood around LAFC right now?
00:02:58
Speaker
Uh, they are very much trying to get back to having fun with soccer. I think everyone knows when it comes to LAFC, they are very much a team that wants to win it all. And it's very gung ho and not quiet about their desire to win all the trophies. But I think after last season, all the opportunities they had coming up short, I think this year, the focus has really been on getting back to enjoying your
LAFC's Past Challenges and New Focus
00:03:23
Speaker
football. That's something we've heard
00:03:24
Speaker
throughout the preseason, and it's something Steve Turndle reiterated today in his press conference with the media, was just making sure they got back to having fun with soccer. So I think you're seeing a lot of players kind of lean into that and outwardly have looked like they are having more fun in training and are trying to enjoy the little moments a little bit more this season. You bring that up, and last year was an interesting case study. And I think Sanders fans can maybe relate
00:03:53
Speaker
but it was in a lot of ways a hugely successful season, right? You, you, you got to MLS cup. You were competitive in the MLS regular season. You went to the champions league final. You were competitive in league's cup. Uh,
00:04:09
Speaker
It was, you set a record, I believe, for most games played, but yet at the end of the day, no silverware. And in fact, a lot of, I think a lot of opposing fans, myself included, had some fun at the idea that LAFC repeatedly came up short in the biggest games of their season. Inside LAFC, what was the feeling like? Was it like, look guys, we played the most games, obviously we had a successful year, or was it sort of a, I mean, like, I don't know, how would you describe it?
00:04:38
Speaker
Um, I think at first there was a little bit of the first one, you know, after losing the champions league, it was, it was kind of just like, okay. We had a tough goal with it, but you know, we know we're a good team. We know we'll bounce back and then they did bounce back. But, but as you said, they had opportunity after opportunity. Um, I will say, I think losing that us open cup match to galaxy really for me, at least kind of was the pivotal part of the season where
00:05:04
Speaker
the mood kind of switched to kind of that, that they lost a little bit of that arrogance where it was like very much like, okay, this may not be the season we think it's going to be. And, um, but there was as much as they understood soccer, soccer and with the way it is now finals are, you know, they are what they are. There was still a disappointment, very much so disappointment. They, they, knowing they came away with zero trophies, I think really hurt. Had they won one of those?
00:05:33
Speaker
Sure. That totally changes things, right? Totally. Exactly. Totally changed. Even if it's like, you know, some people may say whichever one is the least valuable to you, if they had won that one, it's a totally different season, but it was still very much a successful season. I think they very, they very much wanted to, to tell people that, you know, this wasn't a failure in their eyes. This wasn't like we're going to hang our heads. This was just, you know, it was a disappointment.
Team Dynamics and Offseason Changes
00:05:56
Speaker
We didn't get the silverware, but at the same time, we know we're a good club and we're going to bounce back.
00:06:00
Speaker
And at the same time, you know, they, the off season has been interesting because there's been a lot of change and there's been mostly outgoing. There has been some in lately. We've had a couple more additions lately, but some really pivotal players in the franchise's history really have, have left. Does it feel like it's the end of an era and that we're sort of starting LAFC 2.0 essentially?
00:06:25
Speaker
uh i would say they are trying to quell that narrative within the club but but i think if you ask you know the fans if you kind of ask ask other media around it i think yeah you're looking at
00:06:37
Speaker
It, you don't want to say necessarily a rebuild year because it's not like they they're having to start from scratch, but it's very much like you said, a season and off season where they saw a lot of players leave. Um, they did have that flurry of signings about a couple of weeks ago. Uh, they brought in some solid players, but they did have that core kind of initial first era.
00:06:58
Speaker
of LAFC and that kind of monumental success leave. And so, yeah, I think there's very much a sense of, okay, this is the next step and what does that look like? Were you surprised at how much change there's been this offseason or was this something that was always sort of expected?
00:07:17
Speaker
I think looking at the way the contract shaped up, you knew that this was very much a possibility. A lot of guys had their contracts running out around the same time. I think also, as we talked about, just the way the season ended last year, I think there's very much an added sense from players of
00:07:35
Speaker
OK, if not now, then when would I make that big move? And so I think you saw a lot of those guys kind of on the fringe ready to make that leap, make that leap. Whereas I think, again, with that success here, would they have stayed maybe one more year possibly? But but I think this was always an offseason looked at where they were going to lose some players. I don't think anyone anticipated losing every everyone the way that they kind of had. Right. They're still very confident with the whole Vela situation. I'm sure we'll talk about that. But
00:08:04
Speaker
But yeah, having lost so many was kind of a blow. Well, that's a good transition into the Carlos Villa situation. Everyone sort of assumed, at least outside, it seemed pretty obvious that this was the end of the road for Carlos Villa. And his option, or I don't know if he had an option, he wasn't resigned immediately. And sort of the narrative was, oh, if only
00:08:28
Speaker
if only LAC could bring him back. It's such a shame that they can't make room for him on the roster, and yet here they are sitting with, what, two open DP spots. Carlos Vela is unsigned. What's going on with him?
00:08:41
Speaker
Um, well, last, like I said, there was a media conference today and the latest is just that they are confident in their talks with Bella. Um, they've maintained that both sides want to get a deal done that. So they do want to bring them back. That's, that's what they've said that they, or at least that's what they've insinuated with, with their negotiations. They haven't completely cut off ties. Uh, they are open and saying that they are negotiating with them. Um, according to them, he,
00:09:10
Speaker
there is interest on his side in coming back so at this moment it's very much still in limbo but as you said I think
00:09:18
Speaker
for a lot of people that chapter has closed. I think if he does come back, obviously he'll be welcomed back. It's not like a situation where, Oh man, Bella's here. What are we going to do? I think for a lot of fans and a lot of people, they've kind of accepted the fact that there it's time to move on. And, um, so it's really interesting to hear the team still be adamant in their pursuit of him.
00:09:41
Speaker
interesting and so is the assumption sort of that they'd love to bring him back as long as he's not a DP or is there is it more complicated than that um like it's about roles it's yeah i think it's a little bit more well i don't know if it's about roles i i've said that vella's best season was that 2022 season when they won the mls cup and he was
00:10:00
Speaker
more embracing the kind of, I don't want to say bench role, but kind of the veteran role where he wasn't as it wasn't everything didn't go through him. Exactly. He was taking a seat back and letting other guys lead the team. And, uh, he seemed to enjoy that role, have fun in that role. So I don't, I don't think it's a real situation. I do think there's probably a little bit of what the money looks like. What kind of contract does he want versus what the team wants to give
Player Contracts and Performances
00:10:26
Speaker
him? Um, but we haven't heard anything.
00:10:29
Speaker
any rumors as to what exactly that would be.
00:10:33
Speaker
So the other player that there's been a lot of chatter around is Denny Boonga. He, I believe he, he himself has said that he would have been interested in a move overseas and he sort of felt like I've outperformed my contract and I want to, I want a new deal. It is a sense that he's happy that they've sort of sued that over. What's your sense of, of his status in the team at this point?
00:11:00
Speaker
I think he's happy. He very much enjoys being in LA playing for LAFC. He was very vocal about wanting to either take that next step and kind of get back to Europe or get a better contract here, which he did deserve. I mean, you look at the season he had.
00:11:17
Speaker
A lot of times he carried the team. But I think for now, he's very much happy here. Whatever problems they had, they have soothed over. But I wouldn't be surprised if he has another season like he did last year where he's the front-runner on the team, leading it, kind of everything going through him and scoring loads of goals if we're kind of back to this again next offseason where it's like, OK, I want more. Right. Yeah, I mean, it is funny because it's
00:11:47
Speaker
The idea that a designated player can ever be on a like a good deal is like kind of a funny thing. But yeah, here he is, you know, he's like outside the top 10 in terms of annual salary. And yeah, he seems to be on a really good deal, but it's also interesting. So I can't blame him. I mean, especially when he's got a teammate who was making a lot more than him, at least last year.
00:12:14
Speaker
But, you know, that's, this is the funny world that we live in with MLS. And so what are you, what are your thoughts on the players they brought in? You know, the big, the veteran they brought in was Edward Artuesta, who obviously is a very much a known quantity. And then the other players are very intriguing talents, but they are effectively still unproven.
00:12:33
Speaker
I think it's very much in line with what LAFC has done historically with their signings. I think even when Atuesta was bought, he was an exciting, unproven talent that they were able to mold into one of the better midfielders in MLS at the time that he left. I think that's very much what this club enjoys doing. They love bringing in younger talent.
00:12:58
Speaker
their last couple of big sign had been, you know, Kaylini bail, uh, Hugo Lori's, you know, older veteran legends of the game. But for the most part, this is a club that loves bringing in kind of that younger, exciting yet something to prove in themselves and just taking that and helping them reach their ceiling.
LAFC's Future Predictions
00:13:16
Speaker
So I think we'll see a lot of that. And
00:13:19
Speaker
It especially helps with, with having a head coach like Steve Trundello, because he's also proven to be someone that can very much mold young talent, uh, with his time throughout LAFC, not just as a head coach, but in his couple of years, um, as an assistant in running the lights for the club. And what's your sense in terms of expectations this year? Does it feel like they expect to hit the ground running or is there sort of a, you know, a period where they, they feel like they need to figure themselves out?
00:13:47
Speaker
uh the ladder very much the ladder um obviously we can't take too much from preseason they infamously looked terrible and lost every match in preseason 2022 and then went on to
00:13:58
Speaker
to win the cup but but I think very much this looks like a team that is going to have growing pains uh that is a team in a squad that is a lot of players that aren't used to playing with each other a lot of new faces um I do think it's a really good test match day one to go against a team like the Seattle Sounders not just a team that is going to be you know that's a team that's going to be your your conference rival a team that's growing to be one of your main rivals
00:14:26
Speaker
They're going to bring the energy. You know they are. This is a team you're likely going to see down the road. So I think it's a great first test to get hit in the mouth and see how they react.
Rivalries and Travel Tips
00:14:38
Speaker
You bring up a good point and you mentioned the Sounders as rivals. I assume it's Galaxy and then of course everyone else, sort of like how it's the Timbers and everyone else for the Sounders. But where do the Sounders sit in terms of antipathy or the rivalry hierarchy among LAFC fans, if not necessarily the organization itself?
00:15:02
Speaker
I think they're number two. I think that that's safe to say now, especially, you know, given last season and meeting again. And yeah, this is a team that they've not only met a lot of, I mean, this is, you know, the Sounders were the ones that opened up their home. Yeah. inaugural season. You know, yes. I mean, you know, I believe we also opened up the season season, the inaugural season. You were the first away match for the club. I believe.
00:15:25
Speaker
Yeah, there was the first, it was the first, it was the first season opener in 2018, right? Yeah. And then it was the first home game. And that was the, the Lauren, uh, 93rd minute winner or whatever, right? Yeah. Yeah. And, um,
00:15:40
Speaker
You know, every match from the start has been physical and important. And just the last few years, having met the Sounders again in the postseason and in all these tournaments, there's very much a sense of, I don't think, you know, there's never going to be another team that reaches kind of the level of.
00:15:56
Speaker
right rivalry hatred of
00:16:12
Speaker
We can hang with, you know, the Western conference is best down the stretch. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's, that's good to hear. That's, that's, it's always fun to hear, hear that stuff. Uh, so I'm going to be going to my first trip to LAFC this week. What, what kind of advice do you have in terms of like, I've been to LA many times, but, uh,
00:16:33
Speaker
I don't know. I actually don't know downtown that well. Anything you would suggest that a visiting Seattleite know about visiting LA, presumably downtown, which is relatively close to where the stadium is, and specifically getting into anything they need to make sure to do when they're at the stadium? Oh, man.
00:16:59
Speaker
I kind of blindsided you with this. Yeah. Well, I mean, just, you know, there's so much to do. I think that's all I know. Everything is great in downtown. I'll just say like for the match specifically, um, you know, you definitely just want to take in the atmosphere. I think
00:17:16
Speaker
A lot of, you know, a lot of whether you love it or hate it, a lot of people hear so much about the atmosphere of BMO of the 3252 coming into the MLS and just kind of establishing themselves as one of the quote unquote better fan bases. But but I would just recommend taking it all in because it does start from
00:17:36
Speaker
The moment they get in the stadium, which is usually about an hour before kickoff and they go nonstop, they set the tone. It is, it is an event. It is an event. Um, you know, just, just take it all in, enjoy it. But I would really recommend after the match, you got to get the bacon wrapped hot, uh, hot dogs. That's like a must for every visitor outside.
00:17:59
Speaker
Yes, there's several carts. There's hundreds of carts outside, thankfully. Doing bacon-wrapped hot dogs. They are the best. It's something so comforting about a bacon-wrapped hot dog after an LA sporting event. It's either blissful when you win or consoling when you lose, but it's something I recommend everybody that visits LA experience.
00:18:23
Speaker
Okay. That's a good one. Cause I now feel like I remember it being suggested that this was sort of the LA dog. It is. It is. It is. I know, you know, Dodger dogs like to say that they're kind of like the LA dog, but I know, but that's like a, that's kind of a stadium specific, but like very much the LA experience for sporting events is after the match, getting that bacon wrapped hot dog. It used to be like four or five dollars.
00:18:47
Speaker
you know, you know, it's still worth it. Very much still worth it. Very much the cheapest kind of meal you'll get in the area on a match day. I might, I might have to hit that up. All right. And then, uh, is there any, any talk area downtown that you would suggest that is like a must hit downtown? I know that's the thing. I know there's like a million. Well, I would
00:19:14
Speaker
Grand Central Station has a lot. That's in the area. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. I know. And that's the market? The market. Yeah. They have a couple really good taquerias there that are really excellent.
00:19:27
Speaker
So if I go there, so if I, so if you go there, you will find great food, right? Okay. That was sort of my question is that am I selling myself short? If I, if I go there or is that actually like, not at all, that's a, that's a spot. Yeah. That is one of the better downtown spots in terms of getting food, whether it be tacos or, uh, it's really prop popular for breakfast. Cause they have a egg slut, which is really good as well. Um, but yeah.
00:19:54
Speaker
You wouldn't be so on your social. You'd be going. You'd be making the right move. OK, good, good, good. That's why I like to hear. All right. Well, thank you so much for taking the time, Trevor. Oh, yeah. Are you going to be out of the game? I am. I am. I'm excited to hear you'll be there. You'll be. I'll see you for sure. Yeah. No, this is the first time I'm making a goal this year of traveling to more.
00:20:14
Speaker
games. The only places I've been up till now are San Jose, Portland, and Vancouver, and then Toronto, but that's kind of a different category. Well, yeah, I guess I've done more traveling there, but within MLS, those are the stadiums I visited, and I'm hoping to tick off a few more. LAFC has always been on that list. May try to get out to
00:20:38
Speaker
Is it? Oh, StubHub? Is that where they're calling it now? What do they call me? Uh, the galaxy one? Yeah, Carson. No, it's dignity. Dignity health. Yes. It's changed names so many times. Dignity health sports park now. Yeah. Uh, so might try to get there. We'll see what else you get others. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, well, thank you so much for doing this, Trevor. Where can people read you? Where can people follow you?
00:20:59
Speaker
Um, I am the managing editor over at angels on parade. That's where you can read anything and everything, uh, from me. I'm also on X Twitter, uh, at Treb Tracy. And that's where you'll find my ramblings on all things soccer.
Conclusion and Farewell
00:21:13
Speaker
So awesome. Well, thank you for doing this. And, uh, and best of luck. Uh, well, the rest of the season may be not maybe not Saturday. Yeah.
00:21:24
Speaker
All right, I'm Jeremiah Shan. This is no study at this. Thank you to our sponsors, football wines, and we will get you next time.
00:22:27
Speaker
We love you. Let's win another one!