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MLS DECISION DAY Watch Along POST-MATCH LIVE
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Listen to the post-match live segment from our decision day marathon watch-along beginning after the conclusion of the Seattle Sounders' matchup with NYCFC at Citi Field.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a production of Just Once Media.
Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Live Recording and Weather Banter
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.
Seattle Sounders vs NYCFC Game Recap
00:00:44
Speaker
That's it. The Seattle Sounders have done it. That's it? 2-1. Okay. i Let's go, Mets. Mine has an end, but...
00:00:52
Speaker
Let's go Mets. And that is it. Yes, on my on my stream. That is it. Let's go Mets. Seattle Sounders 2-1 at New York City FC. Close out the 2025 regular season with a big win in the Mets outfield.
00:01:09
Speaker
Honestly, yeah that's a really good win, Noah. How are you feeling right now? No, that's great.
00:01:15
Speaker
I feel great. Whoa, Miami scored a fifth. Miami scored a fifth. all right they're like Miami scored a fifth. Who was it? Who was it?
00:01:27
Speaker
Oh, it was Segovia. Boom. Straight in into podcast. Yeah. You guys don't even have to wait. You don't even have to wait for the live to start. We're already, we're already in post-match live. I'm going to pull up the pressers. Oh yeah. Yeah.
00:01:39
Speaker
I forgot about that. We don't even, we don't even have to stress and we've got another 40 minutes before we're going to start this next slate. So chat we are not, we are not signing off. We're going to keep going. Not yet.
00:01:52
Speaker
We're going all of decision day.
00:01:55
Speaker
Every single decision, every single day. That is, that is, uh, that was a really good performance. Like yeah that really was when you throw in the, uh, you're going have to pull going to have to pull up the, uh, the presser.
00:02:11
Speaker
Oh, I am. Yeah. Okay. I can do that.
00:02:17
Speaker
uh given what happened in the uh in the first half obviously with de la vega that'll be that'll be dealt with that is a cloud that hangs over it uh but for for the team to to play that well score two goals in the mets outfield get the win uh actually i can pull it up never mind i'm sorry i was wrong you're good i couldn't find it so good okay
00:02:42
Speaker
yeah We should, we should give, we should give the team there.
Sounders' Strategy and Playoff Readiness
00:02:45
Speaker
That was a good win on the road. That was, that was well done. I really liked how they played as well. Like it wasn't just like, that wasn't a smash and grab, like absorb pressure the whole time and get two goals and squeak it out. Like they, they were in control of the game for the most part, I think pretty much the whole game, except there is portions of the second half, especially at the very end where they are absorbing pressure, but that's the expected.
00:03:10
Speaker
Um, I liked how they controlled the game state. i liked I liked how they looked on the counter.
00:03:21
Speaker
setpe Two set-piece goals. a Albert Rusnak. Rusnak did take that last corner, didn't he? Yeah, you did. yeah I haven't even seen the replay of the Reagan goals.
00:03:33
Speaker
Yeah, ive I watched just the highlight real quick, but I want i want to toss it back on those. yeah Ari, that's it. We've done it. The regular season, another regular season for Lobbing Scorchers. I know. It's kind of crazy to think about. That flew by.
00:03:48
Speaker
like, wow. I moved houses. Heberhammer, thank you for all your support this season. We appreciate you. Yeah. Into the post we go, indeed. It's going to be, I mean, it's been a marathon of a season, man. It really has. Like when you throw in the, I was thinking about this today, like the, the Club World Cup labor dispute that we covered.
00:04:12
Speaker
This season has been 10,000 years long. Like, that feels like it was like five years ago. Yeah. But then, obviously, getting to cover the whole League's Cup run, the 7-0. Oh, my God. That 7-0 was blissful, Ari. there we I mean, we got to do some legendary games. The seven zero the League's Cup final. Wait, Zaha was the one who got the red card?
00:04:32
Speaker
Oh, no. Someone get his Snapchat up right now. Someone find his Snapchat right now. I need to see it. Oh, my God. Pull up the Willy Zaza.
00:04:43
Speaker
The Willy Zaza smoking on that Zaza and and crashing out. on We're going rip the presser and then and then I think we'll like toss the call in link like out like we usually would. right Yeah, absolutely. I agree.
00:04:56
Speaker
So we'll do that post-presser. it's We're still waiting. it's The presser is not available yet. The presser is not available yet.
00:05:09
Speaker
It is the most Zaha thing ever to crash out, like, in your final game of the season and be suspended for your first
Key Players and Injuries Discussion
00:05:15
Speaker
postseason match. That's pretty tight. That's pretty tight. And that's, and that and listen, and that is what Y'all's 2025 best and MLS content creators are are up to, okay? We just we just keep, it just it just continues. My oh my.
00:05:31
Speaker
That's what it is. Drink one, Joey with the 20 bones. Thank you, Joey. Drink one for Papo. Having a sip. We're having a sip.
00:05:43
Speaker
Thank you. Thank you for that, Joey. Yeah, it's... I miss Pagliacci, you savages. I'm so sorry. That's just as what it is. But ah yeah, man. Pepo, I think the biggest loss of this match, obviously, is Pepo.
00:05:57
Speaker
Everything else... That situation is a freaking disaster. it's It's an incredible disaster. And it's... in it's in it's I think what makes it more annoying is like we can pontificate all day, all night on, was it the right decision to play him? Was it the wrong decision to play him?
00:06:15
Speaker
You know, what are we doing? Like all of that. We can pontificate for, for years, for hours, for days. And it doesn't matter because it happened. And like now exactly that's, I'm not even like interested in the, in the hindsight of it. Yeah. Like we're trying to litigate that now. It's just, it's just,
00:06:29
Speaker
It's just not helpful. They played a strong a strong lineup today, and they won the game in a in a way that I think is like bodes really well for the for the playoffs. like I think you had to play a lineup that was strong enough for that.
00:06:46
Speaker
All right. Looks like the Zoom feed is up.
00:06:50
Speaker
we're still We're still waiting for a second. Coach is still talking.
00:06:57
Speaker
Locker room speech. Mm-hmm.
00:07:02
Speaker
That looks like Brad Evans walking by your window. ginger beer is so good. Dude, that Rachel, shout out Rachel. We're eating all local today. Rachel's, hit our line. Hit our line if you want to sponsor. Hit our line. Pagliacci, hit our line.
00:07:15
Speaker
Hit our line. I hope Tribe calls in because he did call the new who own goal. i know like now we can I know it doesn't count as an own goal. Now we can laugh about Now we can laugh about it.
00:07:27
Speaker
Now we can laugh about it. Now we can laugh about it. ah Yeah. i will I will say that
00:07:37
Speaker
I'm just really glad that they... Not that they blew the lead, but they they blew the lead, and then they came back and retook the lead. Jackson Reagan, of all people.
00:07:48
Speaker
Yeah, unlike Mira. set piece. Ari, remember when we couldn't score off set pieces? at Both of the goals today. Both of the goals What are we doing? george What is the Seattle Sounders team? Jordan Morris back on the score sheet as well. Yep.
00:08:01
Speaker
So... Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Really, the vibes would be so good right now if it wasn't for the for the Pepo situation. yeah yeah I mean, regardless, I think going into the playoffs, this is ah this is exactly the win you want, right? Like a tough come-from-behind win that you had to grid out.
00:08:19
Speaker
You were on the road in the possible worst conditions. Again, the these guys are these guys are putting on baseball uniforms. These guys are putting on baseball uniforms. They said Major League Baseball needs more viewership.
00:08:32
Speaker
How do we do that? And they played soccer in the Mets outfield. Oh my God. The ah Jackson Reagan baseball celebration was electric. It's electric. That was so good.
00:08:44
Speaker
That's so good. I hope that... ah i hope that ah one of the better ah That was one of the better performances of the season, I think. Jackson Reagan had an incredible night. He is my... I mean... Jackson Reagan was incredible. He's my MVP. He's my game winner.
00:08:57
Speaker
Albert Rusnag was diamonded up on those ah on those free kicks to ah to antagonize Noah. ah Jordan Morris... misses a sitter, an offside sitter, but misses a sitter, but then gets a goal, which that's huge. That's huge. That's huge for his just overall.
00:09:13
Speaker
If he'd got, if the this game ended and he hadn't got a goal, I'd be low key kind of worried about his mental health. Yeah. I'm just glad that ah he got on the score sheet.
00:09:24
Speaker
ah Danny Leiva. I thought, I thought the Danny Leiva JP double pivot worked really well today. Snyder B was flying around. Yeah. Rothrock, I thought.
00:09:36
Speaker
Ari, two days in a row, two comebacks for Seattle in baseball stadiums. That's right. That's right. This one was much higher stakes. I'm just kidding. This one was much higher stakes, obviously.
00:09:49
Speaker
who's Who is ah in our version of the big dumper also scored? Jordan Morris. I was going to say, i could I feel like it could be either one of them. It could be either one of them, yeah. No, I think you're right, though. No, Jordan Morris, definitely. He's like he he's big dumper archetype.
00:10:05
Speaker
Who are we getting?
00:10:08
Speaker
Alex Bond, maybe? Albert? Albert and Jackson. We got Albert and Jackson on the presser chat. Coming right up. Albert and Jackson.
00:10:20
Speaker
We'll see. They should be out here in a second. The big jumper. I like that. The big jumper. Jackson Reagan game winner winner. What a time to be alive. I'm sorry. How does he not win man of the match? Who got it?
00:10:31
Speaker
Jordan. Jordan.
00:10:33
Speaker
I think that's for like ah it's like recognition of his his return return to the score sheet. Jackson Reagan put up not only an incredible defensive performance, but also an incredible offensive performance. Joey, aenra coming in with the 20. Yeah, we hit that. Oh, we did. You missed it. well we hit Hit it again.
00:10:56
Speaker
I'm drinking one for Pepo. Another one. Yes, dude. Drink one for Pepo.
00:11:04
Speaker
Salty Moose agenda check. Bro, I've been saying he's a crash out. I've been saying he's a crash out. And Ari was like, no, bro, he's he's not. I was late to Moose's crash out Jason tendencies.
00:11:17
Speaker
i never really thought of him as a crash out or non-crash out one way or the other. But then after the famous Leagues Cup red card, I started noticing like, oh, yeah.
00:11:28
Speaker
And then he had a couple, what was the...
00:11:34
Speaker
He got that yellow that like really pissed you off and yeah said that you wanted him off the team. Yes. I'm starting a poll because someone in chat asked, um will Nico ask about Pedro injury?
00:11:47
Speaker
Here's our, this is our, we're going to play a little game here for, for the presser. Will Nico ask about the Pedro injury? I wish we were on Twitch. It is fun. Like you can have little points and then you can bet your points on like an outcome, ah but they don't have that on YouTube. So maybe someday YouTube will get that, but we could have, we could have done that. That would have been fun.
00:12:10
Speaker
We love Nico, man. Everyone's saying yes. Everyone's saying yes. go Nico is probably going to call in after the game. He better. What do we pay him for? What are we paying him for?
00:12:21
Speaker
You know? i'm I'm a little, Jackson Feltz should be calling in too. I'm a little, you know, I'm a salty they didn't call in during the game. Yeah, we'll get Jeremiah, I'm sure, after as well. He's available. They also work these games. Yeah, they work or whatever. Sure.
00:12:35
Speaker
Work.
00:12:38
Speaker
We're working right now too, you know? God forbid. Thank you guys for hanging out for the decision day watch along. I feel like it's been pretty successful. Yeah, we're definitely, we're definitely doing the thing.
00:12:52
Speaker
We're definitely doing the thing. And it's not ending. o We're going to watch the whole second slate.
00:12:58
Speaker
We are going to watch a second slate. Toronto, Orlando ends four to two Dude, Orlando, man. What?
00:13:07
Speaker
What?
00:13:19
Speaker
i am ah I am curious to see the Schmetz demeanor here.
00:13:27
Speaker
There's a great win. He's going to be excited. He also, you could tell when De La Vega went down that he was, I mean, looked about how you would expect.
00:13:40
Speaker
So
00:13:44
Speaker
we'll see if he's got, he's probably not going to have any like ah prognosis type updates. But, you know, i will I will bet all of my money in the world that he says we'll get an um MRI on Monday.
00:13:57
Speaker
Yeah, he's going to say that, but I'm i'm more going to be watching to read his demeanor. Are tickets on sale for playoffs? You can go to lobbingscorchers.com slash tickets.
00:14:08
Speaker
to access playoff and all of your Seattle Sounders ticket needs. Nick, this is what I was thinking about today. the ryan kent Ryan Kent has become a much more integral character to the Seattle Sounders and MLS Cup hopes than we all yeah expected. like Because i i i i stuck my neck out on the take that I never sold my stock.
00:14:35
Speaker
No, no, no. I never sold my stock. A lot of people did sell the stock. We had people giving us a hard time for ever having the stock. I never sold my stock. I think that there's every chance that if he if he gets consistent run in the playoffs, he could veryary he could positively contribute to this team still.
00:14:56
Speaker
And chat, listen, we're at 50 likes, which is fine. It's okay. That's not. But it's it's it's not enough. So please, if you're watching, drop that like, okay? If you literally click the like button, it turns into a soccer ball.
00:15:08
Speaker
is that like just Just do it to watch it. just like Just do it to check it out. Did we set that up? No, it just happened. YouTube Algo knows. YouTube Algo no we are We're part of the partner program.
00:15:20
Speaker
we're part of we We have a rep. We're big time. Yeah, we do have a YouTube rep. We have a YouTube rep, What's that guy doing? We should have him calling. We should have him on the stream. Alex is his name.
00:15:32
Speaker
Shout out to Alex. Shout out to our YouTube rep, Alex. that's We do it for him every
Eastern Conference Analysis and Fan Interaction
00:15:36
Speaker
day. Orlando does fall into the and into a wild card, which... The East table is kind of crazy. Like, there are good teams that are lower down on the table yeah than they would be in the West.
00:15:47
Speaker
But... God, Chicago, dude. The crew making it out of there is just so... It just makes me so upset because I really wanted them to play the play-in game and then have get to play Philly in that first round. Like, that would have just been... i feel like the crew are just so dusted.
00:16:05
Speaker
I think they're dusted. When I'm looking at the East... The crew in Orlando. I mean, they did put the beat on the Bulls. The crew and Orlando are two teams that I just assumed would be factors in the East yeah that aren't. That don't look like it.
00:16:23
Speaker
And you look at Nashville. like i own I know that it's messy in the Barca boys, but to get 5-2'd on decision day in your its tough in your own building. It's tough. That's not good. Then they were looking like the better. like They had the upper hand.
00:16:35
Speaker
there's all There's been a lot of talk about elevating there's been a lot of talk about how the East is, ah like, how superior it is to the West. And I get, like, looking at the point totals, but I don't know, man. Watching how these games went today.
00:16:47
Speaker
You're telling me that the the Columbus Crew are essentially the Portland Timbers right now. Like, I would put them as equals. I don't think that's unfair to say. No, they're they're like Timbers East, man. That's like yes basically like in a derogatory way.
00:17:02
Speaker
No, exactly. And like Atlanta is sporting. You know? DC is LA. Galaxy. But it's like Red Bulls, terrible. Revolution, terrible.
00:17:16
Speaker
Toronto FC, terrible. Red Bulls didn't even make the playoffs. No. this These are non-playoff teams. Montreal, terrible. And then like the fire. That's the thing. like When you get to play teams like that, you can like, what's the word?
00:17:32
Speaker
inflate your point total yes like ah yes that no one really was talking about that during this whole like the east is so good thing but like yeah when you get to play cf montreal twice a year yeah you usually just can bank six points off rip you can't really do that in the west as much and like i'll give credit to the the chicago fire greg greg greg ball greg ball played out the pretty well at the end they turn it around fire not bad no like i think they're gonna i think they could make a run cup The fire?
00:18:00
Speaker
Yeah. I think... Because they'll do the play-in game and then they'll play Philly. Yeah, no, it's not a bad take because... Well, and they also... I mean, i don't know. on on one hand, they can score enough goals to hang with anybody. On the other hand, they still do have the Chicago Fire tendencies of like conceding a ton of goals. Yeah.
00:18:21
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, that's not... All right.
00:18:29
Speaker
Okay, we've got Bert and Jackson coming. Bert and Jackson.
00:18:44
Speaker
yeah It's going to be due to New York traffic.
00:18:55
Speaker
Per Sounders PR, it is a long drive to the airport. Per Sounders PR, the Sounders have a long drive to the airport. Maybe they're flying out of Connecticut or something. The set pieces have been cooking, Kenny.
00:19:08
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. That's a great, that because that's that's key for the playoffs. It is. I was telling i was telling you that Roosnack's back with that. I was telling you. And then he got to assist off it. yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure.
00:19:22
Speaker
I still want Danny Leyva on the corners, man. I get it. I get it. He proved me wrong. But I'm going to hold my agenda. Honestly, if ah if this was literally even like a month or two ago, I would actually be on board with that take. I just think that Rusnak has like... He got one assist. he's who got Who took the second corner? Leyva had the last corner. Oh, your agenda strengthened.
00:19:47
Speaker
I didn't even see who took that last corner. So, yeah. We're really, guys, we're really ah flying by the seat of our pants here because I was picking up the pizza and that all happened. Ari was doing it. literally, haven't seen the, let's see I haven't seen the game winner.
00:20:04
Speaker
Let's look up this game winner. Yeah, I kind of want to see this game winner, dude. A decision day dub in the Big Apple. We should not undersell this. that That is, that is. As we always say, it's about bites of the apple. Yes. You know?
00:20:16
Speaker
At the Big Apple. God, that was a great header. Jackson Reagan. Yeah. don't um See ya. That was a really good. And he, dude, he crushed that ball. He crushed crushed that ball. That shit. It was, that was like, uh, that was like a shot. De La Vega would take, except he did it with his head. Yeah.
00:20:36
Speaker
reagan uh goal of all time like really is top bins squirt like just screeching hot ball but it comes off his dome this is the jackson reagan magnum opus yeah is this the jackson reagan magnum opus chat and and it is it is a really good corner by uh by a guy who frankly should be taking all the corners yeah yeah yeah Unfortunately. The Sounders don't win that game if Danny Leva doesn't take that corner, Ari.
00:21:07
Speaker
I was going to make the opposite argument, but with Rusnak. And then it turned out he didn't even take it and Danny Leva took it. yeah so that's Now you get to make that. Yeah, exactly.
00:21:17
Speaker
Oh, how the tables have turned, buddy.
00:21:22
Speaker
Oh, here we go. and Right away so we can get you guys out of there as quickly as we can. We're going to start with Jeremiah...
00:21:37
Speaker
Yeah, Albert, i or either one of you, I suppose. But um you know this was ah not a huge ah huge result in terms of the standings, at least in the Western Conference. By the way, you guys did jump four teams in the Eastern Conference in the Supporter Shield.
00:21:54
Speaker
But ah how how important was it, though, just to sort of keep the the winning streak going and to sort of prove that you guys can get results on the road?
00:22:07
Speaker
Oh.
00:22:09
Speaker
Albert, one second. They're muted. muted somehow They're muted.
00:22:14
Speaker
They're muted. That's funny. You hear me now? Yep. Good to go. um No, I was saying I do agree with you. We knew we're going to stay in the fifth no matter what the result is. But, you know, it's it's one of those games where you can only do harm to yourselves almost. You know, if you don't play up to the to the standards and you have a bad result going into the playoffs, then...
00:22:38
Speaker
You know, we can get blamed for it ah in case something happens in the playoffs. So it had to be a professional performance from us. We still wanted to win, you know, whether we can move up or not.
00:22:49
Speaker
It was against a good opponent who's also, you know, in the playoffs in ah in the East. um So we try to treat it as somewhat of a playoff game, although it didn't it didn't you know feel like it. I'll be honest with you. So, yeah, I mean, I'm i'm glad that we.
00:23:05
Speaker
We built some momentum. how We won, you know, a few can consecutive games in a row. In a row, sorry. And this one being on the road, we know that we will play, start the playoffs on the road as well. So I think, you know, it's it's's it's good for us, you know. It's good for us to win today and then to win their last regular season game. And then it's it's on to playoffs now.
00:23:31
Speaker
Masvidda, you have the next question. Go ahead and ask, please. Yeah. Hey, Jackson Reagan, kind of a big week for you. I think you had celebration, your personal life, and then you end up with this, the goal, you know, um to win the game. And as Albert said, to get you guys ready for the playoffs, just talk about what this week's been in the last few days have been for you and this game.
00:23:54
Speaker
ha Yeah, it's been a good week. And I mean, I think, You know, this game didn't mean and didn't mean anything points wise or standings wise, but i mean, it's still, it's just about pride at this point and also building momentum for the playoffs. I think we're, you have to get motivated in maybe different ways, but I think we're, we're working on, you know, our tactics and playing the way we want to play. And then, i mean, building momentum. So we're feeling good going into the playoffs.
00:24:30
Speaker
All right, we'll go to Nico Moreno next. Nico, go ahead, please.
00:24:36
Speaker
Thank you. i guess, Albert, how do you take, obviously, playing a very good game, getting some you know very earned three points, but then also seeing a ah fellow player go down, especially one like Pedro that has dealt with injuries, has worked so hard to get back. And you know how is the the group feeling about it?
00:24:59
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's it was dead quiet when we came in the locker room. You know, we saw him right there at the door. Everyone cashed. Nico already asked about the injury. It's really sad.
00:25:11
Speaker
You know, I was right there when it happened. I did see his knee, and it was not a pleasant look because by the look of it, you could see that something serious has just happened.
00:25:24
Speaker
So, I mean, yeah, everybody has got it for him. Like you said, he's dealt with... Injuries in the past. um and And here is another one. And yeah, I think no matter what we say, any of us, you guys, us players, staff, it's it's it's a bad one. It's it's a battle it's it's sad moment.
00:25:47
Speaker
For him, for us as a team, um you know, he's one of the one of the nicest guys that we have on the team. So, yeah, think I that's nothing. That's all I can say, honestly.
00:26:01
Speaker
All right, Jeremiah, did you have a follow up?
00:26:04
Speaker
ah Yeah, you know, Jackson, you ah you got that goal there. it looks like you kind of just threw aside your defender. ah i have to imagine something like that feel, i don't know, it just feels like a good goal to to score, especially late in the game like that.
00:26:21
Speaker
Yeah, it felt great. i don't remember exactly what happened on the play, but yeah, I think we know set pieces are going to be super important in playoff games that are that are super tight and probably going to be decided by one goal at the end of the day.
00:26:39
Speaker
And set pieces is going to be the difference in a lot of those. So I think it's good. We're finding, i mean, both our goals were set pieces tonight. So, you know, we're finding that going to the playoffs.
00:26:51
Speaker
All right, we'll take one more call for questions for either Albert or Jackson.
00:27:01
Speaker
Nico, did you have a follow up? but Yes, ah thank you. Jackson, You know, how how surprised have you been with Alex Roldanz's play at the center back position? I mean, you know, you got Stu Hawkins, you got J-Bell, other guys that could potentially you play right next to you. and And Alex is the guy that has played there, has looked good. You know, how's dad? One, you know, your relationship with him there and what you thought about his play at center back?
00:27:26
Speaker
Yeah, he's been he's been great and I think guys on the team are not surprised. Although it may it may be surprising to the outside, but I think I mean, Alex can has shown he can plug into a ton of different positions and do a really good job.
00:27:43
Speaker
And I mean, he's been doing great at center back. you know It's a great partnership, I think. I mean, obviously with that clean sheet last game and He did great against Knight, and Jonathan Bell did great when he came in, and Stuart Hawkins did great when he came in as well. So we have a lot of depth there and in other positions as well.
00:28:02
Speaker
All right, guys, we'll leave it there. Thank you both very much for your time. Safe travels home. Thank you, guys. Thank you.
Pedro's Injury and Coach's Decision
00:28:11
Speaker
Wow. we're to reset the deck here Schmetz should be in here shortly, though. shortly. Then we'll take some calls. shutz Schmetz to the airport shortly.
00:28:24
Speaker
Schmetz to the airport shortly.
00:28:29
Speaker
Yeah. What do you think? What did you think of their answers? Ari caught on his phone. Yeah, dude, these damn kids in their phone. Oh, Ari, we got to go. Thanks for your time. Would you like an opener this evening? No.
00:28:42
Speaker
Thank you, Alex. Of course, happy to ask. OK, Jada, we're going to have you lead off this one. Go ahead, please. OK, great. Thanks. um And congratulations on the win, Brian. I wanted to ask about Pedro. It's one of the few times that you've been able to have all of your designated players together. But then, excuse me, but then obviously he goes down. What's his status? and Yeah, obviously it's not a good injury, but we don't know the extent of the injury.
00:29:09
Speaker
Right now, we're just going to call it a right knee injury. And he will be back in Seattle. He's traveling back on a flight with us. So he's OK. He's OK to travel, which is positive.
00:29:24
Speaker
And then we'll get him an MRI and we'll figure out exactly what it is, what we're dealing with. But look, it's i can't you know I can't hide the fact that it wasn't a good injury.
00:29:37
Speaker
I just don't have any additional information until we actually get our doctors to take a look at them and get the x-rays and MRIs and all the stuff that they do, all the diagnostics that they have to do.
00:29:49
Speaker
And was there, Albert had mentioned seeing him when you when they when the players went into the locker room, you know, did you have to regroup or what was kind of like messaging to the team at the house?
00:30:02
Speaker
Well, yes, I think it did, you know, because look, I thought we started the game pretty good and we were getting past their press. Obviously they needed to win. So I thought the first 20 minutes we were doing good. And then, you know, the injury kind of took some of the wind out of our sails.
00:30:19
Speaker
But we regrouped at halftime. We picked some things, talked about some things, and obviously you saw a pretty good second half as well. i mean, I thought we were in control with large parts of the game.
00:30:33
Speaker
Alright, miles will go over to you next. Hey Brian, I'm wondering if you just talk about this as a professional business trip, you know you checked on the boxes. Road game you you gain some momentum.
00:30:47
Speaker
Just from that perspective. Well, We didn't want to travel all the way across the country just to roll over. I told you guys that in the media back in Seattle. And I can do a lot of, you know, coach speak and all that sort of stuff. But what I would tell you, Maz, is the one, maybe not the one, the only, but the main reason why were able to...
00:31:13
Speaker
win this game is because in the DNA of the Seattle Sounders is overcoming adversity, figuring out ways how to you know win games, figuring out how ways how to be better than your opponent.
00:31:27
Speaker
I mean, that was a classic gutty, performance. We had to come overcome injuries guys coming back. You talk about Danny Leyva having a strong performance. Joe Paulo trying to gut it out. He had a sore calf. I didn't even tell you guys that.
00:31:46
Speaker
You know Jonathan Bell consistently comes on the field. And does a good job. Musoski at the end read. They all played their part. All the subs did a great job, but that whole group of players when they play with that type of determination, those smarts.
00:32:04
Speaker
And you know i told you guys, nobody wants to play us in the playoffs. I'm telling you that. Thanks. Jeremiah, over to you. You know you mentioned the the late goal there.
00:32:19
Speaker
You guys have given up some leads late in games. You've had some results changing goals that you've given up late in games. I have to imagine that, you know, it was ah felt pretty satisfying to, you even though you gave up one to get one back this one and to, you know, I have to imagine this feels a little bigger than, you know, a win that just kept you fifth in the, in the West.
00:32:41
Speaker
I'm glad you changed. I thought you were going to ask me about giving up late goal and turn it into a negative. It's another calling card of our team. Never quit.
00:32:52
Speaker
There's the other one. a lot of teams would have been happy, satisfied with the draw. No, that's not the way ah that's not the way we operate. That's not who we are. The guys knew the second half we were better.
00:33:05
Speaker
The goal we gave up, we should have, you know, you rushed the free kick a little bit. They came down, okay, knew who, would deflection, but they never quit. And they always try and win.
00:33:16
Speaker
There's been plenty of times you guys have documented it. We've come back from three nothing deficits to win, to tie, to do that sort of stuff. So that, again, it's just part of the character of this team.
00:33:28
Speaker
Okay, Nico, you're up next Nico Moreno. Hey coach, just wanted to know what were you more positive about today? I mean, was it the the possession that you had at times defensively, you know, New York City is a team that transition with Martinez when he gets in front, he's very dangerous. it seemed like you guys really kept him at bay.
00:33:54
Speaker
You know, what is it about today that really stands out for you? I couldn't comment on one thing. i think the entire team, the entire squad, I should say, ah tactics that the coaches implement um men during the training week, um everything was top today.
00:34:13
Speaker
And Brian, you know, usually for a game like this, the the normal fan is wondering why, you know, certain starters are there. Obviously, you know the reason that guys need minutes. They need to be, you know, added in there. You know, what is it that you would say that, you know, obviously for a guy like Pedro that has been working on getting more minutes, why it was important for him to be part of today's He asked it. He asked it, chat.
00:34:36
Speaker
He asked it. What are you asking me? What is it that you would say, you know, any- I'm saying he got injured because he was playing? No, no, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that normally people he would would would ask that they would have that reasoning, you know, because it's a game that you don't need, that is not necessary for like- that's That's a silly question because Pedro was playing extremely well.
00:34:59
Speaker
He was going like this after his, you know, the tendonitis that he had in his knee. And so there's nothing wrong with him coming here. He wants to play. He's a young man that has, ever since he came here to Seattle, has wanted to prove himself to the fans, to his teammates, to his coaches.
00:35:22
Speaker
He's a great kid. I mean, that kid would cut off his right arm to help the team. So he deserves to be playing when he's healthy and fit.
00:35:34
Speaker
True, there's competition. pro sports i get it but i mean kid deserves to play yes just to clarify what's in my question is just i wanted that to be out there you know that i know that you knew what you wanted to get out of him today okay okay i i still don't i still don't understand your question so i don't get i don't understand he he he's out there because he's one of our better players And he deserves to be out there.
00:36:09
Speaker
Okay. ah Let's go over to Felipe Makeda next. Felipe, go ahead, please. Thank you, Alex. Coach Brian, today is the last game of the regular season. How can you summarize this first phase of the tournament?
00:36:24
Speaker
And if you're going to take, I mean, the next phase of the tournament as a brand new And what would the mindset for the team will be? two Well, no game is meaningless.
00:36:36
Speaker
No game is meaningless. I don't know what you guys, you don't listen to me or not. No game is meaningless. The first tempth part of the season, ever from the first game of the season to the last game of the regular season, to the League's Cup, to the Club World Cup, every t every game for this club is important. Every tournament, Cascadia Cup, Open Cup when we play, every game is important.
00:37:00
Speaker
I don't know.
00:37:03
Speaker
All right. We have time for maybe one or two more. Jeremiah, did you have follow-up?
00:37:10
Speaker
No, I'm good. Okay. I think we'll leave it there. I'm not seeing any first. Actually, no. Pause on that. Sorry, Brian. I think Jada has one. Oh, i just want to, as far as be clear with Christian and Obed and Georgie, I think you said Georgie, excuse me, had a personal reason to be home. um You know, is there a, you what ah why were they left off of the game day roster?
00:37:37
Speaker
uh jada thank you for that question uh christian and obed it was just due to rest uh georgie had a issue a family issue that he got late to seattle he didn't land until after the team had already left for new york so that was my decision just to leave all three of those players home thank you thank you last question we'll go to miles you can take us ah That's okay. yeah He's ready to go. Thank I'll catch next week. Thank you.
00:38:07
Speaker
see you guys. Bye. All right. Thanks all. We appreciate your time. let us know if you have any any needs ahead of next
00:38:17
Speaker
Woo. That was spicy. Spiciest pressure of the season. We're going to have to, we haven't done a a blazing hot coach press conference in a while. There we go. That's a, that's your, that's blazing hot coach front are sponsored by hacks and ferment. Yeah. bordererss Dot com slash sauce. I mean, wow. Shout out Schmetz for giving us a lot to talk about coming off.
00:38:38
Speaker
Oh my God. I got a, yeah honor We ought to dive into this right away. First of all, he was... Very aggrieved. He was offended...
00:38:49
Speaker
at the at the notion that De La Vega perhaps could have been rested for this game to avoid a situation like we saw today.
00:39:01
Speaker
Yeah. But what Nico was asking is what we were talking about when it happened and what everyone in chat was talking about. ah Like, I think the question of should he have started this game or not is it's a validw it's ah It's a fair question.
00:39:20
Speaker
It's a fair question. But I guess, Noah, what did you think of, you know, he laid out his explanation for why he did it passionately. ah He said De La Vega He's been on an upward trajectory.
00:39:32
Speaker
He deserves to be playing any player that is in the form that he's in and contributes to the team like he has been. If they're fit and they want to play and they're able to play.
00:39:46
Speaker
He basically was saying he's he's not going to rest a guy under those circumstances. Correct. So do you, I mean, you were tilted that De La Vega was playing. What did you think of his explanation? I mean, yeah, I was tilted initially.
00:40:00
Speaker
Absolutely. that's That's a good gut reaction response to be like, I can't believe you're playing him even though you know he's injured. But we talked about it right after that, which is you can't you can't predict that a player is going to get injured. You can't predict the player is going to be injured. If what Brian said in that press conference, which I didn't know this, is that he was no longer dealing with that tendonitis.
00:40:21
Speaker
Allegedly, that's that is what he made it seem like. I don't know. But if that's the case, then he was good to go. He was greenlit. like what do you what Yeah, like he needs reps before the playoffs. like I can totally see see his point there. And at the same time, I can also see outside looking in, who don't who like we don't know his injury status. We don't know what's real and what's fake.
00:40:44
Speaker
And um you know being concerned about his his health, but... freak play, whatever, ah you know, resting your players and making sure that they don't get hurt on a meaningless game.
00:40:58
Speaker
Well, so that's the other... But he doesn't... He's saying that I don't believe in a meaningless game. So do you believe that that's true? Because I i don't know if I believe he was also... He also took offense to the notion that this game...
00:41:12
Speaker
didn't matter, but like, I don't know. I feel like that's a, it's kind of semantics, like with the term meaningless. like mean It's not's not meaningless in terms of like, it's okay to play poorly or punt the game, like we were talking about, but like even Jackson Reagan literally said it himself, like points wise.
00:41:30
Speaker
Yeah. there is nothing there. was There was nothing that mattered to be able to do as far as like the point totals and how it affects playoff seating and stuff. Yeah. That's what is being, that's what meaningless is yeah describing in this context. yeah Like it's, it's about that.
00:41:45
Speaker
So we should hit some super chats here. All right, really quick. And we can, then we can continue on Brian Schmetzer. GBT. Thank you for the one month being a member. Puskas De La Vega will come back stronger. Please, please and thank you. And then a 20 bomb from GBT.
00:42:00
Speaker
You got to come on because i was i was pushing that you said that Nuhu would have an own goal on your Instagram. And I i mean, I don't think he technically had one, but it's close enough. Close enough. It's time for Manungu to cook.
00:42:13
Speaker
It's true. I was talking about Ryan Kent as the X Factor, but that's a... That's another good one. I guess before we like jump into calls, but let's just ah operate under the hypothetical that in this upcoming round one series that they're goingnna have to play whoever it's against, say that there's no De La Vega, yeah which i to me, that seems like the most likely outcome right now.
00:42:35
Speaker
How do you feel about that ah going in with it'll be some combination of Paul Rothrock, Ryan Kent and Georgie Manungu. I'm i'm hoping that Ryan, Ryan Kent, shouldn't he be like close? I wish someone had asked that like, or like that had he been, we haven't got a timeline update on him.
00:42:52
Speaker
I think Nico did a timeline update on him this week. I think he is potentially ready to play in the playoffs. Okay, so let's let's assume that they have all three of those players at their disposal disposal to some extent.
00:43:04
Speaker
ah how do you How do you feel about their chances? Because for me, as I sit right now, if you have to do the whole playoff run without De La Vega, I think it makes it makes it a lot more of a long shot that you're going to make an MLS Cup run.
00:43:19
Speaker
ah But as as for round one, whether it be against Minnesota, LAFC, San Diego, or whatever, I feel like with Rothrock, Kenton, and Georgie, like they're not chalked.
00:43:32
Speaker
They're not chalked. They can still win the series. Everyone's a winger, Ari. yeah Everyone's a winger, and they've been playing without 3DPs this entire season. They've been playing without De La Vega for a long period, too.
00:43:44
Speaker
Yeah, but like the the attack is just so much better when he's playing, obviously, but... Yeah, I agree. I agree. But like, you know, Rothrock has started 26, 27 games this year.
00:43:56
Speaker
Yeah. Georgie has started to, he I think it's fair to say that he's taken a notable step forward this year. And then we, Ryan Kent, like, I mean, who knows how how long it's going to take for him to look like normal Ryan Kent.
00:44:12
Speaker
But that's a guy who as much as anyone on the team, him, like I would put he and Dave dig in this category. They can come up with something at any moment in a game. It doesn't matter if they've been anonymous the entire game or they're not playing well.
00:44:25
Speaker
Those are, those are the guys that they can create those, those individual match winning moments out of nowhere, which come playoff time. That is, uh, that's crucial. So, uh,
00:44:38
Speaker
I got to agree. I got to agree with you there. ah Kenny says, to be fair, if Pepo on bench, Nico says, why not play him? Ooh. I don't know. I'm not sure. You'll have to take that up with Nico Moreno if he ever calls in.
00:44:52
Speaker
And then GBT with another 20 bomb. no No comment on that one, but we we appreciate you, Tribe. You're the GOAT. Appreciate you, Tribe. You're the GOAT. Should I should i launch this call-in link? Yeah, all right. tossed Toss the call link in there.
00:45:04
Speaker
We'll take some calls as we wait for it. I mean, the second slate's about to start, but honestly, we can... We can chat through the first half or whatever. Yeah, yeah. Keep updated. I mean, I'm not like as...
00:45:18
Speaker
as locked in on any of these games as I was on the Spoon Bowl in the Seattle game. Correct, yeah. Which the Spoon Bowl... The Spoon Bowl was a letdown. It was a letdown. It was a letdown. All right, we got Tribe dropping in. We Tribe in here immediately. Let's go.
00:45:31
Speaker
Let's get him on the stage right now.
00:45:35
Speaker
Okay, I got it. You got it? There we go. Tribe, what's going on, man? How are we doing? win at New York City FC, but Pedro De La Vega leaves with injury. What's going How are you feeling?
00:45:50
Speaker
I would rather have lost that game 11. There we go. You're good. You're good. All right. I would have rather lost that game 11 to zero than have De La Vega come off because that game has no importance. We were going to be in fifth place anyways.
00:46:06
Speaker
ah That was the most abysmal but match. I cannot see how MLS allows any games to be played on that field. It was worse than my fucking high school team. Everyone, everyone. It was the worst thing I've seen since 2019 when we last played them in the regular season.
00:46:26
Speaker
And I'm happy for the win. But again, it came at a cost that's way too hefty for our team going into the playoffs. Did you see the Schmetz presser? ah yeah Yeah, I see what you're saying. He explained what he explained why ah why he played him. did you Did you see any credence in that? Or are you do you think you just made the wrong call? ah you you can't You can't guess. you can't Again, you can't guess injuries, but i would have rather... to be fair, you didn't have Manungu because of of issues, so I would have played him, but I might not have had him on for
00:47:05
Speaker
for more than a half because again, he is as much as we love him. He is an injury prone player, ah but he is arguably our best player since the club world cup ended and, and without him, we don't have that attacking edge.
00:47:22
Speaker
We don't have that versatility going forward. We're not as direct, which is something that teams like Minnesota United and LAFC struggle to defend. And those are literally the two teams that that we're going to be facing, or at least one of them. Hopefully, I pray to God, Minnesota, but we'll see what We're going to see here in the next hour and a half. that's I might have to have that one as the primary.
00:47:47
Speaker
I'm tuning into that one. That's going be a big one. I need it. I guess it'll it will be kind of nice just to... there there this This next slate's pretty good. You got the Loons playing, which obviously impacts Seattle, and then Timbi's San Diego. That's that's a yeah tasty little matchup. If Loons and LAFC both win and San Diego somehow decides they want to draw or lose...
00:48:13
Speaker
Then it gets spicy. Then it gets spicy. This next slate, there's there's a lot to be lot to be decided here. We will find out who the Sounders will play. We will. We will know. We will know a couple hours' time.
00:48:25
Speaker
Tribe, how are you feeling about the playoffs now with this De La Vegas situation? You think that there's still enough to to make a run, or you feeling like it's strong? Yeah, we have Manungu.
00:48:35
Speaker
I'm happy. he he can do He can literally beat anyone one-on-one, and he's he's not as direct. when it when it comes to going down the middle of the park, but he's he's just as good on on the wings as anyone else that we've ever seen. So I'm i'm very confident there.
00:48:54
Speaker
Ryan Kent X Factor at all? or you just Is Ryan Kent going back? That's what we were talking about. There hasn't been like an official update given in a while, but like timeline wise, it's been like over 10 weeks at this point since the- if he's back over over over anyone, except for De La Vega, of course.
00:49:13
Speaker
i very I very much love Ryan Kent. Again, he is so... but you You saw how much he was doing for our attack, how many more goals we were we were scoring when when he was there, but when when he just was gone. We had such a deep squad. It didn't matter too much.
00:49:27
Speaker
But now that De La Vega's gone, Kent is going to be a must-have, I think.
00:49:34
Speaker
Yeah. Phil Neville listens to lobbing scorchers wearing a suit on stream. I've been saying, bro, he can't keep getting away with it. Like you can't look like that and coach a professional soccer team.
00:49:45
Speaker
Oh, okay. You've been on the ah Phil Neville. Yeah, I was bullying him about wearing a like a big-ass Timbers hoodie when he was playing Seattle. Like, what are you doing, bro? It's like some Bill Belichick. Yeah, like dress dress to impress.
00:49:57
Speaker
You know, dress like you're playing the Sounders. Have some respect. No wonder you lost. You know, that's all I'm saying. Last thing I want to say before I go, i it's more of a question. Will you guys be be in in the ECS if if we do get home field advantage and in a playoff game if we beat the first round?
00:50:15
Speaker
um we're um'm wearing the yeah We're in the PB. I'll the PB. I've actually never... come down i've been into I've been in the stands for a game one time, and it was when I was in college.
00:50:27
Speaker
but ah You enjoy it? I've never been in ECS. Yeah? um Maybe one day we need to. yeah I have to go, boys, but I hope you guys have an absolutely wonderful stream.
00:50:38
Speaker
Love you guys as always. Thank you guys so much for doing See you later, Chad. Love you
00:50:46
Speaker
Oh, the slate is about to kick off, Ari. No one else ah in the queue right now, so if you guys want to ah tap in and lay down some takes, either on the Seattle Sounders or Decision Day.
00:50:58
Speaker
Or Hunman's Yeah, yeah. i'm I'm excited for this slate, Noah. This is a much better slate. Like, the the first one had... a It had the Sounders game, so that obviously was something to lock in on.
00:51:13
Speaker
But this one, I mean, I was just, let's pull let's pull it up. Yeah, let's pull it up. We literally could be, fake there's three teams that the Sounders could potentially face in a first round playoff matchup.
00:51:24
Speaker
Okay. Minnesota United, Los Angeles FC, and San Diego FC. We've talked about it a lot of times. Who do we want? Who do we not want? Ari, as it stands today, who are you rooting for?
00:51:39
Speaker
And who are you rooting against?
00:51:42
Speaker
so So Minnesota wins and LA... I have to see like the scenarios. like um Minnesota draw yeah with less than... Yeah, Minnesota draw would mean that they will play the Sounders.
00:52:02
Speaker
If Minnesota win and LAFC lose or draw... Okay, that's what I needed to know. They will play the Sounders. if If both LA and Minnesota win and San Diego lose or draw...
00:52:22
Speaker
then San Diego, we will play San Diego. There's a goal differential piece to that, but as long as Minnesota get one more plus GD in their win, which statistically speaking. Man, so there's just, this really could go any which way. There's not like- um i guess it would need to be plus two.
00:52:40
Speaker
They'd have to score two goals. I would imagine that Minnesota is going to beat the Galaxy. I know it's in l LA, but they really should win that game. Although they haven't been playing that well.
00:52:51
Speaker
Lately. No, theyve they're... be interested to see... Like, LAFC are a lot better than the Rapids, but that is in in Colorado. It's at, you know, a little elevation.
00:53:04
Speaker
yeah could elevation It's Buonga and Son are back, though. And that's that's never something that want to... Did they play or in that Austin game that they lost? or No, they didn't. okay they Why was anyone talking about that game like it matters?
00:53:19
Speaker
I don't know. It's because if they would have won that game, they could have potentially clinched the West. Okay. with very like they they would have had to Things would have had to go their way, but they were they would have been in potential to win the West.
00:53:33
Speaker
Yeah. this could be This could be coping and rationalizing, but doesn't it feel like they're arguably too reliant on those two guys?
00:53:44
Speaker
Maybe, but I think it doesn't matter when they're that good they're both that good. Yeah, I agree with that, but the reason it could matter is because when it when it ah when it gets to the playoffs and the competition is much higher, the it's just harder for if you're one dimensional for that dimension to be as successful. Yeah. Like it's not, so I don't know. Like, I, I mean, I think they look like far and away the best one, two punch that I've seen in the league in like years.
00:54:18
Speaker
So I, I fully expect them to kind of rip through the West yeah playoffs. But I think if there, if I was, if I was ah pontificating on what could lead to them,
00:54:31
Speaker
maybe maybe getting knocked out,
Playoff Preparations and Confidence in Key Players
00:54:33
Speaker
it would be that like if if there is a team that's able to neutralize the duo at all, or or maybe like if they just have an off day.
00:54:41
Speaker
Sure. That could be the path. that is the path. That's the path to an LAFC crash out. I don't think it's going to happen. I mean, we've all seen what ah Son and Buonga have been doing. They are laying waste to league right now.
00:54:53
Speaker
I saw someone ask what teams would, if we were to play them in the final, would we actually get to host? That's four potential teams, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th place in the East, Nashville, Columbus, Chicago, or Orlando.
00:55:09
Speaker
So do we think any of those teams can make it out of the East? Nashville. Nashville, maybe. Nashville, maybe. Seattle finished ahead of Nashville? Seattle did. they Nashville finished in sixth place with 54 points.
00:55:21
Speaker
And unfortunately, New York City FC has one more point than the Sounders. ah So they would host. Here is your up-to-date table.
00:55:37
Speaker
Let's see how this shaped out in the East. Wow, man. Orlando, Chicago dueling in the play-in game. Dude, I think Chicago might win that. Chicago, I think i think Chicago could have ah i could have a run, man. Oh, okay. we got We got Like Trees in the queue.
00:55:54
Speaker
Let's ah get them in here. Like Trees, no video, but you are on on the stage. Can you hear us? Yeah, i can hear you. Hear me? Yeah, I got you.
00:56:06
Speaker
How are you feeling? 2-1 win at NYC, but at a ah at a steep cost, Pedro De La Vega comes off with the injury. ah How are you feeling? What did you think? Yeah, I feel okay about the game.
00:56:17
Speaker
and really have one one real take I want to say is I think the goalkeeping controversy is officially over. feel totally fine with Frey. I think he's been playing great.
00:56:28
Speaker
been making there's saves he needs to make he made a huge save tonight I think in every game the last three he's had one like massive save so I would say that my opinion super comfortable with him going into the playoffs I think whatever kind of couple games he needed to come back he looks confident he looks aggressive when he needs to be I think that I'm happy with him finishing the season I agree with that take. I'm on that page at this point.
00:56:56
Speaker
There's just, you're right. Like he has been making the, ah the big saves. He had another one in this game and I don't know. i There's just no one that I trust more in a, in a playoff game or in a big game situation. Like the, uh,
00:57:12
Speaker
the level of kind of just calm and security, I feel like knowing that he's in goal. Andrew Thomas, we've seen what he's done this year, but like Fry just has like a, he has a uniquely, he's uniquely established in that way.
00:57:25
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I mean, yeah I mean, I think what they scored on like a weird deflection today, if that, you know, if they didn't score in that, I don't think they had really any other chances except for the one big save he made.
00:57:38
Speaker
He would have had three shutouts in a row. There was the one big save. There was the deflected goal. And then they, they had, they had some sequences where they were putting Seattle under pressure, especially at the end, but really, ah I mean, I'll look up the XG, but it did not feel like they had that many clear chances.
00:57:56
Speaker
No, I think, I think that's the good, a good shout. And we, we talked about it a little bit last episode as well. Just saying like, or you're happy with either of these two goalkeepers going into the post season. And it's very clear that ah fries that guy. And okay Next season, it'll be a choice. Here's what I will say, though.
00:58:13
Speaker
This is the only wrinkle with that. If there's a game that goes to penalties, who do you guys want in there? Yeah, that's tough. i would I would say Andrew. Someone, ah I think, Corey suggested ah couple weeks ago, like, you know you know how teams sometimes... ah Like sub on the pen the PK goalkeeper in the game. what happens It happens more and more. it happens more and more these days. I think they should do that.
00:58:39
Speaker
Like, seriously. i wouldn't i wouldn't be upset if they yeah i wouldn't be upset if they did that. Yeah. But I don't know. I think i think other than that, ah the injury thing, i mean, if if the guy's healthy, you you play him.
00:58:55
Speaker
And I think that that's why Schmitz was bugging out in the presser. Because if... if If it's true that the tendonitis thing is over and he's fully cleared, then then you got to play It's like you're not going to not play Jordan.
00:59:10
Speaker
You're not going to not play Jackson. You got to play the team. So if he still had the tendonitis thing, then maybe there's more for the debate. But I thought I heard you say that that he officially got cleared from that.
00:59:22
Speaker
I don't know if that's true or not. That's we're assuming based on what Schmetzer was saying in the presser. like He had said he talked about the tendonitis in a past tense. And so I was just, as I was reading in between the lines, but it hasn't been officially said. Yeah. And I guess that is suspect because tendonitis is not something that just goes away. No, it doesn't just, you're like, Oh, I got one cortisone shot. I'm chilling.
00:59:43
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So whatever, like I think playoff soccer is all about like, it doesn't matter. We're in the playoffs now, regular season's over. You get behind the squad, you rally for the squad And any fan at this point that is going to like get on some negative bandwagon, that's not what playoffs are about.
01:00:03
Speaker
So get behind the team, whoever's playing and we got to make a run. So. Yeah, no, I think that's the exact mode that ah that we're in as well. Like, it's go time. It's going to be more more difficult than it has been in previous years because they usually get home field.
01:00:22
Speaker
But, you know, at this, what do you guys think of the – like how the format this round one format with the best two out of three affects home field because like yes it is an advantage to play the first game at home but if you drop the results in that first game it and it flips entirely so it's not it's just not necessarily that big a disadvantage to be having the second game at home is it I actually don't know the format because every year it fucking changes. And so I just don't even think about it until the playoffs start. And then the first game I'm like, all right, what are playoffs like this year? Cause I assume it's just going to be different. So can you explain to me what it is? So it's a best, it's a best two out of three series.
01:01:06
Speaker
So, uh, If you, like, all the games go to penalties, like, immediately, right, with no extra time. Oh, wow. And then it's, like, it basically... Did they even go to penalties?
01:01:19
Speaker
I thought they didn't go to penalties. so I thought it was just, like, the result was the result. It's just a tie? You can't have a tie. That's the whole thing. cause Oh, okay. Maybe it is penalties. Yeah, because... I guess that makes sense. yeah You have to have a winner. yeah They should do golden gold. That'd be way more fun.
01:01:36
Speaker
High school style. Yes. Yes. Wait, so if you win two, you're you're through. If you win the first two, you're through. But what's the home in a way? I don't understand that. The first game is higher seed. Second game is lower seed, like for for place of play.
01:01:53
Speaker
So each team is guaranteed to play one. Like if you're in the playoffs, you're guaranteed to play one home playoff game, unless you're in the play-in game. And so, Ari, your question is what happens to the third game? Well, it's just like ah the the whole reason that home field the push for fourth was a big deal was because of home field advantage, which i like that's probably more important later in the playoffs anyway. But for a best two out of three series...
01:02:21
Speaker
If you are able to pull the result in the away game in the first game, then you have home field advantage for the for the second game. That's a good point. That's kind of a good shout. of but I don't know who that – are you asking what between l la and in Minnesota?
01:02:39
Speaker
I think like just regardless more more like the ah the principle of like how much of a disadvantage are you really at not having home field in this in this series that that really actually tilt the scale that much.
01:02:53
Speaker
I don't personally feel like. we play that bad away. i get, I don't know. Maybe I'm misremembering it. I think our, maybe our record isn't great away, but I don't really remember us watching too many away games this season and be like, man, we suck.
01:03:08
Speaker
It was really only the San Diego game. They were pretty much competitive in most of the other ones. They, They had their way record was four, eight and four this year, which is not very good.
01:03:19
Speaker
Historically, this is a team that travels really well. They won eight road games last year. They usually win six to road games a year. So the road form this year wasn't very good, but I still, i it's a team that knows how to travel, knows how to get results on the road, I think.
01:03:34
Speaker
Yeah. Like my point is, I don't think that we, we, the results maybe, but I think we played fine soccer away. Like, I think we still play our game and we still look, we can hold position.
01:03:45
Speaker
Like I thought we looked great in the second half today. Like our possession looked, looked really good. We were getting out of tight spaces really well. Like we weren't forcing it, but we didn't need to. And I think that's something that's been missing the last, think we've been a little trigger happy in the last, since the club, since the league's cup, we got a little trigger happy going forward. We didn't have as much patience.
01:04:05
Speaker
So i don't know. I think I'm, I'm fine with it. We are where we are. been a good season ah think that there's not real like pressure on the shoulders we already won league's cup we're in champions league next year like we've accomplished a lot this season it's already been a successful season and so now i think the guys can lean back into this tournament style thing and run up and get ready for another tournament and i think that our our the strength of our collective team will shine through again yeah i think this game was a uh
01:04:37
Speaker
it was almost an ideal kind of tune up game because it was a really long road trip against a really good team. Like that and NYCFC team is, they were, they were fighting for top four in the East in a really tough Eastern conference this year. So to have a game right before the playoffs where you have to do one of the longer road trips in the entire league, play a really good team, win the game, have adversity in the game where you, uh,
01:05:05
Speaker
you You blow the lead, which has been happening a lot lately, but then you respond. like The way they responded in this game was great. they They went out there back out there after the equalizer, controlled the game, were on the front front foot, and then get a really nice set-piece goal. So I think in that way, this game should... I think if there is any sort of springboard into the playoffs, a game like this can give you that.
01:05:29
Speaker
Yeah. The only other thing I had to say was I feel like at the beginning of the season... When Jesus was first getting integrated, the big question was, can he play with Rusnak?
01:05:40
Speaker
And everyone was like, fuck no. And they they get in each other's way. They can't do it. They can't do it. And now they look totally fine.
01:05:49
Speaker
Yeah, no. Oh, man. I thought Jesus was. That was me. I thought Jesus was one today. They're smart players. They figured it out. took them a little while. They figured it out. They did figure it out. Yeah, it's fine.
01:06:00
Speaker
Yeah. That's how it goes. They're smarter than me. Well, trees, we don't have anyone in the queue behind you right now. So if you want to cook another take or two, feel free. But ah if you're kicked out, then... yeah i'll Yeah, I'll do one more. And then I'm installing some kitchen cabinets because I'm having a baby soon.
01:06:18
Speaker
Congratulations. Gotta get this shit done before I can't make any noise anymore. I know. The only thing I say is Uh, yeah, more is a beast and he's awesome. And I think that him and Jackson is definitely the best center back duo in the league, but I love Jonathan bell. I think he's great. I think he does what Yamar does to a degree in terms of being a tackler and an enforcer and a header of the ball lets Jackson have the ball at his feet.
01:06:47
Speaker
And even without Kim, i just think that Jonathan has been playing good. I don't know about Alex like as a playoff center back, but I would be okay with J-Bell.
01:07:01
Speaker
Alex as a playoff center back is a little nerve wracking, even with how well he's been doing it. In the first half, he looked like in like a, like you mentioned, like a high school game or whatever, where he was, there was like one tackle where he like came in super late and just like ripped it into the stands at the 50 yard line.
01:07:21
Speaker
And he was just like back there kind of like sweeping everything up, which is which is cool, which is cool. But I really think that I personally would be more comfortable with J-Bell and having Alex on the field. i think he's fantastically underrated player, and he's one of the reasons why we're so good.
01:07:39
Speaker
i would rather have him at his normal position because Nuhu is also rock solid. The fact that no one's talking about Nuhu anymore means that he's doing his job exceptionally well.
01:07:50
Speaker
He, the discourse almost ratcheted up when, if that if that game had ended in a tie on the goal that deflected off of him. There would have been, there would have been discourse. yeah but What was he supposed to do about that?
01:08:03
Speaker
Not, I don't know, probably not go ah vertically aerial like he loves to do and spread his legs out. But I mean, what do you do? You know, he defends like he defends. Every single time that he has gone vertically aerial and has defended the ball for a corner kick,
01:08:18
Speaker
The exact opposite. I love it. It's content regardless. That's the funniest to tackle in the league. Like it's awesome. Yeah. It's effective. It just sometimes gets you sent off. I mean, wait, another question about l LA.
01:08:32
Speaker
If we get l LA, who does he line up with? Bwonga or son? I don't even know how they slide up. I don't know how they would line it I don't know how they've been running it, but like the way I look at that is like, uh,
01:08:45
Speaker
it does it It doesn't always play out like... RSL is on the board. They've scored. Who are they playing? They're playing St. Louis City, but they're fighting for a playoff spot. so aha is That is not a blockbuster matchup, but they are fighting for a playoff spot.
01:09:02
Speaker
ah whoever Whoever he technically lines up against, like there will be moments in the game where he's got a he's got a D up on either one of them.
01:09:12
Speaker
Right. ah he might not He might be on the lineup graphic matched up with one, but like he's going to get to go up against both of them. And that this that this is ah that that theoretical matchup, like for all for all the the heat that Nuhu takes at times, that's a game where i um you need him in there. he can He can help win those matchups that are really hard to win.
01:09:44
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, that's all I got. I'm happy to see Jordan get on the scoreboard. he looked happy, and it was a good goal. And it was, like, really his only clear chance of the game. Except for the one that happening. Yeah, and he should't he should have even left that for Rothrock, I think it was.
01:10:05
Speaker
but But, I mean, like, discourse around Jordan is that he needs four chances to score, but he just did it on his first real chance. So, yeah, that was just great to see for a lot of reasons, but all right. Well, trees, thank you so much for the call, man. Great stuff. Appreciate you guys. Go Durs.
01:10:24
Speaker
We'll go to catch you on the, ah on the next one.
01:10:30
Speaker
All right.
01:10:33
Speaker
Should we just, should we just dive into second decision day? Yeah. but yeah The, the second slate is underway. The fellas at HappyFit SadFit are also doing a watch-along for the LAFC game, which I think is funny.
01:10:47
Speaker
They're beating us. they have They have all of Correa on their side. They didn't do it for all of Decision Day. No, they didn't. They're cowardly. They only wanted to do LAFC We've live for three and a half hours. Fake grinders. Yeah, fake grinders.
01:11:00
Speaker
Fake grinders. I got 360 rocking. I got 360 up right now. um
01:11:08
Speaker
You said Real Salt Lake scored? Yeah. Why am I not seeing that on the St. Louis versus, oh, maybe, maybe they called it back. They must've called it back. They must've called it back.
01:11:19
Speaker
Cause it was, they, they had scored no gold. God, this, this view of the war room is, it's incredible.
Media Interactions and Humorous Digressions
01:11:27
Speaker
Oh, Chad, I have a, I have an interesting update for you.
01:11:31
Speaker
Bruce Harrell has denied our interview request. Wait, he actually responded? Bruce Harrell, and I will read i will read the email here. Thank you very much for reaching out about this opportunity. At the moment, the schedule is back-to-back leading up to the election.
01:11:45
Speaker
That being said, if anything changes, I'll reach out. Thanks again for the outreach. Please reach out if there's anything else I can help with. yeah but Was that on a chat GPT-esque response? He's scared. That's a no. He's scared. Bruce, come on. Bruce, you're a coward, brother. nice guys. Get on.
01:12:01
Speaker
that's i was I really did not expect them to respond at all. No, they but they hit us back. They said no. Hey, you know. Listen, if you don't... Listen, we are the liberal Joe Rogan or the the Joe Rogan of the left of soccer, okay? And, you know, if you you don't want to come on that that that show, that's on you.
01:12:23
Speaker
That's how you lose elections. He could... ah He could win some votes. Just saying. we We could talk about UW football. We gave a you know we gave katie wilson Katie Wilson the bump. That's part of why she beat you, Bruce. so That's what I'm saying. don't
01:12:43
Speaker
know what to tell you. i' so you Cowardly. um All right. So, yeah, everything is zero zeroing right now. 10 minutes into this second slate. The last slate already had like three or four goals.
01:12:59
Speaker
but Yeah, that that's, yeah, I know. This is because the West is better. People don't want to admit it, but the West is better. I think I'm going to, should I, I'm kind of torn. Should I focus loons or San Diego Timbies?
01:13:13
Speaker
Loons matters more for Seattle, but San Diego Timbies is the game that I like. See, I really want to watch the l LA game. So I think I'm going to pop that. Okay. You pop that and I'll pop, uh, Because, like, pop tim that game... Timmy San Diego also does affect.
01:13:27
Speaker
It does affect. It does affect. Yeah. Oh, look at this. We get Nico. Here we oh The man himself. The man who has... Riled Brian Schmetzer. Scorned Brian Schmetzer.
01:13:40
Speaker
You'll probably... Yeah, i' probably just have to mute that specific window. Like, just turn the little volume down on the window.
01:13:49
Speaker
We can bring Nico in, but...
01:13:53
Speaker
There you go. Do you know how to do it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just had to pull it up. He's tacking. He's tacking. Oh, Nico left. Nico left. Nico left. He was cowardly. they left Great guest spot from Nico. back. Thank Nico.
01:14:04
Speaker
He'll be back. Looking forward to talking to Nico because he just drew the ire of ah Brian Schmetzer. So find out how he's feeling.
01:14:18
Speaker
It's never...
01:14:21
Speaker
It's never enjoyable to get cooked in a presser. No, I wouldn't want to do it personally. i get i get i get teased every once in a while from Schmetz and it's definitely not a... It's actually fine.
01:14:38
Speaker
i got a I got cooked by Ziggy a time or two and I got cooked by Chad Marshall once. And Ozzy on Twitter.
01:14:48
Speaker
Yeah, but that was different. It wasn't like a press scrum. All right. There he is. He's back in the lobby. Let's get him on stage right now. It's Nico Moreno, my co-host of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff. No, he's my co-host of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff. And no, he's co-host of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff.
01:15:05
Speaker
ah Nico, thanks for tapping in, man. An eventful Brian Schmetzer press conference for for you. Why don't we just start right there? like what we're I think we all, he was he was acting like he didn't understand where the question was coming from.
01:15:23
Speaker
I think the question was what a lot of, we were talking about it. We're doing this watch along. People were talking about it in chat. I think it's just like a, it's a question of, is this a situation where you you could rest a player like Pedro de la Vega, given his injury history and all that.
01:15:40
Speaker
But he did not, ah he did not appreciate you asking that. Why do you think he, why do you think he reacted like that? Because it's me. ah You know, and like Kendrick would say, because I keep my foot on the gas and somebody got to do it.
01:15:54
Speaker
I mean, that's that's what I am usually. and And knowing that I literally did everything I could to phrase the question in a way that he would understand that I wasn't questioning his decision to start Pedro today, because I know the reasons I'm at training.
01:16:15
Speaker
i get it. I understand it. My question was to him saying, look, usually when something like this happens in a game like this, which I didn't want to call meaningless because you saw what happened to Felipe when he called the game meaningless.
01:16:30
Speaker
So I knew i know Brian. So I was trying to use all of the vocabulary possible to make it seem like wondering. Exactly. People are going to wonder. People who are not as informed as we are, you know, because it it kind of seems weird that I ask him because I i get it. I understand why.
01:16:47
Speaker
But ah it it's better coming from Brian saying, hey, look, this is why it was important for Pedro to be on because we're building up his minutes because he has tendinitis and ah you're working on keeping that going so it doesn't like stiff up when you don't play. It stiffs up a little bit. You know, there's a bunch of reasons that I was hoping that he would – say, if you look at my ex, I've been defending the fact that I understood the reason why Pedro started. i even went on to say that it was unfair to blame Brian for the for the injury, but he was so focused that it was my question that he decided to attack me and and basically say he didn't understand the question.
01:17:30
Speaker
Although I've yet to talk to anyone who did not understand where I was going with the question. So Unfortunate because I don't feel like I deserve that and necessarily, but I get it. it's ah It's a high emotional situation for him, right? He just lost.
01:17:48
Speaker
you know, allegedly, right? We don't know where he's, where Pedro's at. We don't know what the official word on that injury is. We all saw how serious it looked, certainly looked at an ACL. And when, you know, he's grabbing the same knee ah that he tore up when he was at La Noose, that's where my mind went, right? Always the same knee, same ACL.
01:18:10
Speaker
That's awful. ah I'm disheartened for the kid. I have seen Pedro work hard. I've talked to him. I know how much he wants this. So if there's anyone who understands the seriousness of the situation, it's me. And that's why I asked him that way. So at least he gave...
01:18:27
Speaker
reasoning behind it and he and you know he talked about you know he deserves to be out there he'd been playing great and and let's make it clear guys right I mean the reason why I didn't question it and I knew that Pedro was going to play is because he had been trending in the right direction you need to get him going correctly you need to continue to ramp him up for the playoffs so you needed to get him out there right I mean it's I understand why fans would wonder why not rest them.
01:18:56
Speaker
I'm telling you why it was important for him to get some minutes. I mean, this happened, you know, less than 20 minutes in, right? So if it was bound to happen, it was bound to happen. Unfortunately for, for Pedro.
Playoff Dynamics and Sounders' Season Reflection
01:19:09
Speaker
Right. And, ah I think it's even better that you do some sort of stress test before the playoffs, right? Imagine you lose Pedro on game two of an elimination game.
01:19:22
Speaker
That's not where you want to lose him, right? Now you can prepare. Now you can figure it out. But the reality is that no one was hoping that that happened. No one knew that that was going to happen. And I just wanted him to say it, but he was clearly upset and and I understand it, right? I have empathy. I put myself in his shoes.
01:19:39
Speaker
That's a stressful situation to be on. So a question needed to be asked. I did everything I can to make it as easy as it could be. And as I try to be as empathetic with that as possible, but it didn't quite work.
01:19:53
Speaker
I have to inform you both that the Vancouver Whitecaps are crashing out currently. They just received a red card in the 15th minute. Let's go. FC Dallas is fighting for a playoff spot. Will they get it?
01:20:05
Speaker
The world will never know. And also the Loons famous for not being ah good at having possession. They have conceded a goal to the l LA Galaxy in the 12th minute. no So they are currently losing one nil No changes on the table so far yet, obviously, other than the LA Galaxy moving from 15th to 14th, so they may not finish that's last in the West.
01:20:27
Speaker
um But yeah, that is that's that. FC Dallas into playoff position. Or they're in playoff position. They're holding on. And the Sounders... looking uh looking like they they're currently still gonna play minnesota but uh la la colorado i've been watching ah l la just got a yellow card and there was a set piece but they were able to clear that out okay let's just assume say say that la do beat minnesota uh what would what would need to happen for seattle to still be playing minnesota in the first round
01:20:59
Speaker
If LA beat out. Yeah. So if l LA, if the galaxy beat Minnesota and LAFC draw or lose. phil it Well, yeah, it wouldn't matter if they lose and Minnesota also lose. It wouldn't, it would stay the same.
01:21:14
Speaker
Right. That's good. That's sound math. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, it's so early, though. I mean, that that's you know, I was ah you looking into the I was looking into the games this morning, you know, that that Miami Nashville game. I thought Nashville was going to do it.
01:21:29
Speaker
They were the better team in 45 minutes. They had a bunch of opportunities. They had Miami against the ropes. They went up to one. And then Miami just turned it on and and it was over. So let let's see what happens there in the second half with Vancouver, who definitely has the goods.
01:21:46
Speaker
And, you know, Minnesota is a team that, although very pragmatic, you know, they can they can go out. And RSL scored against St. Louis. Now they actually scored. They scored, yeah.
01:22:01
Speaker
so Very interesting. no you It just showed eight and nine. So currently eight and nine is and we have Salt Lake and FC Dallas. Did we talk about the Dallas goal? Apparently they just scored.
01:22:14
Speaker
They just scored. This just happened. Like literally just a second ago. um So they are now. Vancouver got a dog so red. Yep. And then Dallas scored in the 18th.
01:22:25
Speaker
So Vancouver. So San Jose's cooked. Yeah. Right now, as of right now, yeah. There's so many. the The table is constantly shuffling right now. But eighth eighth right now is FC Dallas. Ninth right now is Real Salt Lake because they both have a 1-0 lead. yep But the table, it's hot.
01:22:45
Speaker
It's hot. The Caps, they're not doing so hot. Danny Bawango does... Oh, saved. Denny Bawanga did not pass to Son. He passed to Ryan Hollingshed. Ryan Hollingshed did a scissor flying kick into the goalkeeper, into Zach 7.
01:23:05
Speaker
So we are, man, it is, it's lively here. We're getting lively. I'm trying to pull up the live table. wasn't working. You go on FOTMob, dude. telling you. It's best place to do it.
01:23:17
Speaker
Not sponsored. Yeah, it's going to be interesting how he plays out, man. Because, I mean, right now, ah you know, with the the way the table stands, you know, in the Minnesota is the team that you want to play.
01:23:30
Speaker
ah You know, especially ah considering now, you know, the Sounders injuries, it gives you some time to figure things out going into this one. um And look, Minnesota has really declined in their play, man. I mean, Tani leaving, with Jaboa hurt, I mean, that that's not the same team that faced the Sounders twice.
01:23:50
Speaker
ah They definitely don't have the the the same offensive efficiency. And when you're a team that thrives on efficiency, that that's what you need because you don't create a lot of opportunities.
01:24:01
Speaker
You're kind of out of luck. You know what I mean? They are in the worst form of any of the teams in the top five. ah Correct. Pretty, pretty comfortably. ah Just looking at this, guys, you know, we we have Seattle's point total and record finalized in the 2025 season. Fifteen, nine and ten.
01:24:21
Speaker
Fifty five points. One point six two points per game. Fifth place. How do you how do you size that up? Is that because that is below where we're used to them finishing? They don't get home field there, you know, the finishing fifth.
01:24:37
Speaker
But, you know, you do have to take in to account the the League's Cup victory in the turn, and all the resources and energy that they put into that. So, I don't know. Are you disappointed and underwhelmed at all with ah this final haul?
01:24:53
Speaker
Or do you feel like it's... I feel like it's pretty good considering Leeds Cup. like do you see that different? Yeah, people don't want to hear it, but... I've said it a bunch of times. Seattle is playing with house money.
01:25:08
Speaker
Everybody who hates the term, but that's the reality of it. They got their title. They got the silverware. ah They were able to display ah a a better, more entertaining type of soccer.
01:25:21
Speaker
ah They have one loss at home. Obviously, All the objectives that going into this season were important, making ah your home a fortress, ah being you know creating more volume, but being a more entertaining team, all of those things those things were were were achieved.
01:25:39
Speaker
And you add a title to that, and you're biscuits, baby, and you beat Portland. I mean, you're good to go, right? I mean, right here, right now, you're just hoping for a decent run, and and and that's it. I mean, you want to be competitive, right?
01:25:53
Speaker
You know, I can be very confident that if the Sounders do play Minnesota, that they'll beat Minnesota in the first round. And then after that, you're good, regardless of what happens. Can they go on a run?
01:26:04
Speaker
You know, they sure can. I think that this team, when I look at, you know, the way they play today with still some missing pieces, they're Conceptually, they're a team that understands what they want to do.
01:26:16
Speaker
And although they at times give up soft goals, you know, I was encouraged by what I saw today. I was encouraged by what I sawgainst saw against RSL with even more missing pieces. So when a team can play with all their concepts and and be a team that understands that identity, you know, I think that you can get across and you can grind out a lot of games in the playoffs, especially when it comes to the ones and dones.
01:26:39
Speaker
ah Brian, is a great tournament coach. If this team gets on a run, they can get on a run. i just think that there's, ah you know, two teams that Seattle doesn't match up well with and it's San Diego and it is LAFC.
01:26:54
Speaker
Look, I understand that Vancouver is the more talented team and now with Mueller, ah they seem to have found a, an X factor in a, in another amplifier there for that team.
01:27:07
Speaker
But I still think that Seattle in the stat stylistically, they just don't match up as well with either LAFC or San Diego. So outside of those two, I think Seattle can, can, can get pretty far.
01:27:18
Speaker
Yeah. I think there's a, uh, there's a, uh, new rule of thumb that Seattle winning leagues cup has made me, uh, made me establish this year in my mind, which is that yeah you, you earn the right to call the playoffs house money by, by two things, winning CONCACAF champions cup, winning leagues cup, any team that does either of those two things in a given year,
01:27:45
Speaker
then yes, like it is, then it is house money from there, regardless of what happens in the playoffs. Nico, we haven't even talked about the nyce game itself yet. And you mentioned it a little bit there, but what did you like about the performance today? I feel like this was a,
01:28:03
Speaker
one of their better road performances of the year against a good, a good team like that and NYC team. They are a, a upper tier team in the East. They have, they have one of the best players in the league underratedly in Alonzo Martinez who didn't do anything today.
01:28:20
Speaker
So what what did you make of just ah how how the team looked and played today? I thought they looked very good. I, I thought it was not just a solid performance overall,
01:28:33
Speaker
because there were moments that the team lost a little bit of um the possession. I think they gave up some unnecessary opportunities. I mean, the goal comes off um I'm mistaken. We'll talk about that, but let's stay on the positives. For me, the positives are the possession was great.
01:28:51
Speaker
I thought that Gio Pablo and Dan Leiva continued to thrive. Jackson Red was the man of the match. He did it all today. He defended in space. He defended Ben and Man. He defended said pieces.
01:29:03
Speaker
He gets the goal for the win. ah He was good on his passing, ah breaking line passes. I thought that Jackson Red on ball today, ah Alex Rodin continues to be... a guy that you can rely on You could plug him in anywhere in that 11 and he'll work for you.
01:29:19
Speaker
But as a center back right next to Jackson Reagan, man, he didn't lose a beat. And as you mentioned, this is a good New York City team that I feel like what Seattle did well today was being on the right side of the ball, being goal side, not allowing this team to get off on transition moments.
01:29:35
Speaker
There isn't a more dangerous attacker, like striker, like a nine, with the ball at his feet and real estate in front of him than Martinez. And he'll make you pay every single time.
01:29:46
Speaker
And today he didn't have those opportunities because I thought they did a great job at not allowing him to get service. And when he did, whether it was Jackson or Nuhu, there was always somebody breaking him down, making him play negative.
01:29:58
Speaker
So... I thought the defensively, they were outstanding.
Sounders' Key Performances and Set Pieces Importance
01:30:01
Speaker
And then Jordan Morris getting a goal is huge. is it is That is what you wanted to do. When people ask, why are starters on the field?
01:30:10
Speaker
That's why starters are on the field. You wanted Jordan Morris to get more minutes, to get game rhythm, um and to get that confidence goal. You know, goal scorers are... Very different creatures.
01:30:22
Speaker
And they need to get that rhythm. They need to get that monkey off their back when they're in a bad streak of goals. And now, you know, the floods might open and and Jordan might just be on a tear.
01:30:35
Speaker
So you needed to get that done. And I feel like that was important. So that's another positive. um Stefan Fry, couple of big, huge saves. I thought he was great in distribution.
01:30:47
Speaker
um He continues to be a guy that just makes sense as the person that you want in between the goal when you're playing the playoffs and you're playing meaningful games, when you're playing all be all type of situations.
01:31:00
Speaker
So all those things were positives. ah Now the negatives again, just mental lapses. As much as that turnover happened because of Danny Leyva, and and And look, it's funny because Paul Rothrock did a bad one, did a good one.
01:31:14
Speaker
The bad one on the goal is that i don't get why in the 81st minute he's so quick to... start that play from that set piece.
01:31:26
Speaker
And then he drops it back where New York's already pressing you high. Take your time. There was a guy on the floor. and Reset your team. Let a couple more minutes go out. I mean, gamemanship is important.
01:31:40
Speaker
And I think Paul Rothrock kind of just didn't see it there. But then what does he do afterwards? Yeah. he He creates that corner kick for Jackson Reagan to get in the back of, right?
01:31:51
Speaker
He had no business running after that ball and creating havoc for the defender. And, you know, they were calling for a foul. There was no foul. He creates that that that that corner, and you got to give him credit for it. And then Jackson Reagan, great.
01:32:06
Speaker
Danny Laver set piece, by the way. Great Danny Laver set piece, by the way. And then Jackson Reagan just manhandles a guy, throws him around like a ragdoll. Sort of had two guys on him, but he just throws him off and then he gets the header. So, ah you know, a couple of just things that they still need to square away.
01:32:24
Speaker
ah Decision making there at the end. I think Jordan Morris could have had a couple of more opportunities if you put him with through balls, if you give him the right type of opportunities. But there was a couple of moments where the execution wasn't quite there.
01:32:37
Speaker
But overall, I thought it was a very good game on the road at New York City FC in a weird-ass stadium at Citi Field ah with, you know, some makeup grass. I mean, i just thought that Seattle played well through the circumstances.
01:32:52
Speaker
San Diego have scored. Austin have scored. So Portland is now losing and San Jose are losing. Okay. Wow. Portland actually might end up as a wild card. That would be pretty funny. Let's get Kenny in here. He's he's been ah waiting in the queue. We'll make this a four man panel.
01:33:07
Speaker
Let's do it. Back line to four. Welcome in, man. You're on the stage. How are you doing? 2-1 win at NYC, but obviously clouded to some extent by the injury to Pedro de la Vega.
01:33:19
Speaker
What'd you think? Yeah, look, man, we're undefeated against the East this year, right? And I think in all competitions, too. Caps have equalized off a penalty.
01:33:32
Speaker
Oh, wow against us I hate the white crap. I mean, you you you lost at Miami. That's the only one that I can think of. ah Oh, and at Atlanta.
01:33:44
Speaker
That was a draw, though. That was a draw. Oh, that was a draw. Okay. Damn it, I forgot Miami. Nico, you're so good, man. You you get the stuff. You the man, baby. You man.
01:33:56
Speaker
About this game, ah like Nico was saying, Jackson Reagan, phenomenal. I think he now surpasses Alex Roldan for goal contributions on the year.
01:34:09
Speaker
good year Good year from the big coconut. I'll trust you. Just trust me, also has more MLS goal contributions than Alex Rodon. yeah I can trust that. That's a nice nugget.
01:34:23
Speaker
I'm going to look it up. but Nuhu was the ah how you highest rated player that wasn't on the score sheet tonight. He was the highest rated player ah for the Sounders that didn't score or assist.
01:34:36
Speaker
So decent game. um About the goal, do you guys put ah much blame on Nuhu? I think he, maybe his positioning, he came a little to too narrow, possibly. But there was there were breakdowns, obviously, before. But, you know, how do you slice that pie up, Ari?
01:34:53
Speaker
I didn't blame Nuhu for that, really. I feel like... feel like it's an unlucky deflection. I mean, is your contention like ah like the the way he's jumping lends itself to deflections in those situations? Yeah, maybe. But I wouldn't say that it was Nuhu's fault the goal went that the ball went in the net. It comes off of him. But, like, yeah, I mean, could he have done better to defend it? Sure. But, you know.
01:35:23
Speaker
There's a breakdown. The turnover is the problem. The turnover by Danny Leyva and then the the the um Snyder not kind of just making a decision and pressing his man, ah that that kind of left just two options. So it was, yeah. I thought the defense was phenomenal.
01:35:45
Speaker
I thought it was great. And I mentioned Paul Rothrock. Again, he there's he has no business... Doing a quick free kick there. There's there's no point. What are you trying to keep up the high tempo for?
01:35:56
Speaker
There's no reason why you shouldn't just let your ten your team set and then figure a better pass. Or you almost, you could even, you don't have to want to go pro ah forward, go positive on that and act like you're going to bomb the ball. But you decisions.
01:36:13
Speaker
New York push back because you, there is a possibility of a long ball, but he just quickly drops it back. It just makes it easy for mayor York city to repress.
01:36:24
Speaker
So that's part of the issue, but new who it's an emergency defense situation. He does what he can. i don't think it's on him.
01:36:34
Speaker
Yeah, and then you said Snyder was um he was indecisive there. i' You'd prefer him to step up and and let the the back line defend. Let the back track.
01:36:45
Speaker
just that i mean or just pick a man to put pressure on. I think that he kind of like was... like and He wasn't doing anything wrong, perhaps. like He was kind of zonally marking that. but I don't know.
01:36:57
Speaker
I'd have to watch it again. it was I've only watched it one time. yeah But it felt like on that initial watch that he could have... He could have kind of stepped up a little bit and just put a little bit more pressure to make that pass a little bit more difficult or that shot a little bit more difficult, depending on you you know where he was deciding to press on that.
01:37:15
Speaker
And wow, yeah the Raptors almost just had a beautiful chance to put one in the back of the net there and let the ball go all the way across the goal box. Good. This is spicy. I hit LAFC.
01:37:27
Speaker
yeah i had a lay of sealed bill okay I had LAFC drawing today and Minnesota winning. So hopefully that doesn't happen, but that's what I had in, in my prediction. Well, LA is drawing right now, but Minnesota is most definitely not winning.
01:37:45
Speaker
We're going to see Kivak USA at some point. We're to see them at some point. So, you know, and might as well get it out of the way early. Three bites of the apple. I guess. There you go.
01:37:56
Speaker
Um, But I guess I'll close out on the midfield. That was my biggest question mark with the the workload that Obed and Christian have been facing. But JP and Leyva especially have really assuaged my fears. And Snyder Brunel looks like a great fifth option.
01:38:14
Speaker
ah Danny Leyva dispossessed zero times in over 90 minutes today, almost 100 minutes. um He had his part in the goal, but we're going to fail together as a team. you know we Everybody had their their hand in that one, I'd say.
01:38:31
Speaker
um But, no, i'm I'm super comfortable with seeing Danny Leyva off the bench. um His defensive instincts have really matured. You know, he's not the teenager from Vegas, you know, hunched over running, you know, the hunched over Danny Leyva run.
01:38:46
Speaker
But, no, i his technique and his shape on his service especially um is so valuable on those – on those corner kicks, because you have to have the angle.
01:38:59
Speaker
You have to have the angle right. Reznak, he can assist from the free kick tonight because ah it's a friendlier angle in that low cross that he's really good at, that low driven service um he's lethal with.
01:39:14
Speaker
But it doesn't always beat the first man on the corners. But set pieces are are heating up, and we need that for the playoffs. Yeah, i was ah I was pushing back on a Noah's Danny Leiva for permanent corner kick taking agenda, but then he went out and bammed an assist off one again. So I think it might it might be the case that he should ah start taking him.
01:39:41
Speaker
Kenny, any ah any last takes you wanted to get out there? And then we're going to bring a Feltz on here. let's let's go Let's go get the double. Let's go get the double. ah MLS Cup and a a World Series.
01:39:54
Speaker
Let's go, nerds. Oh, the MLS Cup World Series double. Why not? Okay. I thought he was going for the Weeks Cup and MLS Cup double, but that's it. Yeah. yeah me to write The triple.
01:40:06
Speaker
The triple crown. We have got joining the show right now. Jackson Feltz, Sports Radio KJR, Sounders Weekly. And a guy who I'm beating his ass in fantasy every single week.
01:40:20
Speaker
He can't do anything. No, that's not even possible to play every single week, man. no what is If we played every week, I would win every week. look you are I believe you're like one of the lowest efficiency teams in this entire league right now.
01:40:34
Speaker
Noah's team is hot. but and well yeah He also is getting his story very little. We're all in this fantasy football league chat. You guys want to hear us turn this into a fantasy football podcast? but i want to I'm mad at Noah because know lets for two weeks I've been trying to get Chase and he has rightfully not not gave him up.
01:40:53
Speaker
Hold on. is this Is this a fantasy football discussion are we actually talking about soccer? and What do you guys talk about on the radio? You ruined the flow.
01:41:05
Speaker
Nico, how do you make a prediction of I think that Minnesota is going to win and LAFC is going to lose or whatever you said, draw. like Predicting anything on decision day is a fool's, Aaron.
01:41:16
Speaker
Well, that's what I'm saying. i I've been very good at understanding that you got to go with a lot of gut. you You put a little bit of what's in front of you and then you completely switch it up. Right.
01:41:29
Speaker
ah So that's kind of what it is.
Playoff Optimism and Defensive Strength
01:41:31
Speaker
I had say you have a hell of a setup right now. The mic, the camera quality. You look like you're you're right out of somewhere like at of Fox 13 or something.
01:41:42
Speaker
No, yeah that's my little office. i Unfortunately, i haven't put the TV right here in front, so I can't watch the games. But but we're getting there. We're getting there. Yeah, right. But i no, yet look, look to to be quite honest, this look, LAFC has dropped some points. And I know that it was without Son and, of course, Buonga.
01:42:00
Speaker
But it's very... Normal for the season fluctuate there at the end. And Colorado is a team that when they're right, they they're right. And they can definitely put you under some duress.
01:42:11
Speaker
ah They have some good attacking pieces there. And Minnesota, despite them having a really bad end of the season, I thought that, you know, they could do it against the LA Galaxy. Hold on, hold on, hold on.
01:42:22
Speaker
What was that? That's brilliant. Look at that. Look at that. That is professional. That's something you see out of Bristol, Connecticut.
01:42:33
Speaker
Look at that. We are not ESPN. We are lobbying Scorchers. but I mean, you might as well be. That's that's some pro stuff right there. I'll say something more stern if I had a glass of something in front of me.
01:42:49
Speaker
That's tremendous. So are we all ready for the loons? Who knows what's going to happen? Yeah, it could it could be that. Who knows? It's still early. maybe Maybe, here's what I want. Listen, I'm going to say it, Jackson, and and you may not like it, but I want to play l a and you want to know why?
01:43:06
Speaker
Because when the Mariners are in the World Series against the Dodgers, it will be happening at the same time. Okay. founders would be playing in l LA first two things two things two things first shut your face we still have one more win shut your face yeah we're gonna we're gonna win i I mean listen in in all I mean yes and just I would rather play San Diego than Minnesota personally like you know I already have gone back and forth on this on a weekly I don't know how many times I just don't want to face an expert defensive team in Minnesota
01:43:38
Speaker
And, and, and I, I'm very scared to face a team that's beaten us twice this year. So in that context, Noah, like I would rather have the offensive team in San Diego.
01:43:50
Speaker
Hmm. That's interesting. I'm just, I'm in it because tickets to go and see world series game at Dodger stadium are going to be half selfish in one game at, at, at T-Mobile because I mean, ah like listen, I, what I've said the whole time is sign me up for a sweep in the world series. I said that from day one of the playoffs, because it's like, listen, the the Dodgers are probably going to win this whole damn thing. But like, I just want to be in that last dance. Just give me the, even if we slip and fall on our asses, just put me in that last dance.
01:44:21
Speaker
Put me in, coach. Let me see what I can do. Why not? it'd be nice. It'd be nice for it to happen, to be honest. And you're right. I mean, the Dodgers do look unstoppable right now. But yeah it'd be nice for the M's to just finish it up. And, ah hey, if Slick Rick Suarez could, you know, continue to have grand salamis. And he's going to look great in Mets pinstripes, too, after this season. He's going to be hitting dingers just like Jordan Morris. Who just nicknamed Gino Slick Rick?
01:44:49
Speaker
Oh, ah yeah, because his slick hair. sleek hair Oh, my gosh. His hair's so slick, so slick. Because he started straightening his hair midway through the years. beautiful. My wife loves it. He's like, how does he get it so shiny? was like, I don't know, hon.
01:45:02
Speaker
it was It was funny for me. I was watching was watching the Mariners last night. Obviously, like, super incredible, exciting game, legendary Grand Slam, all that. And I was like, all right, you know, yeah, one one more game. But yeah i couldn't couldn't help but, like, kind of thinking about, like, what if they actually make the – World Series. And I was like, it's probably going to be the Dodgers. Let's see how they're doing in this Brewer series.
01:45:24
Speaker
And I just like look at the box score and I see Otani three home runs, 10 strikeouts. I mean, what you know what's funny about it is like in this day and age, and like I think all four of us succumb to this, where we sensationalize a performance and we definitely use hyperbole. I mean, I'm probably more guilty of that anybody at that than using hyperbole.
01:45:44
Speaker
And i don't think it's hyperbole when the the rest of the sports world is doing it to say what happened last night is the single greatest baseball performance in a game ever. Ever. Yeah.
01:45:57
Speaker
i Like he had the like pinnacle of baseball. Yeah. He peaked. Like there was this great, there was a great article in LA times or Jennifer, I want to say is her name had this incredible, you know, lead where she was writing about how, you know, how, how you have Mozart and you have, you know, all the greats, Michael Jordan in the finals woods on Sundays.
01:46:20
Speaker
Son has done it. Son has done it. Putting LAFC ahead with an absolute scorcher. No, you needed a Jackson. I love you, but we got a Jackson. I love you, but we got to go. No. Yeah.
01:46:31
Speaker
Okay. So that, that almost cements, almost cements Minnesota. Almost. yeah Yeah. Unless LAFC like really crash and burn. But now, but now here's the thing, Colorado to to your point, Nico, when they're on, they're on, they're going to have to open themselves up.
01:46:47
Speaker
And when you open yourself up against LAFC, you're done. That's correct. Yeah. Yeah. Like that's all. I mean, god i'm I'm willing to write right now, boys. We're going to Minnesota next weekend. Yep. Yep. I'm going to buy the damn tickets.
01:47:00
Speaker
St. Louis. St. Louis is about to get a PK here again. Somebody, somebody look up what the weather is like in, in St. Paul, Minnesota week. Someone text Mark.
01:47:11
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. castner Castor is out there. You can tell us. but and Oh, my God. St. Louis just took probably the worst PK I've ever seen. no way. that You guys got it. Pull up 360. You guys got to see this this. They don't want San Jose to win.
01:47:28
Speaker
Well, see, I'm like at my kitchen table right now. My wife is sitting over here wondering when the hell I'm going to stop this. So I don't have 360 up. He's kitchen table. He's a kitchen table.
01:47:38
Speaker
Why don't you give us your quick takes on the game, Jackson, before you go? Yeah, no. um Listen, i think I think we were very close to falling in the narrative of, oh, God, another result that could have been that we fell apart. i mean, you think back to Austin, LA Galaxy, you know, and and even i would say these last two games where it should have ended 2-0. We should have beat Portland by multiple goals if Mazowski could have put one away. We should have beaten RSL 2-0 if Jordan Morris can put away a penalty.
01:48:06
Speaker
And it's just this narrative of like, The Sounders you know need to be able to win by multiple goals, take care of business, close games out. And i was you know after this 80-second mini-equalizer, it's like, oh, God, here we go again.
01:48:20
Speaker
But it sort of does feel like that Jackson goal – puts the monkey off the back of, okay, Jordan has scored. There's his confidence. We're good there. and there's the goal to win it at the end.
01:48:32
Speaker
you know, monkeys off the back in terms of, you know, losing a result. We're good there. And yeah, we're going to lose Pedro de la Vega for a little bit. And we'll see what the severity of that is. You know on the broadcast, Pete viewing told me that he thought that it's a dislocated kneecap patella.
01:48:47
Speaker
So, you know, threw out there three, four weeks. But, I mean, right now, look at the calendar. That's not good. That sounds so goddamn painful. yeah Better than ACL. Terrible. So, you know what's funny? I i was actually in college. i was playing um not hockey. It's like, you know, what is it called? Bucketball, whatever the hell it is.
01:49:05
Speaker
And I dislocated – It was like basically a kickball on ice. And I dislocated my kneecap. And I was on crutches for a week and couldn't really work out for like – two months.
01:49:17
Speaker
And in that context, I'm like, well, crap. But even then, regardless of what it is, we're going to, we're not going to have Pedro for a little bit. And, and in all of this context together, you look at it and you say to get a win, you're,
01:49:32
Speaker
to end the regular season with three straight. I mean, you gotta be feeling good no matter what, because also it does end the discussion of, you know, who's the odd man out in that midfield, because now you have Pedro on the left, you have Jesus on the right, you have Albert in between Jordan up top and Jordan, the monkey off the back.
01:49:49
Speaker
So, I'm feeling pretty good. And I'm not saying that this team is going to go win MLS cup or anything, especially without De La Vega, but like, yeah, this team should be feeling pretty confident right now because that was a very tough game in a tough place in New York city who was playing for the four seed without Obed and Christian out of Shroldon at center back again.
01:50:10
Speaker
And that combo of Alex and Jackson did really well. Yeah. um So overall, yet this team should be feeling pretty good about themselves and very confident going into what likely is Minnesota saying to themselves, all right, we've lost twice to this team this year.
01:50:24
Speaker
We know what it takes to beat and we know what it takes to get a result. We know how they're going to play. Let's break them down and let's you know get what we couldn't before. So, yeah, I like today's game for a lot of reasons and I'm confident in for a lot of other reasons what we're doing.
01:50:41
Speaker
What is that? Noah's showing us the Penn State score. that's If there's anything that ah people might care about less than fantasy football. He's currently losing to Iowa.
01:50:55
Speaker
don't know. So, I mean, I guess what I would ask you guys is, is given Pedro likely being out, um given the, you know, Christian and Obed coming back off a rest. I mean, Nico, maybe you have info on Yamar.
01:51:07
Speaker
How are we feeling? Sounders at Minnesota for a three-game series. Yeah, Nico leaked the Yamar updates. Yeah, no, i think Yamar is has been... um very slowly um raising the bar in the resistance and um cardiovascular department.
01:51:27
Speaker
You've seen him add additional trainings. He's been partial at training a couple of times as well, worked in the small sided games, worked in ah a little bit of condensed space drills.
01:51:38
Speaker
So I think he is almost ready to go as it is. And I am a hundred percent sure that he'll be back against the, ah Minnesota.
01:51:49
Speaker
I mean, obviously after today, you got a week off and that you're going to be able to work him into your lineup again. And I think you'll get the start. I think that there's no way that he will allow but Brian to start that game without him in it.
01:52:06
Speaker
And we'll see where it goes from there. But I think he's, I think he's a hundred percent. huge My gosh. Can you think about Minnesota, how good they are on set pieces? If you can get Yamar back and be a big body for those set pieces and be able to have Alex play out wide, i mean, that would be – didn't realize it was that close, Nico. That's massive.
01:52:27
Speaker
That's the thing about the Minnesota matchup, man. If you can just defend those set pieces, I feel like the way Seattle played them in Minnesota the last time, they they were the better team in that game. They had the much better chances.
01:52:41
Speaker
That's one of those ones where if you play it like 10 times, Seattle wins that game most of the time like based on how the game went. And then it's just a matter of them being this freakishly God-tier team on these set pieces.
01:52:54
Speaker
And that that was the one goal they got in that game. was and it from that so uh i really think that if they can just make sure that they don't get any set piece goals which is obviously way easier said than done then it becomes like a uh a much more manageable matchup than uh certainly like playing lafc with the uh demonic duo of sun and denny bwonga so so so if san diego leads right now right So right now would be San Diego 2, LAFC 3, Minnesota 4 if things ended right now here at the halves.
01:53:29
Speaker
yeah Yeah. Correct. capital ingo l a minnesota here's Here's then my next question. Who does Portland play in the first round? Portland will be playing San Diego rightgo right now yes seven Oh, San Diego, my bad.
01:53:45
Speaker
Okay. and I was really hoping they'd be playing LAFC just because I want to see them eliminated as quick as possible. But okay. I mean, they're losing. whole But but but but is it isn't there a plane in this one? Oh, yeah. yeah wait Who's the eight nine Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
01:54:00
Speaker
Yeah, 8-9 play number one. Yeah, right. Right. Okay. That's right. So they, they play each other for the right. paring So Portland right now is, is seven. Okay. Yeah. yeah all Gotcha. too Six faces three, man. I don't know if to go off Nico, when you were saying about Colorado, when Portland's on, they can be on. That's a sneaky upset pick.
01:54:24
Speaker
they yeah Yeah, Portland's interesting. they've been on the ah They've been on a downturn lately. They could very well end up in in the play-in.
01:54:35
Speaker
But this two and three could flip if sand die if Portland comes back and for comes back and ties San Diego and then LAFC beats Colorado.
01:54:46
Speaker
LAC with Leap San Diego. Weirdest thing is happening right now. Somebody's using a chainsaw like in the house over. Can you guys hear that? No, but somebody's using a chainsaw in the house over.
01:54:58
Speaker
like and That's weird. Chainsaw session? That's a weird thing in the universe happening right now. yeah Hopefully it's just a Halloween prop. It's just decision day. The magic of decision day that a chainsaw is going...
01:55:13
Speaker
Decision day chaos. Jackson, secondary question. Have you seen the presser? ah No. I've been watching that probably never mind probably honestly tomorrow morning.
01:55:24
Speaker
Don't worry about it. Get your hacks and ferments Lobbing Scorchers hot sauce ready at lobbingscorchers.com slash sauce because it got spicy. I try to ask Brian a question in in the most settled way.
01:55:38
Speaker
so i preface it with some other things to make sure that He didn't feel like I was questioning him but putting Pedro in today as a starter. And he completely took it wrong. He completely took it wrong. Oh, Nico.
01:55:56
Speaker
Yeah, yeah i was I was really trying to give him a stage so he could like explain the reasoning why it was important for him to be on there. And he completely went like sideways. And then Felipe, right after me, asked...
01:56:10
Speaker
a more straight question about it and then he really went off because he called the game meaningless and he won oh no and then he went crazy. yeah yeah he he got and i am I'm going to depart here in a couple minutes so that might be the first thing that I do upon getting off this call. Just just just text me and and say, Nico, I understood your question. That's it. and And if you didn't, then say, Nico, I didn't understand your question. Nico, I didn't understand your question.
01:56:39
Speaker
He was trying to purposely present it in a way that was like, in this type of situation, a lot of fans would be wondering this. that's and like Honestly, and whenever I have a difficult question to ask, that's the way I do it.
01:56:53
Speaker
You know, Brian, a lot of a lot of fans would say this or a lot some fans on Reddit are saying that. How would you respond to those fans? That's the easiest way to ask a hard question. So that's what Nico was trying to do. That's what I did. And I only asked it that way because it was a pretty sensitive situation.
01:57:09
Speaker
go i usually don't. one one Oh my God, they're so bad. oh my God. who the Dallas. Yeah. oh
01:57:20
Speaker
Oh, man. Well, there you go. So go ahead and check it out. Text me. if i will go into the I know, boys. I'm thinking I'm thinking we get we get Minnesota and we sweep them. Let's sweep Minnesota.
01:57:31
Speaker
Yeah, why not? I'm with that. Let's go. Let's go. and And then is the, what would we, we be in in the bracket, would then we play Vancouver, right? Yes. Yeah, let's go. let's go to Let's go to the West Final again. I'm all for Let's go to the West Final and then LAFC does the LAFC thing.
01:57:50
Speaker
And lose. I like it.
01:57:53
Speaker
but blow it in the playoffs. like Well, it's more, it's, it is, it is more likely given history that they blow it in the playoffs and they actually capitalize in the playoffs. Cause it is LAFC. It's true. It's true. it's true It is just factual. ah It's getting chippy in the box here.
01:58:08
Speaker
All right, Jackson, man, we appreciate you going hang out with the wifey, man. I know she's staring at you right there in those beautiful eyes. I got you, man. worry about it. I love you boys. See you later. All right. Jackson.