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Jordan Morris Magnum Opus - Ep. 75
1.7k Plays1 month ago
After weathering some technical challenges, we are back with the biggest Dub Pod yet as the Seattle Sounders have eliminated LAFC in the Western Conference Semifinals on an own goal for the ages and an instantly iconic Jordan Morris game-winner. Where does this one rank in the pantheon of all-time best wins in club history? That’s one of the topics we tackle after recapping another epic upset of the Black & Gold.
We also hit our Agenda Check, take your questions and preview a Western Conference Final against the high-flying LA Galaxy.
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Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
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Transcript
Introduction and Technical Challenges
00:00:00
Speaker
What's going on, everybody? Welcome to episode 75 of Lobbing Scorchers. This is Ari Lillianwall. I've got producer Noah here with me remotely. And folks, we have had some technical difficulties. We've had a battle with technology, as this happens sometimes on Lobbing Scorchers. But I think we've got it all figured out. And Noah, we are set to record. this is our We've had multiple attempts. We are set to record.
00:00:27
Speaker
the biggest dub pop in Waffle Scorchers history. How are you feeling? It was so big. It broke the scales. It broke the platform. It broke it broke all recording metrics. we're we're in for We're in for a good one. It's going to be a good one. ah Yeah, that's right, folks.
Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC Semifinal Recap
00:00:44
Speaker
The Seattle Sounders, they did it. They did it. They went down to LAFC for the Western Conference semifinals, and they won a 2-1 victory in what I think can comfortably be called one of the greatest performances in club history. I mean, we're going to talk about exactly where it ranks in that pantheon. Uh, but it's certainly, it's certainly up there with the best of them. Jordan Morris with one of the best goals in club history, one of the best goals of his career, extra time game winner to break a one, one deadlock and send the Seattle Sounders to the Western conference final where they're going to take on the LA galaxy and
00:01:21
Speaker
If they win, Noah, the Seattle Sounders host MLS Cup. How does that sound? and ah How crazy is it that that's something that I just said, given where we were earlier in the season? I mean, this is how we drew it up, Ari. This is exactly what we knew, how it was going to happen. We predicted this preseason. There was there was no problems throughout the season. It's exactly how we drew it up. Definitely how Brian Schmetzer drew it up. And who's who's stoked? let's You know what? Let's win this next game and and host MLS Cup again.
00:01:52
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. But before we do that, we do have to lay down the dub pod. We're going to hit our game review. We're going to hit our agenda check. We're going to hit your questions. And then we're going to talk about the the other results in the semifinals around MLS. We're going to size up these ah these conference finals, preview this game against the Galaxy a little bit.
00:02:08
Speaker
um There's kind of a lot to get to too later in the show, Noah, because we got so there's a lot of MLS news with ah coaching ah entrances and exits. inter Miami's got a new coach. Atlanta United's coach is gone. New York City's coach is gone. So just a lot going on in MLS right now between the playoffs and all the news that's happening. We're going to talk about all of it.
Podcast Support and Subscriber Gratitude
00:02:30
Speaker
um But before we do that, I do have to let you all know that Lobbing Scorchers is a part of the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network. If you want to get the best independent Seattle soccer coverage, consider supporting us by going to sounderatheart.com slash LS. That's sounderatheart.com slash LS. Scroll down to subscribe and support to get 30 days completely free. Every sign up through our link helps support and grow this show. Know what we have a new sub to thank, don't we?
00:02:52
Speaker
Who do we have? We do. We do. Rick Cossack. Rick, thank you so much for being number 47, Agent 47, perhaps, of the Lobbing Squirtress podcast. You're the go. Thank you for subscribing. Ari, if they want to join the ranks of Rick and all 47 others, where do they go? Soundedheart.com slash LS. Thank you, Rick. We love and appreciate you. We love and appreciate all of our subscribers. um If you're listening to this and you have not done so yet,
00:03:20
Speaker
Sub to the Lobbins Quarchers YouTube. There's a lot going on. Oh, yeah. There's a lot going on on there right now. If you're not subbed, you're going to want to. The road to 700 is alive and well. um we have We've closed that gap. we're ah Despite some of the controversy that we've been embroiled in. Lobbins Quarchers has had a controversial last couple of days too. so I think we're going to have to talk about that at some point. but ah We are two subs away from 700 on the Lobbins Quarchers YouTube. so Sub there and also Uh, we hit triple ditch on the Instagram today, which is a big, there we go. Sub to our to please. There's actually like some of the content we've been putting up there has been pretty good too. So yeah, we've been putting some memes up there as well. Some more shareable content, you know,
00:04:00
Speaker
oo We're venturing in, we're venturing in. We're venturing in. um All right, let's get to this dub pod. it out on this dub pod. Like I said, it's one of the, ah it's I think it's the biggest dub pod in Lobbing Scorcher's history, certainly. And, ah you know, I guess before we get into our lineup reaction and the and the key moments and everything, I mean, I think it's worth just kinda, I don't wanna let this moment kinda get blown by, you know, I think these types of wins are worth savoring and soaking in like without a doubt. Um, you know, that's kind of the feeling I, I had, I've always had when I, when coming off the wins like this, of which, uh, we've been fortunate to witness a lot of big wins like this following Seattle. Um, but like this games like this and wins like
Reflecting on Seattle Sounders' Triumph
00:04:44
Speaker
this, this is why we do it. You know, that was the prevailing feeling that I had after the game was just, uh, the lure and the excitement of potentially getting wins like that is like,
00:04:54
Speaker
Like we're always chasing that dragon of results like that. And it's been, I mean, it's been a hell of a ride getting as many of them as the Sounders have given us. And this, this is just the latest one. And this was one of the best ones. Yeah. This fell so sweet. Not only because it was the final get back game against LAFC. It felt like the sweetest revenge of all time, but even more than that, the way that this season has played out,
00:05:20
Speaker
the way the twists, the turns, the the very deep downs and the very high highs. This is like and this has to be one of my favorite Sounders matches that I have ever watched. And I'm telling you, I was planning to go down to this game and I didn't end up doing it. And I had never had more FOMO in my life sitting on my couch. I know. I wasn't there either. um And i I was at the one in 2019 and I had the the same type of feeling. But we are both going to LA for the Galaxy game. So hit us up if you're going to be making content. And if you want to if you're going down there for the game and you want to say hi, um let us know for sure.
00:06:00
Speaker
um All right, yeah, I think that was all I think that was well said, um you know, like I just ah this when it deserves to be savored, it deserves to be recognized in the pantheon of great wins that this club has had over this last era where there's been a lot of these. um All right, but let's talk about this game. Let's talk about this game. Let's break it down. This is going to be a fun one to break down. I mean, we had a Jordan Morris game winner. We had LAFC score the funniest own goal I've ever seen. A straight banger on both of those goals, by the way. Yeah.
00:06:35
Speaker
You know, as good as Jordan's goal was, Maxime Chanel's was arguably better. It was a perfect strike. Let's do our lineup reaction, because there's a lot going on with this lineup. You had Jordan and Rusenak back after
Key Players in the Semifinal
00:06:45
Speaker
making missing game two in Houston, but no Nuhu and no Paul Rothrock. And there was a Paul Rothrock update within the last hour or so, actually. Brian Schmetzer was doing his hit on the KJR with Softee. And um he said that Paul Rothrock is going to miss the rest of the season, of the playoffs.
00:07:02
Speaker
Uh, with the quad injury that's been keeping him out. So no Paul Rothrock in this game, no Paul Rothrock in, uh, in, uh, at the, in the galaxy game. And if the Seattle does make him a less cup, he won't be playing there. So I guess let's just take a moment to shout out Paul Rothrock. I mean, he's been.
00:07:17
Speaker
I think the key character on Lobbing Scorchers really since episode one. Um, and it started as a bit, it became a real thing. And by the end of this season, he became a nationally known name. We had Max Breitos on this show. Uh, and we did like 10 minutes on Paul Rothrock. So shout out to Paul Rothrock, like in all seriousness, like he really added a fun Storyline at a time of the season when it really needed it um and then he became like one of the feel-good stories in MLS this year Yeah, I mean, um yeah best wishes to him in his recovery and he'll be back next year. You better believe oh, yeah No, I mean to you know, we would not be in this position as a club without Paul Rothrock So, you know, I think his presence and he's clearly his sacrifice physically to get them into this position and
00:08:03
Speaker
Shout out to our boy. We love you. We love you, Paul. Thank you, King. Get better soon. And um this trophy, if we win it, is dedicated to you. but So this lineup, you had ah you had John Bell in this lineup. You had RBW in this lineup. You had De La Vega starting ah over Georgie, which that's been subject of some debate. um But I think when I looked at this lineup, my first thought was, OK, well, if they do get this win,
00:08:30
Speaker
This that makes it, this is going to make it even better because you've got like, uh, got a little bit of a rotated lineup or like you got some key guys out. Uh, if you take the dub in this situation with this lineup, that makes it even sweeter. And God damn it, that turned out to be correct. didn't it Um, what a performance. I, uh,
00:08:50
Speaker
it It was shades of like the member of the Austin FC game, the famous Rui Diaz and a bunch of teenagers games. This was not like that lineup. That lineup was the youngest lineup in MLS history. ah But it was like a similar idea of going into a game as the underdog already and then undermanned on top of it and still getting the win. um So I think out of all that, I'm going to do a sequence where I give out my flowers to everyone.
00:09:14
Speaker
later on, ah but John Bell and RBW absolutely in there. Yeah. and I mean, you know, ah those, the young contributors were insane, like played lights out. I mean, you're not even mentioning Obed, but I think Obed had his best performance of his career in this match. Brian Schmetzer said after the game that he thought Obed was the best player on the field. um I mean, Stephen Fry, I might pick, but like the fact that Obed is in that discussion, I think this was,
00:09:45
Speaker
one of, if not his best game of the season. I think probably given the magnitude of the game, this was probably his best game as a pro. All right, key moments and observations. Let's talk about the first half to start because there was no goals in this game until the second half. um But going into a game like this, the things that I'm looking for are when you're the road team, the first 15 to 20 minutes of the game are all about withstanding Withstanding whatever pressure that the home team is going to bring at you right after kickoff. A team with a home field advantage as good as LAFC, they're going to come at you early. They're going to try and get out on the front foot. Can you weather that? Can you withstand that?
00:10:25
Speaker
um Can you get through that just initial part of the game without conceding that sort of it's like your first test I look at his a game as a series of like tests you're supposed to you like you need to get From point A to point B with accomplishing this task in this case for Seattle Point A was kickoff. Point B was getting through the first 15 to 20 minutes in control of the game state and without conceding. And they did that. And they were able to do that. I thought for the whole first half. And I don't know about, uh, you know, I'm interested to hear how you were feeling, but when this game got to halftime, uh, and it was still zero zero, the thing that was going through my mind was like, okay, this is winnable. This is winnable right now. LAFC, they look.
00:11:07
Speaker
They look fatigued. They look like a team, I think that's played like over 200 games in the last like three years. That's a made up stat, but like they played a lot of games and, um, they just did not look like their, uh, their normal LAFC selves. I didn't think really.
00:11:24
Speaker
at all during this game save for like the one sequence where Hollings had scored. um But I do think the first thing that you have to credit um from a Seattle perspective with this performance and getting this win was how they managed the first half and ah really how they managed this whole game.
00:11:41
Speaker
Yeah, no, my my entire giant flower. I'm throwing my flowers already. I know you'll get to yours later, but Brian Schmutzer played this game so well. Set it up defensively to tire out and frustrate LAFC and huge credit to the entire back line for pocketing Giroux. I mean, Giroux was effectively a double agent in this game with how ineffective he was. like That was crazy. The fact that that we were able to just... I know he hasn't been super successful with LAFC so far, but even so, he's still a French national team legend, a man who can be dangerous,
00:12:23
Speaker
when given the opportunity, and he was just completely ineffective. And then Denny Bewonga, completely ineffective. I mean, this was like insane. i am I was blown away. After that first half, exactly like you were saying, I was like, whoa. You can actually win this game. I think everyone felt it. I think like the deeper into the game it got, everyone kind of got that same sense of like, this is here for the taking. And, frankly, even after this is a good segue to the Hollings Head goal, because that was the first goal in the game, LAFC scored first.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
00:12:55
Speaker
um Frankly, even when they scored, I still felt like the game was there for the taking, very much so. um It was a good goal by Hollings Head. ah It was tilting that it was Hollings Head because it would be him. right It would be him and how it has to be him. Apparently, Ryan Hollings Head is actually
00:13:10
Speaker
the most dangerous attacking player that LFC has um because he can't stop squaring against this. I feel like this like goes back to his F.C. Dallas days. 100 percent. like he would Like he would he would torch the Sounders when he was on F.C. Dallas. Yeah. OK. I'm glad I'm not crazy because like after he scored this goal, I was like.
00:13:27
Speaker
How many times is this 12 year veteran MLS lifer going to score against the Seattle Sounders? But no, I mean, in all seriousness, ah this was the one sequence in the game where LAFC looked like LAFC. They got out and transitioned. They had the numerical advantage there.
00:13:44
Speaker
Uh, Bogus sends in a good low cross. And honestly, the I mean, like, I really can't like Yemar sort of whiffed on the challenge if I remember correctly, but like Hollingshead, that was like a striker's finish in the box. That was like a Rui Diaz finish. So yeah, I rewatched it. And honestly, I thought it ah it was a great goal. One, he positioned himself really well. I mean, Ryan Hollingshed is just great.
00:14:06
Speaker
in in transition and in movement. Like he's just so good in that space. He reminds me a lot. I mean, like Paul Rothrock reminds me a lot of him in terms of his just like the way he can sense space and get in really well. But I mean, yes, Yeymar didn't close him down quick enough. But I think that like the the defending that he did do, it was the best he could do given the position that Hollingshed was already in by the time the defensive transition had happened, if that makes any sense. Well, and I think you know for me, I don't go into a game like this expecting to necessarily keep a clean sheet against LAFC. Obviously, like if you can, that would be awesome. But you're playing them on the road in the playoffs. They are very likely, I mean, they're pretty much assured to get one on you. And it's pretty likely that they're going to get multiple goals on you. And really, it's about if you can hang with them offensively, it would seem.
00:14:59
Speaker
Um, so yeah, like I said, just based on how the game went to that point, even when Hollings had scored that I very, I very much felt like Seattle was still in the game. Uh, and, uh, sure enough, less than 10 minutes later, they get their equalizer, uh, via what I think will, what will go down as.
00:15:16
Speaker
one of the all-time Galazos in Seattle Sounders history and really I think the man who scored this goal I consider him ah not just a legend of the Seattle Sounders but a legend of the city of Seattle as a whole for his service to our city and I'm talking about Maxime Chenot. Build the statue. Build the statue outside of Lumenfield for this one. um This was a hilarious own goal and honestly just ah like there's so many little things about this game that just make it so good and the fact that this was the equalizer ah is so good.
00:15:53
Speaker
It was like people everyone when you see an own goal people are like that doesn't you can't credit the attacking team for that because that's a fluke That's a defensive error. So like you got lucky is basically the implication anytime there's an own goal I don't think all own goals are necessarily created equal. I think this was an own goal where it happens. but it's just It's a situation where Seattle creates their own luck through ah a dangerous sequence of play where Albert Rusnak did a great job on this play to win the ball and then find Obed out wide in that space, right? Obed, ah he he gets the ball out wide and sends in a low cross that's tough for the CB to deal with.
00:16:33
Speaker
ah yeah he He dealt with it as poorly as he possibly could have, but that doesn't happen unless you put him in a difficult situation to handle. you know so yeah i agree i think I think what I'm saying is, it's a long way of saying I think ah this was a just equalizer based on how the game had been going and the ah the quality of the danger and the chance and in that particular sequence.
00:16:55
Speaker
and ah So Maxieb Chenot, he's been a really good MLS CB. The year NYC FC won MLS Cup. Remember how good he and the other CB on NYC were that year? So he's ah he's a good player. He got unlucky. But what I thought was funny was you know he's score it's like the roughest own goal I've seen all season in just a terrible spot. And then at the end of the 90, did you see how he was like praying? yeah like He was like faking the heavens. And I think he was like thinking the heavens that they had lost yet, but it was just I don't know. He he was down bad. ah he He was down bad. He was down bad. I mean, you know, and you ah you do like going back to Obed, especially on that play, like I thought he did such a good job in that small space to like.
00:17:43
Speaker
be able to get to a position get to the end line to get that cross off because yes nobody was there for the sounders in terms of like finishing that but it's just like you say sometimes when you drive a when you play a low driven ball into the box and it pings around you never know it might go in like there's a point to doing that and clearly Obed knows that he played that ball in Worked really hard to get to that position with great playoff albert rosenac who you know, I heard I heard a lot of people talking shit about albert I think there was some fair criticism in this game But like they don't score that own goal without albert making a really nice pass to obed. Yeah, absolutely um God that own goal was so good. All right. Good. We got to talk about the game winner. This game goes to extra time um, which all right, I guess first, uh
00:18:35
Speaker
Let's talk about our feelings going into extra time. There were 50 minutes before that of the Stephen Fry Masterclass. I feel like we should hit on even more. I was going to hit on that after, but yeah. Okay. All right. That's a good, that's a, that's, let's do it chronologically. Um, Stephen Fry, I mean, was insane in this game. I asked on Twitter after the game, if this was the best Stephen Fry game ever. Um,
00:18:57
Speaker
And I think there's like different criteria, like obviously MLS cup 16 with the save. Um, that's like the highest stakes, highest magnitude moment that he's come through in. And that was a bigger game than a semi-final was, but in terms of just like the, uh,
00:19:14
Speaker
the amount of shots he got bombarded by and the degree of difficulty on some of the saves. I mean, he saved the season. He saved the season. There are multiple goals both at the end of this in the second half and an extra time that easily, easily are could be goals if the goalkeeper doesn't stand on his head. And as he's done his whole career in Seattle, Stephen Fry was up for those moments. um I think my favorite one, let's let's talk about our favorite ones at all these saves.
00:19:40
Speaker
um i thought the I thought the craziest one was, ah and you know everyone's gonna be talking about the kick save on Bogus. I thought the craziest one was the reaction header on Holling's head.
00:19:53
Speaker
Guys, if that goes in, that game is over. ah yeah And like that that just there there's so many scenarios where that play happens and that's a goal. like Yeah. um and I really liked the one where he smashed into the post. Yes, that was the other one. It was like 105 or something, like 105th minute. Oh, no, that was that was way later. That was 119th.
00:20:19
Speaker
Like okay, that was it. Yeah, that was 119. Sorry. So that was like yeah, that was like at the end I mean literally to save the game like it goes to pikas if that one goes in and I mean talk about putting your body on the line Yeah, I mean she like just laid it out lunges into the freakin post Yeah, whole body weight just smokes the post the whole goals rattling like dude Stephen Fry's That man is 40 That man is 40 that's amazing push and pushing 40 and he just had one of the best games if not the best game of his career unreal stuff ah from the goalkeeper in this game I really like I couldn't even believe what I was watching at times he was going off
00:20:58
Speaker
Tommy Dutra is the greatest coach of all time of any position coach ever because dude has fry playing like a 21 year old like La Liga Barcelona keeper like seriously. That's what he was looking like out there.
00:21:15
Speaker
um Was there anything else in the second half that we wanted to hit before we get to extra time? Because really, I was rushing because I want to get to this JMO game winner. I mean, I want to get to this JMO game winner too. Okay, but before we do that, ah let's hit on our mindset going into extra time because yeah I think Nerves intentions were high at that point.
Confidence and Extra Time Analysis
00:21:39
Speaker
I don't know, man. I felt good. I felt good the whole time. It's weird. It felt like the 19 game where going into that game, kind of like this game, my expectations were pretty low. I was pretty sure Seattle was going to lose both of these games. But then as the game gets like further and further into it and you kind of see how
00:21:59
Speaker
the guys on the team are feeding off the moment and playing up to it. Like as ah as an observer, you kind of start to feel that same like belief, right? That's like, that's how I felt. How did you feel? I felt like nervous because I wasn't seeing a lot of attacking output, but I also, I was trying to, I was like, okay, like we got through the 90,
00:22:26
Speaker
This next 10 minutes this next 15 minutes is going to like dictate how I actually feel because I wasn't feeling confident or Unconfident was just like I want to see how hard LA comes at us and if we can absorb that pressure because I knew that like All they're going to do is go. LFC is going to come out in a full on press, full on all all out attack, see what they can do. If we can hold them for 15 minutes, I was like, we can win this game. If it's in PKS, it's in PKS. If we score some kind of goal, it's like that. Like they're going to tire themselves out in the next 15 minutes because that's the that's the Steve C plan. Like that's I mean, if I was at home on a playoff game against ah a team you've beat a billion times, that's exactly what I would tell my players to do, too.
00:23:11
Speaker
Just balls to the walls, try and score. I think for me, like the other thing that was going through my mind was like, you've given yourselves like a 50-50 toss chance. And that's really like all you could ask for in a game like this, where you're the underdog. You are not favored in the game and you're playing on the road. If you give yourself that 50-50 shot, you take that like going into it every time. And so it's a credit to Seattle for giving themselves that shot and getting to extra time where They got their game winning goal. Let's break this goal down 109th minute, Jordan Morris, one of the greatest goals in Seattle Sounders history. I think this was the best goal of his career. Um, like not, not because of the stage of it, like the semi-final stage I understand is not as big as some of the champions league games and MLS cups that this team has played. but when you take into account the LAFC bogey team storyline, some of the struggles that this team had had on offense this year, some of the criticism that Jordan Morris has taken this season and his career from both MLS- And he had a scoreless streak. He had a scoreless streak coming into the game, but just with what was riding on this game for Seattle, their whole season, the LAFC bogey team storyline, and also the quality of the finish
00:24:29
Speaker
and the goal itself, which we're gonna talk about right now, ah all combined for what I think is, this was the Jordan Morris Magnum Opus goal, in my opinion. This love this was footballing Nirvana. the the ah The quality of the goal, the highlight, the moment, the celebration, and the win, like like I said, but they like that that a moment like that, that is why we,
00:24:56
Speaker
do this, why we watch every single one of these games and follow this team obsessively as we do is chasing moments like that for him to deliver that amazing, amazing goal. um Let's just break down the whole sequence because a lot of guys a lot of guys deserve credit on this play. It's a JP corner kick, actually, that goes into the mixer. LAFC, I think Ilyay gets there for the clearance. Clearance goes up in the air. Christian rolled on on this sequence as the first guy that you have to give credit to. He doesn't give up on the play.
00:25:24
Speaker
He closes down the space and gets to the clearance and just taps it back in the mixer. Right. Um, which was that that's the goal doesn't happen if Christian. Isn't heads up in that moment and doesn't make that play. He sends it back in the mixer. Uh, and then the next guy you have to give credit is Georgie. Georgie and Kaikomara are going into a 50 50 challenge off the ball. That Christian puts back into the box and, uh, Georgie gets his body positioning, right? Wins it. Ball goes.
00:25:54
Speaker
OK, this was my favorite. This is my favorite part of the sequence after Georgie wins his challenge and the ball starts rolling towards Jordan. What Jordan did here was just brilliant. It was brilliant. So he could have he could have turned an uncorked first time right away or what I thought he was going to do was hold it up and then try and like go from there.
00:26:16
Speaker
But what he does is he turns his body to shield the defender off and just lets the ball roll into the perfect place for him where he has just enough space to get the shot off. um And he just, I mean, he timed, ah he timed that up so well to where ah the ball was rolling just on a platter where he had the defender shielded off and he just had just enough space where it's just him and Hugo Louris.
00:26:43
Speaker
the, uh, French national team legend, world cup, winning goalkeeper, Jordan Morris roost it to the near post. Perfect placement ball game, LAFC season over. That's a playoff dub. Um, that's a playoff dub. I mean, I mean, let's just bask in this goal in this moment for a sec. Cause God damn it. Like,
00:27:09
Speaker
what a goal and, uh, what a moment for a player that, uh, like I think has, has had a lot of adversity in his career. Like, honestly, if you take the U S national team narratives and all that stuff out of it, just the injuries, the adversity that he's overcome. Uh, but like,
00:27:30
Speaker
the the storyline of him being the hometown guy to, ah you know, Mercer Island native, homegrown star, ah but already won a bunch of trophies for this team. But like I said, this was, I think this was like a signature moment for Jordan Morris. Yeah. And you know, for him to, I think this is a big deal personally.
00:27:49
Speaker
as someone who has constantly been battling internally with saying, I'm a nine. I know in my heart of hearts, I know that I am a striker. I can play the wing, I'll play wherever you want, like I'm a team player, but I am your nine.
00:28:05
Speaker
and to go out there and score one of the most important goals in the history of this club, regardless of what happens, the narrative around this game and the narrative around Jordan Morris, that that becomes one of the most important goals, I think, in club history. I really, and like, ah I don't know, I know a lot of people might disagree with me on this and everyone has like their own, ah standards and expectations. I really feel like the rest of this season is like house money. oh yeah I very much feel like that. Obviously, now that you're this close to it, like yeah go win cup. They have reason to believe that they're able to do that. If they got eliminated by the galaxy, I would feel pretty happy about this season. like
00:28:51
Speaker
ah I really, I'm in it for ah for moments like we got in this game, and I don't i don't measure success by winning and MLS Cup every single year, because I think. That's impossible. It's impossible to do, and when you make that your barometer, you're just setting yourself up for um not good mental health, so. Yeah, well, and you know, like I was saying, and I actually still believe this, even if we win MLS Cup, this is the season of almost, right? like Regardless of what happens,
00:29:22
Speaker
there are still gaps, there are still almost. So so so taking that into a account, being like, okay, this is not the best season the Sounders are ever gonna play. But man, what a fun storyline this has been. What a fun ride this has been. Like, being able to go and follow this club, follow Jordan Morris' progression, follow all these other side stories, and then get to the Western Conference Final? That's just that's just gravy, man. That's just gravy. um All right.
00:29:52
Speaker
Let's go through and give our flowers real quick. i just I want to go through and give every single person their credit that contributed to this result. We talked about a couple of them, so I won't spend that much time on the ones that we already talked about. but I mean, Stephen Fry goes without saying one of the best games in his career. Jordan Morris goes without saying um one of the best goals, if not the best goal of his career. Extra time game winner. Obed Vargas, arguably the best game of his career. he Oh, man. He's doing every little thing. he's on He's on some different stuff right now. he is
00:30:29
Speaker
Did you see the video after two of of him going over and hugging his dad and his dad getting super emotional and just yeah so excited? Like that video, I will. if If you guys haven't seen it, go check out the Sounders Instagram page and stuff like that. It just shows you what this means to this club. And again, like we always talk about it's so easy to love all of these homegrown talents. Like there's so much connection. ah It's just that that made the whole game worth it. Like you feel even 10 times better.
00:30:59
Speaker
I have De La Vega and Rusnak on here and I intentionally did that because I feel like ah they both didn't have like their best games. The De La Vega is still struggling I think and Rusnak, he was not cooking I don't think like at the level that he has at times throughout the year but when it mattered, when it mattered And he needed to make a play. He made he made the play on the on the play where Jordan got the game winner. And ah he's been clutch this year for this team. his like i really i have I think the thing I'm most enjoyed about Rusenak this year is his dead balls. I'm kind of just a sucker for a nice free kick. and he puts You're the perfect Sounders fan, Ari. yeah But as he puts him in about as nice as anyone in MLS right now. ah but like
00:31:47
Speaker
like I think even in a game where you're maybe not playing your best, if you come through in that moment, like you deserve your credit for that. And I think Albert Rusenak did that like that that. Jordan doesn't get that goal if he, ah or the own goal doesn't happen, I should say, if he doesn't set up open for the cross.
00:32:05
Speaker
um this gutted out and Yymar was like, go down. And he was like, no. So Yymar just pushed him over. yeahby And the ref ah gave Yymar the yellow and he was laughing about it. but that I love the dark arts, man. That was a fun little. But in all seriousness, like ah an RBW John Bell lineup, who would give that a chance to do what the what the team did?
00:32:47
Speaker
Like, and I mean, I, I was critical. John Bell, John Bell. Let's talk about John Bell. John Bell. I was critical of him. I think he looked tired, like towards, towards the end of 90, kind of like probably like 20 minutes till 90. And then dude locked, dude locked the fuck in for the rest of extra time. I mean, and we'll talk about the the next person on the list. I think even more ah personifies this, but next man on mentality, dude, John Bell.
00:33:16
Speaker
Whoo. Well, yeah. OK. And then let's talk about all the C.B.'s. I mean, Reagan, Yaymar, like, what else do you even need to say? They've been beast in really like this. This I think this whole this whole last stretch of the season where Seattle has been playing up towards two points per game and basically running through everyone that
Seattle Sounders' Defense and Consistency
00:33:33
Speaker
was an L.A.F.C. and now beat L.A.F.C. It's been on the back of ah this Yaymar Reagan C.B. Duo, which I think ah most of the pundits and analysts consider the top starting C.B. Duo in the league at the moment.
00:33:45
Speaker
um so really like this team is gonna go as far as the defense takes it it was the best defense in the league this year as far as goals conceded and you have to give these two guys most of the credit for that um but Yemar goes out of this game ah Schmetz told Safdieh that there's like a 60% chance he'll play against the galaxy so we'll see if that happens but I would ah I would honestly be a little surprised if he plays given the nature of the of the injury, like a muscle injury and how short of a turnaround there is before this game. um But let's talk about Nathan. Nathan, man. Noah, I had forgotten he was on the team. I was flipping through my yearbook, my Sounders FC media guide. I was like,
00:34:31
Speaker
Who's the, what number is, who is this? Like, okay, I think everyone had like a similar reaction, you know, when he subbed on, which was, oh yeah, he's still on the team and oh, okay, this is not good. I'll tell you what, like after two or three minutes, I was like, he's got it, it's fine.
00:34:47
Speaker
um Like I think there's like a little revisionist stuff going on with Nathan. Like that's not even considered a bust, but not because he's a bad player. He's been injured all year. He was injured. Yeah. Busting because of injury is different than busting because you're a bad player. I don't think he is a bad player. He was pretty good when he was on San Jose.
00:35:06
Speaker
Um, so I don't think it was just a high ticket price. I don't think it's yeah what we got. Exactly. But like, honestly, would you pay 500 K of the team's allocation money for that win? I would. So like, i would I'm not saying it was like a perform wouldn't matter. Like he, he, he came through when it mattered. He didn't really, uh, so on the, uh, on the play where fry made the kick save on bogus.
00:35:30
Speaker
I think Nathan was the one marking bogus. But aside from that, like I don't think you could ask much more from him in those circumstances. um And for him to come in after Yymar goes down and for the team not to concede after that, that's big time. That's big time. then Dude, he hasn't played. When was the last time he played? I don't even know. i know dude Dude came in and played significant, important, hard, like pressing minutes against one of the top attacking teams in the league.
00:35:59
Speaker
and Was great. He locked it down. Had one error. He locked it down. I had one person. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Go, please. Georgie, man. Georgie. Good shout. Georgie should have an assist from the Jordan Morris crowd. I don't get why he wouldn't get one.
00:36:19
Speaker
It could he was the one who touched the ball out to him. it clearly it I thought it clearly hit him, but you know i they would never give that to him. If if it was Messi, they would give it to him, but Georgi, though. Oh, yeah, no. The league is again. Don Garber hates Georgi. He actually gave that assist to Messi instead, so you know and how the bit goes. um Agenda check. You ready? I should ask you if you had any. Let's um I added one on there. Oh, okay. You added one. All right. So there's a couple, there's a couple, uh, old ones and a new one in here. Um, I wanted to revisit my one that I, uh, put out on the solo pod a couple of weeks ago, the Stefan f fries, the MLS gold, gold, keep goat, goalkeeper over Nick Raimondo agenda. Strengthened no, no disrespect, no shade at Nick Raimondo, the, uh, the rightful title holder, like of this last era.
00:37:13
Speaker
Like I think when you, again, like I said it on the, on the show that we talked about this, but, uh, like if you look at the trophy cases and then also you add another game like this to Stephen Fry's portfolio, come on, man. Like he's got to be the best goalkeeper at MLS history.
00:37:28
Speaker
Yeah, just the amount of games, not only like games that he's saved, right? But like, okay, this game is to go to the Western Conference Final. Does not happen without Stephen Fry. No. MLS Cup Final. CCL, right? Like all of these times where he's just gone crazy, okay? He's the GOAT. He's the GOAT. Nick Raimondo, with respect, never would say a bad word about the guy.
00:37:55
Speaker
I'm sorry, but your your reign is over. Stephen Fry, you're the GOAT. Fry just had the, he had that wild look in his eye. yeah Oh, dude, he he was playing out of his mind, man. God, well, we have a, I think we have a question about that later, so we'll talk about that more, but goddamn, that was crazy. um The Jordan Morris as the number nine agenda, so what I'm talking about with this one is not like, where should he play, but like, should he be,
00:38:22
Speaker
the like primary one next year. I was saying before the playoff run that this playoff run would be a case study for that question. Um, he certainly made a statement that you kind of alluded to earlier, um, that, I mean, I think strengthens his case to be considered the primary number nine on this team going forward. But I think it is still an interesting debate as you assess how they should, uh,
00:38:49
Speaker
tinker with this roster over the off-season should, uh, uh, Rui Diaz type skill set number nine be on their off-season wish list with the intent of having Jordan be a first choice winger, like in a first choice 11, and then you rotate them at the nine, or do you devote those resources to a wide attacker like that we've talked about and roll with, and, and maybe, uh, a lower,
00:39:18
Speaker
financial commitment signing for a backup striker like they've been doing and keep Jordan atop that depth chart. I don't know. we We're going to talk about it a lot more. That'll be an offseason topic. But a goal like this certainly, like I said, it makes a pretty strong case to keep running with Jordan up top.
00:39:38
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, you know, listen, I love Jordan and I do think that he should still get good time at the nine. I think that he can be dynamic though. And I really do think you could serve as a DP spot with a Ben Teke style nine with the way that this team plays. I mean, that would just be, that would be my dream. That would be my dream. But I do think that he's making it interesting, especially when there are other gaps to fill and to like your most expensive spot is always going to be your nine if you can find production elsewhere like okay you know Jordan's already there and he's clearly been able to do it at the highest level so well said um all right this is the new agenda this is the sounder the seattle sounders are still the class of the MLS western conference agenda
00:40:26
Speaker
strengthened they could they could end the debate i think if they beat the galaxy in this next game but really um i mean i was if you listen to the uh interview i did with jordan or the the uh read the piece that i wrote off that interview like you know that uh You know, everyone who follows this team and on the team is aware of the kind of pervasive narrative that surfaced that this team had been usurped by the LAFCs, by the inner Miami's, by the Columbus crews of the world. Uh, and Jordan told me, he told me that they heard that and that they took it personally, that people thought that their run was over and they wanted to make a statement. No.
00:41:10
Speaker
Like we are still the top dog out here. We have the most trophy, the decorated trophy case of this era.
00:41:20
Speaker
Lionel Messi lost to Dax McCarty. No, they didn't didn' think that famously. Um, you know what I'm saying though? Like this was a, this was a statement that this team is still the top dog of the Western conference and really that, uh, that they've, that they've run the league over this last era yeah and LAFC, Columbus crew, and even these, uh, inner Miami of the last couple of years be damned.
00:41:47
Speaker
You know, it reminds me of a specific quote from Alexei Lawless that ah I had another MLS podcast back when I was like in high school, there was two episodes, you're never gonna find them, good luck. But Atlanta United, after they won their and MLS Cup, right? Alexei Lawless said, Seattle Sounders move over, the new kings of MLS are Atlanta United.
00:42:17
Speaker
They were having record attendance. They were, you know, explosive. They had, they had, you know, I mean, you knew that team. Yeah, exactly. You knew that team. And I said, I said this and I still have this clip. I said, it does not matter for this short period who dominates. It's about the longevity of a team. The Seattle Sanders at this point had made the playoffs every single year.
00:42:43
Speaker
They've won the shield for, you know, four open cups. They've been the most successful team in MLS since they joined the league. Right. And I was like, if Atlanta United can keep this up for five, 10 more years, happy to admit that. But I promise you that the Sounders are going to be right there with them slugging away. Because even if there's a down season for the Sounders, there's always a chance that they come up with some silverware. There's always a chance that they put up some crazy, stupid numbers.
00:43:14
Speaker
And I mean, I think this is it. It's like, you cannot kill this team. You cannot. You would think that we would have like learned to know better than to and to doubt them at this point.
00:43:25
Speaker
i tried I tried to make that point later in the season after they started playing better and people were still. It was bleak, early in the season. like I think we can both admit it was bleak. Early in the season, but really since like July, um they've been playing a lot better. So yeah ah this has really been in the works. I think just how the LAFC games in particular went ah soured a lot of the good work they did the second half of the season. But Noah, that's the beauty of this result. It washes that away entirely.
00:43:53
Speaker
Oh yeah. that the the you realize do You realize, dude, the LAFC like 10 game unbeaten streak, that's a bit now. It is. That's a bit. They did that all so they could lose in the playoffs again. It means nothing. It means nothing. Like Seattle came out of a 10 game unbeaten run like with the upper hand bragging rights wise and status wise that is I mean it doesn't get better they are they are their royalty in the west you can't touch us you can't touch us it doesn't matter and like honestly uh real quick before we get to your last agenda like I think Seattle people like should feel totally uh
00:44:37
Speaker
emboldened to to flex that, man. like I know people are going to like it, but like that's the thing. like You have a unique team. like as ah As someone who came here as an outsider, I can tell you guys, as a unique team, like most teams don't do this every single year. Don't deliver moments like this with this regularity. like I just enjoy it, man. That's i guess that's what I want to say. um We're spoiled, as I always say. Sounders fans are spoiled. like Think of how much angst and complaining that that you and I, I'll put us in that. like we Oh, yeah, we were in there. We were whining about this offense all through the early season, justifiably so, and look where we are now. It's just crazy to think about. um All right, what's your last agenda, Noah?
00:45:17
Speaker
My last agenda, the Georgie should start agenda. I know we've been pushing this, but I'm sorry. I'm going to say it. I'm going to put it out there. I know that this has been a happy positive podcast, but this man needs to start over De La Vega. Don't care. Don't care. like Especially against the galaxy who are dogshit against the counter attack. This man needs to start. Start Georgie.
00:45:39
Speaker
i I don't feel as passionately about that as you do. I could see the argument for starting either one. And I do think ah like there's still an element of De La Vega gives you a, I don't know what he gives you. I think he gives you like he's, he's, he's a talented player. Okay. He's a talented player and he gives you a, uh,
00:46:06
Speaker
more of a chance of reaching a higher ceiling than Georgie who, you know, has upside too, but it's like, but assisted. You still don't game winner. You still, you still don't know what you're going to get moment to moment though. That's the just, I'm just laying out the devil's advocate. Like, yeah, but I think attacking wise, especially if you're going to go and look at this next game, would you rather have pace or skill?
00:46:32
Speaker
on like on ah on a game more sensibly, like, because maybe maybe I'm wrong here, maybe you can correct me, but like, the galaxy are terrible at conceding in transition. That's like the whole, you know, if you watch that Minnesota game,
00:46:43
Speaker
Kelvin Yeboah scores because he's fast and he counter they counter the galaxy. And they have a terrible defense. Let's save this for the galaxy preview. but like I'm getting ahead of us. I like where you're going and we're going to talk about that. georgie agenda Let's hit questions. What do we have? Let's do it. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your questions. Ladies, gentlemen, MBs, all of you, we love you. Colin asks, Steve Truandolo, fraud watch? Yeah, Colin, I think so. um I mean, I think for LAFC,
00:47:14
Speaker
They hate Dolo man. They hate him. oh Oh God. It's just like, like we, we had accepted that they were going to win. um didn't eat We didn't even care anymore. No. And now you go back and you watch our appearance on happy foot sad foot. We're like.
00:47:31
Speaker
We got to tell ourselves something like, you know, like what it just, you know, we'd been beaten down by 10 matches in a row. I said on happy foot, sad foot that a win here would erase all those sins. I didn't um I wasn't especially confident that that would actually happen, though, and especially in the manner that it did. But as far as like getting back to the question.
00:47:53
Speaker
We'll see what they do with Steve C. i I think that it's very undeniable that they've had a ton of success with him as the coach. um I also think he's been there for a while now, and they've they've had ah way more games that they've choked like this than like trophies that they've won. um So I don't know. ah And LAFC is the kind of team that will get rid of a coach. They'll just be like, all right, it's let's let's just let's do something new now, and let's sign a whole $100 million worth of new players like just for fun.
00:48:23
Speaker
So I don't know. i I don't know. I don't know. I feel like he he's definitely on fraud watch for sure. He's on watch. He's on watch. But what will they do with him? That actually is going to be a fun interesting offseason ah watch. So he's definitely on unemployment watch. ah So sign up on those papers. Steve see Dave asks first question real talk. Who had the better.
00:48:45
Speaker
ah who had the better semi-final fry or guzan that that's a really good debate um and all okay how about i make the guzan case Yeah. He was doing it against Messi and inner Miami. Like that is as legendary as Fry's game was. It wasn't against the literal goat. I don't know. go and friends Like the Guzzan game. I think the Guzzan game was better. They were both amazing and
00:49:17
Speaker
Fries was one of the best games of his career, one of the best offensive goalkeeping performances in Sounders history, all that. We talked about that. The Guzzan game was one of the single greatest performances on a soccer field like I've ever seen. And it wasn't just one game. People are going to say I'm glazing that, but he was incredible.
00:49:38
Speaker
no no you're not glazing at all and it wasn't just one game by the way it was three games i mean he played out of his mind for three games oh the whole playoffs the whole playoffs he was going crazy they literally extended him yesterday at age 40 because of that and i'm like yeah like yeah dude why not he looks like the greatest goalkeeper i've ever seen playing again he literally he literally single-handedly like beat Messi and the Barca boys um yeah so it is a great question and they both have shouts and cases but like the I think it's the Guzan game. Guzan legitimately made Tata Martino crash out and quit like think about that think about that that's I mean you know that's all I'm gonna say Matt asks this might be controversial
00:50:22
Speaker
but I actually enjoy watching a dominant defense shut down opposing attacks. I know that people want an electric attack, so do I, but our defense doesn't get enough credit for how fun they are to watch. And you were making this case on Happy Foot, Sad Foot, so cook it up, Ari. Yeah, no, exactly. So I did make this case on Happy Foot, Sad Foot, and I think this is a great point, which is that when people see an elite defensive team, the automatic instinct is to call it like boring, bunker ball, troll ball.
00:50:48
Speaker
Defense is the foundation of it all man. I love watching like a good CB Frustrate opposing attackers or like a like a good a feisty defender and how they game plan against The great offensive players. That's part of why the game is fun. And I think like a aspect of this Sounders team um that You should appreciate and not shy away from is the fact that they are the best defensive team in the league right now. And they ride that to to great effect. And they're also like so much of soccer is about like tempo and game state, you know, right? Like I was talking about that. And, um, this team is excellent at that and being a lead on defense, um, and just all around sound like that.
00:51:32
Speaker
is part of that. And I mean, guys, that is the basis of why this team is able to do the stuff that they're able to do is that right there. So great point, Matt.
00:51:43
Speaker
Yeah, no. I mean, it's the perfect Seattle team, right? like seattle When you think of Seattle sports, you think about defense. You think about Legion of Boom winning a Super Bowl in excruciatingly amazing fashion. like That is, you know even I don't know. For me, that's Seattle sports. Even Ken Griffey, some of the coolest shit he did wasn't the home runs. It was the run robberies. Exactly. We are a defensive city, or a defensive city.
00:52:10
Speaker
And that is why the Seattle Sounders being a defensive team is fun to watch. But more than that, I agree. I actually, I really, really enjoyed watching this game because it frustrated the hell out of LAFC in like that to me. They had the leading goal score in the history of the French national team out there doing nothing, doing nothing. He was getting his car cardio in. He had a good little, uh,
00:52:35
Speaker
He had a good little jog workout, but that was about it. Dude, dude was getting pocketed by El Salvador captain. Alex rolled on. You know what I'm saying? With a mustache. With a mustache. I mean, shout out to the boy. You know what I mean? So I loved it too. Matt, great take there. Next up, Levi asks, Nathan was immense after coming on. Not really a question, but I'll post this. Do we re-sign Nathan?
00:53:02
Speaker
For as a DP as a DP number nine Yeah, I mean I don't I don't know about that He I mean he's on 500k and played about 25 minutes this year and him coming on in that game and playing as well as he did is a good bit but I did I included that comment from Levi even though we already talked about it because a lot of people were shouting him out after the game and I think he's such when we look back on this he's such a key character in it and Yeah, I mean, I think it is interesting. Do they come back and offer him a lower number knowing that he was injured and he's a year older? Did they offer him like good?
Contract Discussions and Playoff Emotions
00:53:37
Speaker
He was making plays. That's what I'm saying. Do they do they offer him? They offer him. Do they give him an offer from a contract? I don't know. What do you think?
00:53:44
Speaker
I don't know, I'll have to think about that. Okay, all right, we'll we'll stew we'll stew on that. Next up, P and&W Lesbian asks, those of us impacted by the bomb cyclone needed this tonight. Watch the game on my phone at a Panda Express parking lot because of no power internet connection at home. Going back to a cold, dark house with day four and a half with no power doesn't feel as bad with a Sounders FC playoff win.
00:54:11
Speaker
Yeah, I had to include that one. That is amazing. I hope you got power back. um But ah I like that you brought up the point of like everything that the city had been through over the past week or two. um like ah you know Sports can be such like a fun way to kind of get a respite from that stuff and so I'm glad that you got that the playoff dub without the power and like the visual of you on your phone in a Panda Express yeah watching the game watching Jordan's score just going crazy at Panda Express is hilarious. I just thank you. You're a sicko just like us. We love it. I think what's even better too is like I mean related to this when it started to drizzle in LA towards the end of that game Ari I was like oh we're this is an omen we are winning this game like i mean i don't know about you yeah absolutely well thank you for your questions everybody we appreciate you for sliding them in ari i do have to bring this up though you promised the people that you would jump on this blue sky application once we hit the correct subs i'm calling you out live on the pod
00:55:17
Speaker
We will be taking questions from this next week. I'm glad you brought it up. I've had a few people reach out to me about it as well, because I know a lot of people are making the switch over to Blue Sky. I have an account. I haven't started using it yet. We'll link it down below. I'm pretty bitter about the demise of Twitter, and I'm ah making the powers that be pry it from my cold, dead hands, but I will be Firing up the blue sky. You're right. I did say 680 subs on the YouTube and then blatantly didn't hold to that. So I'll do it. am yeah I just I just have to like work up the wherewithal. It's OK. All right. I still dual post. So, you know, im do you do you post the exact same like.
00:55:55
Speaker
thing I'll workshop on one and then if one's a hit on one then I i I'll go that's kind of I kind of like that yeah it's like play your own let's preview this galaxy game we're gonna I think we're gonna try and maybe talk more about this game later on this week if we can but let's preview it and right now just because um This is the Lobbing Scorchers matchup of all Lobbing Scorchers matches. And we're going. This is like the perfect conference for me. It's a boon for us. I did want to address one of the Lobbing Scorchers controversies because it's related to this topic. So I wanted to address one of the Lobbing Scorchers controversies real quick, which is that ah I've had more than one person um talk about how they take legitimate offense to the War Galaxy podcast.
00:56:41
Speaker
bit that we do. It's a Seattle show. Why do you praise the galaxy so much? So I'm just going to explain how I think of the coverage that we do one time. um And you know as we get more listeners, if more and more people have issues like this, I'm happy to reiterate it, but I'm going to put this out there for our listeners right now. like um we So we are Seattle guys. It's a Seattle show.
00:57:05
Speaker
um And we do cover the Sounders, I think, like first and foremost, because that's the team. Yeah, that's the team that we follow the closest. and um But we are we also cover all of MLS. I work for the MLS website, so I cover the whole league every day. That's what I do every day.
00:57:21
Speaker
Um, so, uh, I have takes on the whole league and that's just part of the show is that we give our perspective in news and takes on everything going around in the league. And it's not just Seattle centric. So part of what comes with that is if I have a team that I think is playing well and I enjoy watching.
00:57:41
Speaker
i'm goingnna I'm going to evaluate it like on the merits. like I'm not going to sit here and tell you that the galaxies suck just be because he's Seattle fans don't like them. um And just in this individual case, um I think both Noah and I, they've been are ah our favorite team in the league to watch for most of the year. So like if you guys if people think that we like go over the top with it,
00:58:07
Speaker
I mean, to each their own, but I just, it's just part of, it's a byproduct of covering the whole league and not just one team. So that's what I have to say about that. We're sickos. We're going to cover the whole league. Like once you get in as deep as us, it's impossible not to talk about this stuff. Cause it's either here or it's in a group chat. And I'm sorry, we're making content out of it. You know what I mean? Exactly. And like by the same token, like we have, uh, are a great deal of fun making fun of the teams that aren't playing as well, including the Seattle Sounders. Yeah, well, the Sounders, but the entire city of Columbus hates us. I don't think we could go there. I don't think we were- Not that I was planning on it anyway, but- Yeah, I mean, why would you? All right, but anyway, so like I don't know if you say if anyone's still hot and bothered about that you can pop off about it But I'm not gonna stop talking about that like galaxy especially because the Seattle Sounders play him in the Western Conference final on Saturday and always coming up galaxy blobbing the squirters is going But this is
00:59:15
Speaker
This is a tasty matchup.
Western Conference Final Preview
00:59:17
Speaker
This is a tasty matchup. This is the scariest attack in MLS still left in the playoffs. No, this galaxy team looks, I mean, we've been, we've been saying it all year. I feel validated because I've been telling people that this galaxy team, that people were not putting up with Columbus and inner Miami and the elite teams in the league.
00:59:39
Speaker
I was saying early on that I felt like they were at that level. I think they played at that level offensively this year and they have been absurd in the playoffs. They have 15 goals in three games. They scored nine goals across their round one series against the Colorado rapids. Nine one combined a score of those two games and then they beat the shit out of Minnesota. They were bullying. They were bullying them.
01:00:03
Speaker
They hung six on Minnesota United. They scored six goals. Three different guys had a brace. Joey Paints was going off. Joey Paints was going on the man possessed. Ricky Pooh goes off every week. So all of that is to say um this is this is a big bad beast that the Seattle Sounders have got to get through. Can I say something that' super like maybe out of pocket? Yeah. I think this team is better than inner Miami.
01:00:35
Speaker
See, I think the galaxy are better than in Miami. I think I think that's my take. Well, OK, I don't know about better in terms of like if you actually had a way of quantifying skill level. I'm sure a team with Messi and the Barca boys would come out on top. But in terms of like ah like this, galut these Galaxy guys are a lot younger and hungrier.
01:00:56
Speaker
You know what I mean? Like, Ricky Pooh is only 23, Jovovich is young, Joey Paints is ah late 20s, Gabriel Peck is more like mid-20s, I think. So this is not like- They just have so much swag, too. And they have they have swag, they have- and Like we we made this point a few weeks ago, but they are similar profiles of team of very, very high powered turbocharged electric offenses and just snowball rolling down a hill type counter attacks. But this brings me to the, my point that I was going to make about the galaxy. And as we assess Seattle's chances of winning this game, which is that you, you, and you, you, thought you mentioned it earlier, you can get to this team.
01:01:38
Speaker
you can get to this team. They concede goals, they concede control of the game state, they are reckless, they charge forward with abandon at all points of the game and they score a ton of goals. But when you play like that, and we saw it with inner Miami too, when you play like that, as often and as consistently as those teams do, you're gonna have your chances the other way.
01:02:04
Speaker
And if you are a clinical, you can get into a shootout that you can hang with and you can win. We saw it was the demise of inner Miami season. I was saying the reason I wasn't member when we were doing the brackets, I didn't pick a galaxy because of that.
01:02:21
Speaker
That is Seattle's hope in this game. And that is why the Galaxy are definitely the favorite. People are going to be talking all week, including us, that as we have all season about how high powered this offense is and how tough it's going to be tough for Seattle to stop, especially without Yamar probably. But I'm telling you, man, once this game starts, my prediction is that you're going to see it be a lot more open and Seattle have more chances than you would think because This Galaxy team, they give up those chances. Over under four goals in this match total. I mean, I gotta smash the over there. I feel like this, I feel like this has- I guess three and a half. I don't really know how that, that gambling, I don't do the gambling. This has shootout written all over it. All over it. Not penalty, not penalty kick, but like- Yeah. Crazy, like this could be a very, or, but you know, like a,
01:03:11
Speaker
A conference final can also be cagey and defensive and for me, I i i look at it like honestly, if you can take the sting ah sting out of the game like you did against LAFC and turn it into a more kind of grind it out low scoring type game.
01:03:27
Speaker
That suits Seattle much, much better than LA. They have to dictate tempo. They have to do. like if you If you end up in a 2017 MLS Cup at Toronto type situation where they're just where they're just overwhelming you and racking up chances and ah Seattle can't keep the ball and it's just like sequence dangerous sequence i after to dangerous sequence, like you can't win games like that, like this, like that. No.
01:03:52
Speaker
um Seattle's got to do whatever they can, I think, to try it. Like, if it becomes a crazy shootout, Seattle could win a game like that, but that that favors the galaxy. not Yeah, I definitely think if you're looking at a crazy shootout and you look at what the two teams and their history this season,
01:04:11
Speaker
The sounders just, they're just not that attacking threat. Especially with, you know, if you get deep into a game and it's, you know, you're back and forth, their legs just aren't there on the attack for the sounders. Cause you're going to have to sub in Raoul who hasn't really done anything, ah you know, and I just, I don't know. So I guess, you know, I'll, I'll toss it back to you. Do the sounders have a chance Ari?
01:04:37
Speaker
yeah Is it possible? It's very much possible. They are the underdog. It'll be difficult. if ah If you made me make a pick in this game, I'm probably going with the home team that scored 70 goals this year. This is a winnable game. I think this is just as winnable as the LAFC game. If not more, because LAFC was actually very good defensively this year. The Galaxy were better defensively than they've been the last couple of years when they were one of the worst defensive teams in MLS.
01:05:06
Speaker
But I'm telling you, I'm telling you, there are going to be chances in this game. There are going to be chances in this game. It's just about if Seattle can finish them. That's it. yeah no And if they are able to, yes, they have a chance at winning this game. This can be done. Yeah, no, I'm right there with you. I agree with you. I think.
01:05:23
Speaker
For me, do the Sounders have a chance? Absolutely. I think if you were able to get that LAFC game done, I think that was the big test. And we both said, we said, if they are able to beat LAFC, I know it's still a big hill to climb, but they're in the driver's seat. They have, everything is in their hands at that point, right? Like if you've done it in LA against LAFC, in both of our opinions, that was a way tougher matchup.
01:05:48
Speaker
than the galaxy who are going to give you way more opportunities to score. And I thought that the Sounders did very well on the very few opportunities that they had against LAFC on attack. You're going to have way more chances against the galaxy. And I mean, they they effectively neutralized LAFC.
01:06:05
Speaker
I don't know, like, it's gonna be a tough one. yeah Seattle's also, I mean, they've just got, both of these teams have got the vibes going right now. I mean, the Galaxy are tearing through everyone, scoring all these goals, but they're going, like, they gotta deal with Seattle now. They gotta deal, you know, Seattle's gotta deal with their front four, for sure. They also have to deal with Seattle's defense, which may or may not have the IMAR, but, I mean, we'll see what happens, but, yeah like, I would say, ah difficult but doable is how I would describe it. um I wanted to talk about just our favorite matchups in this game. And I think i mean i think that was it right there, which is that like it's it's this Galaxy front four versus this Seattle defensive midfield and back one. That's the matchup that will decide this game. And it's going to be so fun to watch, guys, because like
01:06:56
Speaker
I mean, all Galaxy podcast jokes aside, the reason that I talk about them so much and that I've watched more of their games, I think, this year than any other non-Seattle team. I watched Inner Miami a lot this year, obviously, but probably the Galaxy, the second most out of Seattle. It's because not only are their offensive players really good, but they're really fun to watch. Oh, yeah. They play entertaining soccer.
01:07:22
Speaker
um and they they play extremely well together, and Ricky Poosh is just... Unstoppable. Well, he... Okay, all right, so here's the thing, he gives... I was gonna say, before we started that, I was gonna say, my my matchup is Ricky Poosh and Obed and Christian together. Yeah, okay. That that is like, that is what I'm gonna be watching this entire game. i mean And Ricky Poosh, like... ah he He has like one of the most unique playing styles in MLS. That guy is like ah he's like the energizer bunny, first of all. He kind of reminds me of Nico in that way. He's such a Barcelona player, man. He's like crazy. He's like ah so he is an insane facilitator. like ah one of I think the best dime dropper in the league outside of Messi,
01:08:10
Speaker
um But he he's also got like a lot of six in his skill set It's almost like ah you add like a dash of jow Paulo in there like not like a lot but like a little bit and then like all the attributes of an elite number ten with just a huge motor and The most accurate passing like that you're gonna see but here's a Here's the thing about him though, he's pretty loose with the ball, and he is ah confident to a fault sometimes, so he gives it away a lot. He tries crazy stuff, something like that, isn't always going to work, and it's really fun to watch.
01:08:48
Speaker
but um You can get him off his game and ah not not have him have the impact that he normally has if you play it right. but i mean he is he's I think he's one of the toughest players and in the league, if not the toughest player to league, to ah to like match up in game plan for because he does so many things.
01:09:11
Speaker
Like at such a high level that you don't necessarily get from a player of his position, which I don't even really like know his position. Yeah. No, I think he's like everything. Yeah. Well, and that's, that's what I was going to point on too, is like, he will run all over. You will see him playing every position in a match. He'll be at center back at one point. You'll be like, what the hell? what's hell He'll drop so, he'll drop so deep, like yeah back where the D mids are to get the ball. yeah And then he's so good at dribbling that he can either progress it himself or hit any pass. And then plays a dime to the wing, one of those fast wingers, and they're off and running. And you're like, how is this guy just in four different places all over the field in the last 10 seconds? So like he's the, he's really the engine for their team that makes it all go. Um, but then, I mean, there are signings of Peck and Paintsill to flank him. We're brilliant. Like will, that will Kuntz their sporting director, I think like,
01:10:09
Speaker
executive of the year for me, like he, the, uh, the work he did finding complimentary players for Ricky pooge with Peck and pencil and, uh, and to be able to be able to sign Ricky pooge at all in the first place. Yeah. Uh, yeah. And then even to resign him. Yeah. And then, uh, flaking him with Peck and pooge and, uh, they hit on Jovalich as well. So they're really, they're just in a supremely stacked offense.
01:10:37
Speaker
but a vulnerable and improved, but vulnerable defense. So yeah that is, uh, that's the situation with the galaxy. But like that, that's why I, uh, I've given them their praise this year is because like, when they get rolling, it's just very, it's very tough to stop. And you've seen that in the playoffs.
01:10:56
Speaker
Yeah, no, I completely agree with you. It's going to be I mean, this was the dream matchup for me. I actually had this predicted in my original bracket, like on our on our MLS soccer predictions, like our our bracket challenge. So this was the dream. I'm going to be honest with you guys. I still think LFC wins this.
01:11:15
Speaker
Galaxy? well Sorry, yeah, Galaxy. God, look at me. ah Amateur Podcaster hours. LAFC didn't win it famously. LAFC didn't win it famously, so that's not gonna happen, but I am excited for this matchup. I will be very happy if the Sounders win, but I very much am expecting Galaxy to win this. What do you think of the prospect of no Yaimar? Because I've heard people, I've talked to people who say, oh, I don't think Seattle has a chance at this game without Yaimar.
01:11:43
Speaker
I don't quite see it like that. Yeah, I don't agree with that. I think it hurts and it makes it more difficult, but with with a CB going out, I think it's a little easier to paper that over than an attacking player. I don't know if that's a bad take, but like like in this in this situation, like I think that is more manageable than it would be if you had to like put in your fourth-choice winger.
01:12:08
Speaker
Yeah, well, and we saw it earlier in the season when when Gaymar went out and then Jackson Reagan was filling in. I don't think it looked that bad. I don't think it was unplayable. I think that Jackson Reagan is still an incredibly talented player. I think Gaymar and Reagan play off incredibly with each other, so it makes it even stronger. But I'm not I'm not so I mean, yeah, I want him to play against the best offense in the West. But if you can't like and the other thing about that is um
01:12:39
Speaker
Even if Yymar plays, man, this Galaxy team's probably gonna hang a couple on you in this game. I'm just telling you guys right now, if they score first, like don't be shocked. If they score multiple goals in this game, like that's what this team does. I will say though, um before we get to this bracket stuff, like we do have to acknowledge that these teams have played this year.
01:12:58
Speaker
And in League's Cup, Seattle destroyed the galaxy. They handled them easily. That was in Seattle, to be fair. But I believe they did they win 1-0 in LA this year? Or was that a 1-1? Or did they lose 1-1? They drew, I believe. I think they drew 1-1. So they went to Dignity Health Sports Park to play this exact team and 1-1ed it earlier this year, and then beat the hell out of them in League's Cup. So they already know that they can play with this team. And if you remember that League's Cup game,
01:13:27
Speaker
um The galaxy didn't really start cooking until the second half and they did get a patented really nice galaxy Ricky Pujigabriel pet goal late, but they couldn't stop. Remember, they couldn't stop Seattle and set pieces in that game. No, I don't remember that at all. Like in Seattle was just having a field day. So ah that's just another thing that makes me think that Seattle's chances are not might not be as long of odds as is being said in some circles.
01:13:55
Speaker
um Yeah, no. i'm i We'll see what happens. That's where I'm at. I can't wait. i think It's exciting that we're it's exciting that we're but we're going to the city of Los Angeles. yeah Oh, it wasn't 1-1. It was a nil-nil draw.
01:14:11
Speaker
um see that's even like in at seattle and then before that it was one mill at galaxy galaxy but still i mean holding them to so yeah exactly i think what you've seen from the times that they played this year is that seattle's defense now they had yai mar in those games um but the point is they showed that they can't hang with this team at But that was also that was also March Seattle. That was also March 30th. That was March Seattle. Rui Diaz starting at the nine, Seattle. so That wasn't Jordan Moore's extra time game winner, team of Destiny Seattle. you know yeah so That Seattle is 3-1 to the Sounders. so We'll see what happens. Let's move on. Are we doing amended brackets?
01:14:55
Speaker
Yeah, let's do amended brackets. I like this because I like to be, you know, have some accountability on our takes here, but I guess we could run back on what we picked before. Talk about how we felt about our picks and then pick our MLS Cup winners and go from there. All right. So what game what game should we start with?
Playoff Predictions and Accountability
01:15:14
Speaker
Well, let's start with um ah Red Bulls in Atlanta. Red Bulls in Atlanta, we both were juiced on Atlanta. I think we were one on the sauce a little bit. Yeah, I think there's not much more to say on it than that. That was a vibes pick in it backfired.
01:15:29
Speaker
Yeah, no, they they got they bombed out and have not seen the light of day. It was one. It was one zero. um So I don't know. And yeah, we're going to talk about Rob Valentino's future. But yeah, I think we we we felt like you said, we got lost in the sauce on that. Yeah. So advancing off of that is, um, was Orlando Orlando, which I think this could be a really interesting MLS cup final. If you get Orlando in Seattle, Nico Ledero revenge match that could be insane at in Seattle. Oh,
01:16:02
Speaker
That's on the table. It's on the table and the two hottest teams in the league down the stretch would be crazy. Would be crazy. Shows that this league can be a momentum league. That's also, this is ah this is like not that relevant, but Orlando Seattle when it's green on purple is one of my favorite kit match-ups in the league. Also, ah Seattle Red Bulls is one of my favorite kid kit match-ups in the league. so Yeah, that green and red. Yeah. So, Red Bulls New York City FC,
01:16:27
Speaker
I had Red Bulls, you had New York City FC. Obviously, Red Bulls ended up taking that game. You were not very convinced about your pick to begin with, so I'll let you.
01:16:39
Speaker
i I liked and NYCFC this year because I liked the commitment that they showed to their young players. And I think they really came together throughout the year. They started the year really bad, but once their young guys um got their feet under them and started cooking, their team was fun to watch. But like, I think ultimately they were, it's kind of like a developmental type of season for them where they're sort of finding their identity and bringing all these young guys up.
01:17:08
Speaker
And I think the inexperience kind of finally caught up to them. When you have a team that's that young, like this NYC FC team, like making a full playoff run is tough. It's tough. It is. And yeah I think that's sort of what happened to them. And the against a Red Bulls team that, you know, whenever Neil Forsberg has played this year, they've been pretty damn good. So.
01:17:32
Speaker
Yeah, no, I thought they, they, we, and we talked about that, how having him back in the playoffs is like, it kind of changed, completely changes the narrative around that team in a way. They're not like, they're not like a normal, uh, seven seed or whatever. Cause no, no, not at all. So who are we picking here? Orlando or the New York Red Bulls to be your Eastern conference?
01:17:59
Speaker
bottom seat. I'm going to, I'm going to probably, I'm going to do the same thing I did with the Atlanta series and probably regret it. But like, and I think the red bulls have something going right now. That's what it feels like to me. And I know that, like I said, I know that we, I basically Atlanta pick on that and it backfired, but I think there's more substance and less purely vibes based to what like the red bulls are doing. And I feel like I feel like I want to pick the underdog too. I dig it. I dig it. I am also feeling the Red Bulls. I feel like they have more attacking power. um I don't think that that Orlando is bad by any means. And honestly, like either way, like it kind of feels like whoever comes out of the West is going to have a heavy upper hand, especially playing at home. um But i'm i'm I'm going with the Red Bulls. I'm sticking with my pick from last week. um Red Bulls in the final. So let's jump over to the West.
01:18:57
Speaker
We had Seattle in LA. You picked LAFC. I picked Seattle. We were trying to do a little differing picks there. I didn't believe in my pick. I'll be honest, I didn't believe my pick was going to come true. But here we are, Seattle Sounders, champions, going to the Western Conference final. We laid it down already, but I don't know. Do you have anything else to add? I don't have to pick.
01:19:23
Speaker
Oh, well, I was just, yeah, you picked. I i already picked the, so I picked LAFC, I picked Altravico final and then Galaxy to go through. yeah yeah yeah Yeah. My cup pick is intact. Yeah. Yeah. Your cup pick is intact, but I just meant to say answering for your Seattle non-belief against LAFC.
01:19:43
Speaker
Oh, you want me to answer for that? I mean, I don't, uh, feel that bad for not believing in it because the 10 games, because no one did. Yeah. Well, no one did, but also I'm like, I go off past president for these things. I was with, if you have a, if you have a 10 game winless streak, I'm not going to pick you to like, and that until you end it. And to be fair, they ended it like, so I'm all, whenever I have a take like that, I would love to be proven wrong and they, they proved me wrong. I couldn't be happier about it.
01:20:11
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. So I had with then the other matchup was LA Galaxy versus Minnesota. Neither of us believed in Minnesota was even going to touch the galaxy. They got blown off the face of the earth. I mean, goodbye. ah So now we have a Seattle versus LA Galaxy Western Conference matchup to send the winner to a home MLS Cup final. Who are we going with here? This is a tough one, Ari. Bucket, I'm picking Seattle.
01:20:40
Speaker
Let's go. Let's go. I mean, I like these conference finals are total toss ups and ah everyone knows the regard that I hold this galaxy attack in. But I'm telling you you, I'm telling you they can get got. I would be pretty surprised if playing as kind of crazy and and undisciplined as they do at times, if they're able to win um MLS Cup to zero. They might beat Seattle, but like i don't like like we saw it happen with Inter Miami. When you play like that, and and that's why I feel like looking back on it,
01:21:14
Speaker
I had this nagging thought in my mind that that would be inner Miami's undoing in the playoffs. And I went against it because all year when it seemed like I was going to bite them, it hadn't. But when you get to the playoffs, that stuff can catch up to you. And like i that it that was my worry with this Galaxy team, irrespective of if they played Seattle. So like that the me picking against them at this juncture in the playoffs, um it's something that it's logic that I might have come to, even if this was a different matchup for them.
01:21:42
Speaker
Yeah, I'm going with the LA Galaxy. I'm going to be the non-believer. I like it when we do different respect. Yeah, exactly. you know Sometimes it's just for the bit. like i just I'd prefer to pick against you, but like I believe... make the cake Make the Galaxy case. Here is the Galaxy case. This is the... I mean, I argued it was the best team in the league above enter Miami, but Definitely the best offense left in this playoff format. They are a buzzsaw and I mean certified, not LAFC buzzsaw. This is a team that cannot be stopped with a 10. That is just incredible. Someone who will facilitate out
01:22:20
Speaker
everywhere he will play center back he will play right he'll play whatever position he needs to he's gonna magically steal that ball from you he's gonna work it up the field they're gonna hang six on you they have not have they scored any less than four goals in any playoff game this this no no they've scored five plus in every single one including or no or it was four one it was four one yeah so four is the lowest number they've scored I'm sorry. How are you going to argue against that production? I don't care who they were playing. And their defense has been, their defense has been playing well. That's what I'm saying. So I am LA Galaxy. They did get, I get to my point earlier, they did get bammed on by Yaboa twice in that game. It didn't matter because they scored six. I don't think they're going to score six on Seattle. I don't know. I definitely i think, I think they're going to get
01:23:04
Speaker
two four I think I think I think the galaxy are gonna score twice and whether Seattle wins can come down to whether they can Outscore that or get the 2-2 to penalties. That's yeah drawing i Yeah, I could see ah I could see I'm drawing PKs here and god knows what will happen there But it would be surprised if Seattle didn't score in this game.
MLS Coaching Changes and Team Developments
01:23:26
Speaker
Oh, I think they will as well i so here take to our final we have different finals here. Seattle Sounders at home against the Red Bulls. Another MLS Cup at home, Ari. We will both be there if this happens. So I hope this happens, but who's winning that? um i I mean, yeah, it's just such a Homer pick, but like im then I'm not going to pick against the home team in that scenario.
01:23:52
Speaker
like Pretty much if you ever asked me to pick MLS Cup, I'm just going to pick that one team. Yeah, I think that's a fair, that's a fair shout there. I picked l LA against the Red Bulls. My continued pick for MLS Cup champions since the beginning of this series, since the beginning of the playoffs have been LA.
01:24:08
Speaker
My headphone fell out, but it doesn't matter. I'm picking the LA Galaxy to win this. They're lifting the 2024 Philip Anschutz US Open MLS shield. um All right. We have a few more news items to hit before the end of the show. We're going to do these fast because, Noah, I'm kind of paranoid that this is going to freeze. And if we use all this, I'm going to jump out my window. yeah So let's just do a couple quick minutes.
01:24:33
Speaker
a Couple minute quick hitters at the end here on MLS news then we'll get out of here for episode 75 Wilfred Nancy coach of the year that rod since we last recorded Congratulations to him, but get bammed on get a backup goalkeeper um Vanny Sartini out in Vancouver in a surprise move. That is a huge L for lobbing scorchers Noah's really torn up about this um It's really um I was on Axel Schuster's Zoom. I'm like the Whitecaps beat guy for our website, I guess. I love that. I'm always on the Whitecaps stuff. It's because it's West Coast, that's why. Yeah. Do you have decisions? I do sometimes. I didn't on this. OK, so he knows you. Do you think we can get him on the pod? It's always on Zoom when I don't have my video on. He definitely would not recognize me type stuff. But I am on Whitecaps calls sometimes with my hand raised. I'm like, am I honorary? Might as well. I do that with a lot of the teams, but it's like more of the Whitecaps. Uh, usual, but anyway, I was, I was surprised, uh, that Vanny got let go. Uh, he's a lobbing scorchers icon, uh, because he has the best press conferences in the league. And I really want, I need another team to hire him because of that. Uh, and he's just seems like a.
01:25:46
Speaker
I want to have a beer with him so bad, dude. Well, and like, you know, there's there's like pros and cons. Like the the press conferences are great for us. Some of the stuff he said at them, ah there was moments like of his tenure where and I think honestly, like some of the like kind of craziness of his character might have been like, like they want someone that's like that's like more serious. Like.
01:26:06
Speaker
Not to say that he's not serious, but it's just like ah he always became like a caricature at times. And ah maybe that's like why they wanted to go in a different direction. But either way, we we don't support that. We think Vanny Sartini should have been extended.
01:26:21
Speaker
But the whitecaps also turned out to not have that great a year this year so they did them on portland in the funniest game ever though so we will we will take that down thank you vanny for your service to this and we love you someone in mls please hire this man please nick cushing out in nyc which that's like a little less surprising to me just cuz ah Like for as good as they looked at times this year and as much as they improved, they were very inconsistent and like their team that like expects to be contending every year. And it didn't feel like they really were at any point this year and Cushing's been there for a couple of years. Uh, and they, they could get, they've gotten some of the most pedigree coaches in the league. So I'll be interested to see who, who they hire. I think they're a pretty well run organization on like the scouting and development side and, uh,
01:27:13
Speaker
Like, I expect whatever hire they make to be like, it's New York City. they They'll yeah do something that pops. Yeah, I agree. Especially with the new stadium on the way. ra um Yeah, exactly. Rob Valentino has parted ways with Atlanta United, which we just talked about this a couple of weeks ago. No one's taking the lobbying scorcher's advice, Art. i think that's I think it's dumb, man. gar Garth came out and had a quote where he was like,
01:27:36
Speaker
He was saying like implying that the team was much better than the results were showing on the field, kind of implying that the coaching should have been able to get more out of like this awesome roster.
01:27:49
Speaker
i I mean, I don't know. Garth, what are we talking about? di why Like, we you know, we love Garth. We do. Garth, he is goaded around here. Like, I don't know what I'd love that. I don't know. Oh, oh, hell yeah. like dream the best quote But i I would love to ask him, like, what Atlanta United roster he's looking at compared to the one that. i'm that Because like rob valentino beating messy with that roster. How are you going to say he underachieved? Yeah way overachieved and also i'm telling you that vibes matter and stuff like this like Uh, if you have a guy i'm and i'll always caveat I don't know the inner workings of their locker room dynamics and his relationship with the players but like from the outside it seemed like uh it seemed like the vibes with him as the coach and uh just
01:28:33
Speaker
what the players seemed to think of him and how they played for him and how they ended up kind of putting it together in the playoffs after squeaking in and like beating Messi. I think sometimes you just you just ride that. You just ride that. like Yeah.
01:28:48
Speaker
yeah That were like the smell and garth knows that he did that with schmetz did it with schmetz yeah it worked and i thought he might be like this i should do this again but i mean i will acknowledge that he their brass knows a lot more about it than we do to ah to be able to make that decision but As an outsider, my first thought was like, you guys should have just kept rolling with Valentino, man. You should have. Yeah, I agree. Fans like him. So the unexpected thing, everyone's expecting you to part ways with Valentino and hire some big name like Gabrielle Heinze, who those guys haven't been working out. What could have cooked was going with the U.S.L. guy, the yeah the former Orlando City, like rugged up and coming coach that people don't know about who's doubted like that would have been more fun. Anyway, I just went on a Valentino rant when I said we're pro pro Valentino podcast. It's a bad call. We'll see how it works for you. Atlanta United. Maybe they get some crazy hire. I think it's back here. Miami does have a new coach and it's a former another. it's ah It's literally, they hired another Barca boy.
01:29:47
Speaker
This is the okay. This this this one perplexes me you you lay it out but like all all law but I mean, so it's how have your have your masha Masurano who played with Messi and all these guys at Barcelona for years and he's Messi's former teammate from the Argentine national team and coach I believe yeah right from the Argentine national team. So legendary player has I was almost right with this I was almost right think actually, that's a good point. You almost were you were like slight you had the wrong hobby long hobby but um Yeah, so he this is a legendary player Argentine international former messy, but like ah okay, so I mean my thoughts on this are that um It's very clearly like they're just hiring another Barca boy without much regard for like how
01:30:35
Speaker
much of a coaching fit it really is. It's more like this is Messi's boy and yep we like him and we're going to hire him. We're trying to keep Messi around. which does Yeah, which doesn't seem like good process, but my I guess my point would be like, I don't really think that matters that much with this team. like I fully like, like I could coach this team to further than Tata got them in the playoffs for sure this year. Yeah. No, I mean, yeah you give me this roster. I would have had inner Miami still playing right now. Oh yeah. We would. yeah I say that facetiously, obviously don't give him a contract, but but give him a contract. Like I guess it just my, my overall point there is it doesn't matter really who the coach of inner Miami is. They're probably going to win
01:31:17
Speaker
or be up there with the Shield's leaders next year. um All right, I think that we can call it right there for episode 75.
Engagement and Audience Interaction
01:31:28
Speaker
I did have one more thing I wanted to ah talk about with the controversy on the Lobbying Scorchers YouTube, but like i we're we're running short on time, so the only thing I'll say is that um everyone who is upset about my... um via the video we put on YouTube about me defecting to the Canadian national team, a clip from our last show. Everyone who's accused of of engagement baiting. Hey, we would never, we would never engagement bait like that. Don't accuse us of that. ah But in all seriousness, your comments and your views are fueling us and we love it. um We love it. Go sub to the YouTube.
01:32:12
Speaker
Sub to the YouTube, like, comment, subscribe, rate ah ah write us a review. Five stars. Five stars. Share with Joseph Panso. Vanny Sartini, for sure. Vanny Sartini. Until next time. Well, actually, wait, wait, wait. We'll see you in L.A. la We'll see you in L.A. Until next time, we out. Peace.