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Did Brian Schmetzer Get it Wrong in Mexico?
2 Plays59 seconds ago
Lobbing Scorchers’, Ari Liljenwall and Noah Riffe regroup after a tough Leg 1 of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal. The Seattle Sounders sit in a 2-0 aggregate hole against Tigres UANL after failing to score at El Volcán. Can the Rave Green flip the script at Lumen Field, or is this year’s CCC campaign headed for an unceremonious end?
Lobbing Scorchers questions Jesus Ferreira’s omission from the Sounders FC starting XI, and if Brian Schmetzer got the subs wrong in Mexico, and if Seattle fans should be concerned about the attack as a whole.
This week's Agenda Check: Should Seattle Sounders fans want MLS Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup? Has Jesus Ferreira proven he should be the starting No. 10? Is it time for the Seattle Sounders to sign a left back in the summer window?
Ari and Noah round out the show with the top headlines around Major League Soccer. James Rodríguez suffers severe dehydration amid a weird tenure with Minnesota United. Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville questions a reporter on the security of his job. 34-year-old Neymar linked with FC Cincinnati after a brutal start to the 2026 season.
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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 Match Setup
00:00:00
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be a real scorcher today. Quite the scorcher today. Well it's gonna be scorcher.
00:00:21
Speaker
Welcome to the Sounder at Heart studio in the ID. We are laying this one down on Thursday evening. Just one day after the Seattle Sounders kicked off the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals at Tigris. They are facing 2-0 deficit after leg one. Their backs are against the wall, but all hope is not lost. We got a couple of discussion topics related to that game that we're going to get to tonight. And then we got an agenda check later
Match Analysis and Challenges
00:00:50
Speaker
on. And we're also going to jump around MLS a little bit right at the very end. Noah, what's up, man? CCC quarterfinals off and running. 2-0 deficit. i had The home leg coming up next Wednesday. The postgame show felt a little dark and dire last night with the dust settled.
00:01:09
Speaker
a night to sleep on it. How are you doing? How are you feeling? I don't feel any better ah than I did yesterday, to be honest, Ari. I think that was a tough performance and one where you required an away goal if you were gonna give away two unanswered.
00:01:25
Speaker
And i I can't say that I'm really high right now on any of any of that. we'll ah We'll talk about it more. We're going to assess how we're feeling exactly about this team's chances after that 2-0 defeat in leg one. And i think a lot a lot to talk about. There's a few topics I wanted to get to with that. The lineup has been a big topic of discussion. Jesus Ferreira not starting. The back line, Tino Lopez, should he have started? We're going to talk about that. and the subs as well. So lot to get into and you know, a lot to be determined. We're going to learn a lot about this team. I think in this game coming up at Lumen field, finally getting a home game.
Sponsorship Talks and Match Strategy
00:02:06
Speaker
So I'm at least looking forward to that, but make no mistake about it. There's some adversity right now. This is, it's been kind of a, uh, Definitely not an adversity free start to the season, but the results have been good. The form's been good and they got punched in the mouth in this one. So we're going to talk about that before we get into it. I did have a couple of housekeeping keeping items I got to let you all know about. First of all, well, we got a table and ah the mics hooked up to the table if you're watching on YouTube. So that's pretty cool. The tech was not necessarily the easiest to set up for this, but I like the setup that we got now. Also,
00:02:42
Speaker
Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff, now sponsored by QED Coffee. I got a new link for you all. If you're watching Kickoff on Monday, we we unrolled this. But now subscribe at QED Coffee slash Lobbing Scorchers. That's the new link. QEDCoffee.com slash Lobbing Scorchers. And use code LS74 when you're buying anything else on the website. And you'll get 25% off.
00:03:04
Speaker
So support our new sponsor, great local company locations in Mount Baker, West Seattle, and Three Tree Point in Burien. So go show the physical locations, locations, some love as well. Also lobbingscorchers.com slash USA.
00:03:18
Speaker
Use code scorchers for 10% off on anything on the U.S. soccer website. And of course, shout out podium menswear and Hakes and Ferments and full pole wines. ah All right. Noah, are you ready to ah get into our discussion topics for the evening or do we need to do some tech?
00:03:34
Speaker
No, we're good. We're good. It was just telling me that I was way too far out of frame. and Okay. That's what we pay him the big bucks for. Got it. All right. Well, are you now ready to get into our discussion topics for
Debate: Can the Sounders Overcome the Deficit?
00:03:45
Speaker
the evening? Let's do it. These are regarding CONCACAF Champions Cup leg one, two zero defeat, two zero deficit. I, you know, I don't like calling it a defeat because the series isn't over yet,
00:03:54
Speaker
But I guess the first was it it was a defeat. Yeah, no it was a defeat's a defeat. I mean, that's yeah, I guess ah there's there's a there's a finality to the term defeat, but I guess that's a good segue into what we're going to talk about, which is ah and it sounds like you're kind of feeling like this whole operation, this whole CCC operation might be chalked. That's what we were discussing on the post game show last night, and there was kind of all ranges of it. Tribe definitely crashed out, he thinks it's over. Gianni was teetering on Crash Out, he pretty much thinks it's over. But then there were there was a couple people, we had Alejandro tap in, he was a little more optimistic, and we had a couple other people to ah point out that there's a whole other game to go here, and it is a home game at that. So I guess I'll start with kind of the counter take to what you were saying at the top there. As it pertains to the question of, is this series chalked? Is CCC over?
00:04:50
Speaker
No, this is not over. 2-0 after leg one is definitely not great. And to feel really good about their chances and to feel like they were in good position to advance, you would have had to have the road goal. Like, that is very true. And I think that's part of what's frustrating about this situation is they did they got genuinely close to getting the road goal and they couldn't quite do it So you are in a situation where you could take a 3-1 result in leg two and you would get eliminated on that. So that's not a great situation to be in. However, I have watched enough of these series to know that 2-0 after leg one is not like an insurmountable lead by any stretch of the imagination. We just saw what ah Seattle...
00:05:32
Speaker
ah went up 3-0 after leg one in Vancouver. And remember how dicey that series still felt pretty deep into leg two? And that was because the Whitecaps did get the first goal of that game. But that's exactly the point. Seattle comes out at home, at Lumen Field, first home game in a few weeks. The crowd's going to be pumped up. They're going to be out for blood. And they can get on top of this Tigris team like they have a lot of teams at Lumen Field over the year. And they score one goal in the first... just 10 to 20 minutes, or even if they get out of the first half ahead one zero in leg two, you got to score this first goal. You got to keep the clean sheet. But then if you get that first goal, you are right in it. So I would say that after a night to sleep on it for me, I'm feeling less doomsday about this. I am. I don i think the deck is definitely stacked against them. And I think they are pretty decidedly
00:06:22
Speaker
not favored to go through now, not having the road goal and being down two goals. But ah like I said, I've seen a lot of these series flip after the first leg. And I understand why the first leg can feel decisive and why it can feel over after that, especially giving up a couple and not getting the road goal. But if they come out in this leg to next Wednesday and they get that first goal,
00:06:45
Speaker
it's anyone's ball game again. And i think in one way they did accomplish an important objective in Mexico, which was just, you know, they didn't, they didn't get the road goal, which I think was the most important thing. But one of the most important things they had to do was get out of that game with it still up in the air, with it still a ball game, without letting it get out of control, without letting it get to a place where it actually was an insurmountable deficit. And they were able to do that. They gave themselves a chance. So, ah you know, I don't, I'm not predicting that they're going to do it. I'm just saying like,
00:07:13
Speaker
ah i feel i feel I feel better about their chances of making the comeback than I did in the immediate aftermath of the game last night when I admittedly, you know, it felt it it felt kind of chalked watching that game and in the immediate aftermath. But with the reality of where the result is at, 2-0, this is not over.
00:07:32
Speaker
I wish that I had your optimism, Ari. I really wish I did. My concern comes down to one thing. The fact that CONCACAF still uses the away goal rule.
00:07:44
Speaker
If Tigres comes into Seattle and they score a single goal, it changes the calculation from having to score three goals yeah to scoring four goals. And I'm sorry,
00:07:58
Speaker
I don't think the Sounders are going to be able to score four goals at home or away against a team who knows that the Sounders have to score four goals. And I also don't know if I believe that this Sounders team can keep a clean sheet while also trying to surge and score two goals. So in in this situation, in my head, it feels a little impossible.
00:08:26
Speaker
Is it impossible? Is it over? No. But when I try and think about this in terms of if I was gonna like
Critique of Lineup and Substitutions
00:08:36
Speaker
put money on on where I would see this, this is, I mean it is objectively a very very, very, very, very tilted game in favor of Tigres no matter where it's played.
00:08:48
Speaker
If they score one goal, if they get a really bad PK call, like everyone agrees with, if they, you know, somehow get a throw in that's supposed to be the Sounders, but gets called for Tigres and they go down the line and score goal. oh wait, both of those things happened in Tigres.
00:09:06
Speaker
I just, um, I don't think that I'm confident. I don't think that I'm confident that we can out conca calf the conca calf. That's just the truth.
00:09:18
Speaker
I think a lot of this comes down to ah who scores first in this next game. Obviously, Tigris scores first, it's not it's not a wrap, but it's pretty be pretty tough. See, like, I guess I don't like... You think they're going to score four goals, period? I don't think them getting four in this game and then unanswered I don't think it's as crazy a proposition as ah As it's getting made out to be like yeah hanging for a waste 35 minutes. They will they will try to do that No way they will they will they will try to do that They will try to do all that stuff But I've all I've seen a lot of teams come into lumen field and try and do that. They're not the first
00:09:58
Speaker
team to come in and try and conquer cap it. They're not the first team to come in here for a CCC game where they've got the aggregate lead. So if they do, if they do score the first goal, I think that would take the wind out of the sails. And I agree, like it definitely would, it would get pretty close to chalking it. But if they are able to get on top of them and play like we've seen one, I literally might walk out of the press box. If Tigris scores. Yeah, because what's the point of watching the rest of that game? Because if somehow they come back and make that thing happen.
00:10:30
Speaker
I mean, OK, I guess, but Tigris is not a good team. You're only it's only going to get harder from there. It's only going to get harder from there. You have to go and either play Club America or Nashville. And I'm going to be honest with you, Ari. Both of those teams are better than Tigris.
00:10:44
Speaker
Which one would I prefer? It doesn't even matter at this point, but like I guess Nashville I guess but I don't want to go there and play I don't want to play that team so I don't know like it's uh, you're okay. yeah You're day you're fully doomsday. All right. I don't want to be doomsday, but I feel like we've been here before and I've seen this movie and I I don't have anything positive to say and I I want to believe and maybe maybe I need to be doomsday and doomer. So the opposite will happen and I will look stupid and we'll score five goals unanswered or we'll score seven unanswered like we did. This is like that's what I'm saying, man. Like we we saw this team. No Pedro saw it. Pedro de la Vega did not start the game against Cruz Azul where they beat them seven to zero. He came on late in the second half and he scored two goals. They had already hung five on Cruz Azul before he even got on the field. Do you think this Tigris team is markedly better than that Cruz Azul team? No, I don't, but I do think that that was a very unique circumstance. um I do think that that game is not even remotely similar to this game. You're coming into the game with two separate mentalities. Tigres wants to get that third to kill the game, but they're going to do it by allowing the Sounders to try and counter, get them wide open, and then counter back. And then what they're going to do is if they get that third goal, or even if the Sounders are possessing and playing well, they are just going to bait the hell out of the Sounders.
00:12:21
Speaker
And the Sounders know that, but every single minute that ticks off that clock, good luck. Good luck. Good luck. I just, I can't, I can't, I can't believe it. And you know, i said this on the post-match show.
00:12:36
Speaker
That game was begging for Pedro de la Vega. That game was begging for Pedro de la Vega. This game is begging for Pedro de la Vega. Anything, anything, you need more firepower. The Tigres bench is worth just as much money as the entire Sounders starting 11. Like,
00:12:52
Speaker
That's what we're playing against. And so you are put in a position where every single player has to play perfectly in this game. And I know the Sounders love pressure. I know they do, but I don't know, man. I'm just a little nervous. Yeah. I mean, you're completely right to be nervous. I'm nervous too.
00:13:11
Speaker
I am a little, you know, you're usually so bullish and so confident and you're just so not any of those things. I'm just not. The gut check is not there. I get that it was uh, that it was a bit of a deflating result and really getting that close to getting the road goal and then not getting it. That does, that feels killer. Like if they had just gotten that one road goal, I think we'd be feeling a lot better about the state of affairs. I guess I just feel like if you look at the actual score line, you know, it's, it's not that being down by two zero is not drastically different than being down one zero or being down by one goal. Cause like, I, I don't think so. I don't think so. It just creates a situation where, yes, you have to score the first goal. That's pretty much it. And if you do score the first goal, you have every chance to come back if you're able to that. You need to score within the first 15 minutes.
00:14:04
Speaker
You need to actually put into Tigres that this is possible. But the the problem is the second that the Sounders score, that is when the game will slow to an absolute snail's pace. And the Sounders are great and very opportunistic, but they're they need the space in behind.
00:14:21
Speaker
What is Tigres going to do? If they concede a goal, what are they going to do? They are going to bunker. They are going to jump and dive around. like i Let them.
00:14:31
Speaker
and But that's what I'm saying. 1-0, you're like, okay, we can drag this thing into extras. We can drag this thing into penalty. Whatever. More opportunity. Two goals? If you get one, Tigres can just completely bunker.
00:14:43
Speaker
Completely. And I don't know. i don't know about you, Ari, but um they have some good tape on how to do it. It's called Minnesota United, and the Sounders have no answer for that. They have had no answer for that for the past two years. Can you ah can you remind me of what happened in game two of the Minnesota United series when they came into Lumen Field and they tried to do that at Lumen Field? How ah how many goals did the Seattle Sounders? The Sounders scored a lot of goals, but also very different situation.
00:15:12
Speaker
That Tigres team 10 ten times ten more talented than that Minnesota United roster. Yeah, but you're you're talking about their ability to bunker, not their talent. I don't know what the difference is there. Like, I think that yeah I would argue, I would argue Minnesota United is much better at bunkering than this Tigris team probably is. They are the, they are the, the rate they learned from Eric Ramsey himself. You think the Tigris is drilling that like Ramsey ball? Hell no. You're going to, you're right that they're going to try. yeah I'll concede that. I mean, you know, Eric Ramsey, absolutely. I can't, I, it would be shameful to not concede that, but I just, I don't, Ari, I don't,
00:15:51
Speaker
I don't feel good. i will be i will be up in that press box, over-caffeinated, unhappy. Then they're going to score a goal early in the first half. You're going to be locked right back in. But that's what needs to happen. They need to score in the first 15, 20 minutes. They have to. I agree with that. You have to.
00:16:08
Speaker
And if you don't, it makes the task a whole lot harder. I had a few things on this leg one game that I did want to talk about. Yeah, I got some things to say. the post game show. Cause there, yeah, there was a lot of discourse going on on the, on the post game last night. And I think it's worth kind of talking about a few of these things again. Number one, let's talk about the lineup for this game. Uh, Nico, he was crashing out in your DMS yeah over it. He felt a few, I kind of,
00:16:32
Speaker
Yeah. Well, let's talk about it. He felt very strongly that Jesus Ferreira should have been in the starting 11 for this game. I think we were all a little surprised to not see Jesus Ferreira in the starting 11 for this game. It was the Pauls on the wing, Rusnak in the middle and Jordan up top. And then Jesus did sub on, but not until the 73rd minute. ah What did you think of the the choice by Brian Schmetzer to not start Jesus Ferreira in this game? And are you on the same page as Nico with it, that it was an egregious misfire from the coach and that it could have changed the result if he had just kind of done what he has been doing and started Jesus? Ari, call me impressionable, but I was frustrated with it or confused about it, and I noted that to you and and the crew who we were watching with, but...
00:17:24
Speaker
When Nico talked to me about it, I really, it started to fester. It started it started to boil up inside of me. Why is our best player sitting on the bench?
00:17:37
Speaker
Why is our best player sitting on the bench? Our best creative attacking player, the guy who we both have been like, this guy is crazy. Brian Schmetzer says he sees the field differently. The guy who five assists,
00:17:52
Speaker
How many
Player Performance and Offensive Strategies
00:17:53
Speaker
assists are he? Count him up. Five assists. The guy who will be your playmaker, your creator, Albert Rusnak, for how much we've praised him, I think he wouldn't even admit he's had a slow start to the season. I doubt he's going to finish the same way that he starts. But Jesus Ferreira has been absolutely looking like a monster. And you compare the two.
00:18:16
Speaker
If you want to play the Pauls, play the Pauls. But then why is Albert in there starting over Jesus at that point? If you want to play the – this is what puzzled me, though, truly.
00:18:28
Speaker
Paul Rothrock played double 90s. Paul Rothrock does almost score. I do love him in this game. But if you if you start Jesus Ferreira on that wing instead, that allows you so much versatility. You bring Paul in – say Jesus is playing bad, right? Right.
00:18:45
Speaker
Paul for Paul for Jesus. Let's say Rousnac's playing bad. You slot Jesus in at the 10. He's still been on the field. He's still going to be in that, that 10 kind of playmaking position. Let's say Paul Oriol's playing bad. You move Jesus over there, whatever. Like there's so many more options. You bring Paul Rothrock off the bench. You do all of these things. You bring out like,
00:19:05
Speaker
it is it would have played in my mind, and again, i don't have any coaching badges, and I don't have two MLS Cups, a CONCACAF Champions Cup, and numerous other trophies to my name, but to me, sitting on the couch at home, that made no sense. Why was literally our future DP...
00:19:27
Speaker
sitting on the bench in the most important, this could be the most important game of the season. This could be. All right. So I'll, I'll explain what I think the logic was. I'm not saying I agree with you. I'm just going to present your ad. I'm going to present the logic for why Schmetz fielded the lineup that he did. And then we can talk about if we agree with it, which it sounds like you don't, but I think, well, first of all, you are in a situation where someone's going to be on the bench that raises an eyebrow. Okay, it's either gonna it's gonna be one of the Pauls Paul Roth rocker Paul pauler o ah or ah or Albert Rusnak who's your DP number 10 who is just on the bench.
00:20:06
Speaker
Yeah, the previous game, right? And there was was there not like eyebrows raised about that? Was there not discussion about that? I did. I didt i did. did bait some exactly. You were blatantly rage baiting from the lobby. Scorchers Instagram. so But that's that's the point. like there's no There's nothing he could have fielded where it wasn't going to generate some kind of data i don't think anyone would have looked the other way if Paul Rothrock didn't start.
00:20:29
Speaker
that's what That's what I'm saying. Because Paul Rothrock had just played 90 minutes. It would make sense that he wouldn't turn around and play another 90 minutes. Or he would come on as a super sub, which he's been like he's been good in Champions Cup, but he's also been coming on as a super sub at certain moments. So here's what I think the logic was for starting the Pauls.
00:20:47
Speaker
Paul Areola has been starting in this tournament. It feels like that they were kind of how it with goalkeeper, it's the Steph Frye tournament. It felt like it feels like this was kind of the Paul Areola tournament yeah and particularly a road game against the league and Mackey's team. Paul Areola played in that league for years for Cholos. So he honestly, one of the big reasons I think that you bring Paul Areola onto this team is for a game like this game. because of his experience in the league and also he has a lot of CONCACAF experience with the US Men's National Team as well. So the fact that he had been the starter in this tournament, he had played well, he was a big reason why you had such a fantastic performance in the Vancouver game. And it just feels like that they are they are letting Paul Areola have this tournament as the starter at one of those spots.
00:21:37
Speaker
Paul Rothrock, I had the same thought that I felt like when I was kind of predicting the lineup in my head, I thought that Paul Rothrock would be coming off the bench for this game because of what you said. He played the 90 at Houston and you know you can bring him off the bench in this game where he has looked good as a super sub.
00:21:55
Speaker
He also is on absolute fire right now. And he's, it seems like he's been good for at least like a goal game in every single game. That doesn't seem like teams really know how to stop him at the back post. They lose track of him no matter what the situation seemingly. And like for a team that has been struggling to score goals when they're on the road show, if you have someone who's in goal scoring form like that, it's your, it's your riding the hot hand. I think that's what he was trying to do there. Yes. He just did play the 90 at Houston, but he's been your best, most productive attacking player lately. So I can at least see how you get there of, we should just keep writing this. This is working right now. He's scoring goals. Like he's our hottest player. I'm just explaining i know explaining why you started him. yeah yeah like it's your it's a player dare you are How dare you make logical sense? Paul Areola is starting in this tournament. I think like whether we like it or not, that's kind of a decision that's already been made.
00:22:50
Speaker
Paul Rothrock is in red-hot form right now. And Albert Rusnak, you rested in Houston with the intent of starting him in this game. Allegedly. We don't know. We don't know.
00:23:02
Speaker
He could have gotten benched. We don't know, Ari. We don't know. okay We don't have that confirmed. The fact that he ah started against Tigris is a strong indicator to me that the him rotating out in Houston was with an eye towards this game. But either way, like if you do grant that, Albert Rusnak, there's no chance that he wasn't going to be starting in this game. So really, what it was was a decision between ah Paul Rothrock and Jesus Ferreira.
00:23:30
Speaker
because Paul Rothrock played the 90 in Houston, if it was me making that lineup, I would have i would have started Jesus Ferreira and brought Paul Rothrock as the super sub off the bench.
00:23:42
Speaker
Do I think it was a like crazy or indefensible move to start Paul Rothrock in this scenario with the form that he's been in? I don't like I thought about it last night beforehand, too. And I had the thought, like, if it's Rothrock in there, I would get it because he's been he's been scoring every single game in this team has not been scoring a lot of goals lately. He's been the only one who's been scoring goals lately. So I I can I don't like you would do you think that there is like crazy holes in that in that logic? I just hate that I have to do like Paul, anti Paul Rothrock takes. cause i know ra Everyone knows that it's not like a bench Paul Rothrock take. It's about rotation and like what the the lineup for this particular game. Jesus Ferrer is the best player on this team and he needs to be on the field.
00:24:28
Speaker
Jesus Ferrer, well, he's the best player that is healthy. And he needs to be on the field in your biggest seat Siri agrees with me. siri Siri quite literally just agreed with me. But it's like, ifve I can't put it through my head.
00:24:45
Speaker
Why in the world? And Jesus for a not only didn't start, he didn't even play that many minutes. Played from the 73rd on. Like, not even a halftime shot? Why don't we just... like i What did he do to deserve not having a chance to change that game?
00:25:03
Speaker
I don't, I mean, I don't think he did anything. i think that- know who didn't do anything? The, I think the subs coming earlier is a, that was one of the topics that I had written down. Freire came on in the 73rd. Pete Kingston came on for knew who in the 73rd and he was kind of playing backup left back. That was a crazy. Like we didn't talk about that. did they do that? That, that made no sense. You have- I mean, I guess Pete is, we were talking to, we've been talking about backup left back, but I guess it's Pete. I mean, no, no. Alex Roldan is on the field.
00:25:33
Speaker
put put Put in Tino as a CB and put Roldan at the left back. well What are we doing? No, what are we doing? that's we I love Peter Kingston.
00:25:44
Speaker
What are we doing? Putting him at left back at Tigres. I get it. Believe in your guys, but... You're already losing. like and well Pete's not really like a left back by trade. I think they are one of the plans for him is to be a guy that they can fill in there. it is That is an ambitious spot to put him in there. i don't but to me I didn't really get why you put Pete in at left back. And it him look...
00:26:12
Speaker
Not good. Like, he he clearly didn't look comfortable in that. I mean, listen, Peter Kingston looks comfortable in any position. He's just, he wants to play. Like, you can tell he's hungry.
00:26:23
Speaker
But I don't think that was a good shout for him. Like, I don't think that he would even tell you that he wanted to be in that position. Well, actually, probably. will He probably would because he's trying to just get out there by any means necessary. And like, I think that the fact that they did put him out there in that situation, i think tells you that that is part of the plan they have for him is to be able to play in that spot. I wasn't, I wasn't a game changer. Like he has been the last few years, which like I can respect that, but like you're losing two nil at Tigres. Like it's a little bit different than being up and
00:26:58
Speaker
I don't know. i didn't I didn't think the Pete aspect of it really had that much of an effect that girl all on the outcome. It was a little weird, but like he comes on in the 73rd, and then it was Hassani Dotson for Albert Rusnak in the 78th. So those subs are... like Schmetz has been known, I feel like, more so recently to make those subs like more like the 60th. He's been... good I think for me, if there's something I disagree with, with the substitution pattern, it would be like, okay, if you're going to bring Jesus Ferreira off the bench and start Paul Rothrock, okay. But like, if you are in a situation where you still need a goal in the 60th minute, which they were bring Jesus on right then, like yeah whichever one was something on in that situation, you need, I i think of
00:27:46
Speaker
30 minutes is like the minimum that you need to give a sub to be able to actually have time to impact a game. That's sort of how I think of it. And the 73rd, like that's, that's not enough time to make the type of impact always is that a guy like we know Jesus Ferreira can make over the course of an entire game or more minutes than that. So like, I think you just, I would have liked to see him be a little quicker with it and do it on the 60th. And I will say this about like two, like I want them to be quicker on that. As far as like, I, uh, I think like two,
00:28:16
Speaker
they brought Osazi off the bench in this game. And I, I understand why I think Osazi skill set is better for a road game in Mexico. But like, if you're in a, say you're in a situation in like two, where you need a goal to win or force extra time and it's not, and it's looking dicey at the 60th, bring Moose on right then bring Moose on right then. That's what I think, because like that's probably your best chance at getting a goal in that scenario. So there's no reason to, I'd rather just see Jordan play 90, but that's, I mean, it depends how the game's going. If Jordan's looking dangerous, if he's scored a goal and the offense is looking good, yeah, sure. You can just keep rolling with it. But if it is a situation where it's lethargic, guys are looking tired, it it looks like one of those situations like, man, where's the goal going to come from? This isn't looking good. Then don't then then I would not want to see them wait around and not even just with the moots, just any any of the subs. like Don't be afraid to just pull the trigger on it and get it going and give these guys enough time to impact the game. Here's another lineup question for you, though. because ah they went with the Alex Roldan, Kalani, Costa Rienzi back line.
00:29:17
Speaker
Should Tino Lopez have actually started this game? I think there's an argument for that because the whole, the kind of whole cell of the Alex Roldan, Kalani look is it gives you a lot more dynamism, like attacking wise from those spots. Alex, I think we've seen his kind of wide back skill set at center back is actually kind of sick because it gives you really good distribution. He's really, he's one of the better athletes on the team as far as being able to go in these one V ones with these really talented, really physically gifted opposing attackers. And he can hold up in those situations defensively, but he gives you kind of that wide back attacking skillset on top of that in a way that most CBS don't and Kalani, you've just got kind of an attacking dynamo at right back, you know, great wide service, great distribution as well. And he is super athletic like and also i think matches up pretty well with Liga and Mackey's defenders. i thought his stand well So yeah, that, so that's the cell of it. However, I think the counterpoint would be, it's a road game at Tigress going with your more defensive inclined back line, which would have Tino starting in there and Alex moved out to right back. I think there's, there's something to be said for that because
00:30:34
Speaker
it's not necessarily a game where you want to be going, pushing, throwing numbers forward, like the Alani, Kalani Alex backline sort of allows you to do more of that sort of a look that I think when you're really going for it and attack, like for like two, absolutely. I think run that because Kalani gives you a lot in attack that you might need in this game, but yeah,
00:30:56
Speaker
Do you think that in this game, you you they could have stand to benefit from putting Tino out there and going a little more defensive with it than the Alex Kalani look, which I think has looked good. But also another thing is like, yeah, it's looked good against and MLS opposition, which ah they first busted it out against an uml ah ah in CCC, but that was against the Whitecaps who are an MLS team and they've been playing it in in league play too. But this is a bit of a different animal, a road game against a team like this where, you know, Alex is not a natural CB. Kalani is kind of an inexperienced player still. So is Tino, but he's a more natural CB than Alex. So anyway, what do you think of all that?
00:31:36
Speaker
i I don't know if I have a take on this. Like, i' i I'm not offended by any of those rotations. Like, I don't think...
00:31:47
Speaker
Kalani, i thought Kalani played really well. That's my take on it. And so, like, seeing him play well, seeing him get forward, seeing him press and be that kind of engine alongside of, you know, a player like Paul Arriola.
00:32:06
Speaker
Paul Arriola, and also what was interesting with this game is Kalani was essentially... playing that dual 10 role at certain times instead of Paul Arreola. Because typically with the Sounders, right, the right side winger tucks in more and plays more as like ah almost like a 10.
00:32:29
Speaker
yeah Well, I didn't really see that with Paul Arreola all that much, but what I did see was Kalani drifting into that center space and playing essentially where Ferreira normally would operate. So I liked seeing Kalani there alongside Arreola, but like, don't know, Tino has played amazing and he has made some absolutely despicable saves.
00:32:56
Speaker
ah And I don't
Prospects of Overcoming the Deficit
00:33:00
Speaker
know. I think that's, ah that one I'm way less offended about and really think that that that's less of a toll than any of the other shouts so i can't i can't really say that I have a strong opinion on that to be honest. Yeah, I think with the lineup discourse it's it's tough. for me it's the Jesus Ferrer thing man, like seriously, like that's why is he not playing? That is actually criminal, that is actually like I don't think that – I think b Brian's a really good manager. I think that's a big mistake. I think he made a mistake there.
00:33:32
Speaker
I think he did. And sure, you know, if it all works out, we're all saying, wow, what a great game in Tigres. The other thing I'm thinking about too, though, is it's like the Rothrock thing was two inches from working. It was. two inches from working, but you're still – You're in a situation where it's – Yeah, like they were also two inches from scoring a goal off the post, and they're also – You know what I'm saying? So like, like, as you've said before, if you say it could have been worse, we have to say it could have been better. You'd might as well count them all. And I mean, if you're counting all of the chances there, Tigres wins that game no matter what. And it may be way more overwhelming than you think. three really good ones for Seattle in this game, which is I think is the most unfortunate thing. There was the there was the Rob to two Rothrock ones. The one where he was crashing the post like he always does. That was a great look. That was two inches from scoring. There was the one you mentioned earlier where he took the shot from inside the box where it was kind of hard to watch that. and not kind of like see the ghost of Pedro de la Vega, like hitting that shot. Because, you know, I think Rothrock does have that in his bag, but de la Vega really has that in his bag. Yeah. But it was still, it was a genuinely good chance. It was a dummy by Jackson Reagan, which was sick. God, that would have been a great goal, but that was a good chance for Paul Rothrock. He didn't miss it by much, but the one, the other one that I remembered today that I was trying to remember last night, but I couldn't think of it, but the one where, uh, They had the giveaway. Jordan Morris has it. He yeah leaves it off for Paul Areola. And Paul Areola does get a shot on target, but it ended up getting saved pretty easily. Man, that one is like, oh, if yeah just maybe a little more patience there. Maybe a little more composure in the final third. And be a little more being a little more clinical. you get i think... We've never said that about a Sounders game ever. that one That one was frustrating because they could have, I think with a little more patience, they could have had a better look than they ended up getting there where it was a good look. Like it was a great scoring opportunity, but the final shot ended up being kind of easy to save. And it just, it feels like it was it was one of those missed ops where it's like, all right, if you had just gotten a goal on that sequence, this whole situation could have been different. But yeah.
00:35:43
Speaker
I don't know. Let's ah I think also i will say to to kind of bookend all of this. This also looked like a team that was exhausted. This looked like a team that is by the end. travel like And they were getting since eat a little bit at the end. And I was like, man, yeah, the tank is empty. This looked like, you know, and that here's here the bright side.
00:36:04
Speaker
MLS wants an MLS team to win this thing. And so they moved this weekend's fixture to another day. T-Grace will play this weekend. That's another, that's another wear and tear on T-Grace. That's more travel for, i actually don't know where they're playing, but I'm just going to pretend that they're traveling somewhere super far away. They have to play a game no matter They have to play a game.
00:36:24
Speaker
You never know what's going to happen. You never know. They're already a little bit injured. Who knows, man? Who knows? So, Is it over? No. Do I feel like it's over? They've got it at home. They've got Chivas at home, I believe. Ari doesn't feel like it's over, but they're definitely going come into Lumen Field feeling like... It is objectively not over at 2-0 aggregate. like I don't even know what we're kind of talking about with that. like I get that that was a frustrating game and that the lack of the road goal makes it feel like it's over.
00:36:54
Speaker
two zero is it's just not over. Like you score one goal and it's a complete series again. And it's honestly, it's the flip side of the situation. Like I said, when Seattle was up 3-0 on Vancouver,
00:37:05
Speaker
Did we feel like it was over maybe directly after the game when we were streaming on the drive back? We did, but I famously did. But yeah, but as soon as they scored that goal in Spokane, we knew it wasn't over and they're down by less goals than, uh, than the white caps were. So, I mean, I know that Tigris is definitely not thinking of it like it's over. And you're right. They're going to try and come in and concaf it. Let him.
00:37:27
Speaker
Let him do that. If they're doing that, they're not trying to score the goal that will win him the series. So, like, it'll be frustrating to watch. And it might work. But, like, that's not, to me, that's not a reason that makes it ah that much of a more difficult task than it was already going to be anyway. But... ah let's let's ah Let's keep it pushing. I have another topic I wanted to talk to related to this, but kind of it's this is a more broad topic, which is Noah, should we be concerned about the Seattle Sounders offense in general? I think a lot of people on the postgame show were voicing concerns about this because if you look at how this team has started the season, the results have been really good ah up until this Tigris match. They've won four games in league play already. Three of those have been on the road, so that's huge, honestly. That's
00:38:13
Speaker
very good to see. ah but if you look at the goal production in league play, it has not been very good. They have six goals. It's been a lot of one zeros. They zero zeroed in Minnesota. So the offense has not been super productive in league play. You have one goal from the strikers. Moose got the one in Spokane against Vancouver and that's it from the number nine s so far, unless I'm missing something. They did get shut out by Tigris in this game. You know, we talked about the chances that they had, but they didn't score any. So you go down there really in a situation where you need to score and they didn't.
00:38:48
Speaker
So and then I think there are questions to like, ah is this is this looking one dimensional right now? You've got the Paul Rothrock at the back post bit and that's working. That always cooks. and But if it doesn't cook, like it almost did at Tigris, but it didn't. Like that shot did not go in. And then it's like, well, if you don't have Paul Roth route crash in the back post for an easy goal, what can you go to? Is there anything else that you've got in the bag?
00:39:14
Speaker
I think that kind of is an open question coming off of this game. So how are are are you feeling about the attack in general? have take. Just real quick, though, ah if we're looking at the flip side of that, if you they did score five goals in the Vancouver CCC series, which that was good. I think the offense in that Vancouver game was fantastic. And they did they did hang five in that series. So if you are yeah devil's advocating the attacking struggles narrative, you could point to that. I'm not willing to throw the baby out at the bathwater Ari. This is a team that literally was able to do it last year at just about every position scoring.
00:39:52
Speaker
This game did not have your key playmaker. You did not have Jesus Ferreira on the field. And I think he unlocks things that people just simply don't see. Not to mention,
00:40:05
Speaker
When's the last time we had a number nine that was like this star-studded, amazing, always-going-to-convert kind of player? That's not really this system. But what I do truly believe is that once Jordan gets going, he's going to score goals. That's what he does. I'm going to when I don't see I agree. People are always like, oh, no, he's not actually that. agree.
00:40:32
Speaker
I don't know what you're talking about. don't know what you've watched, but for me, Jordan Morris- The whole he watched or passed it thing, I'm- I'll believe it when I see it. You know what I'm saying? hespes played He hasn't even played a full 90.
00:40:45
Speaker
Let him play a full 90. Let him play five full 90s. Hell, let him play 10 full 90s. He'll get his goals. He'll get his goals. And I literally just... I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I'm somehow... This is somehow like indicative of the rest of the season and how this team's going to play. They've always been scrappy. They've always been... you know, catch a counter and score a goal. The Jordan also, the Jordan Morris bit was working. Like, he was getting out into space. They were able to spring him. He was caught off sides a few times.
00:41:18
Speaker
But he looks good in that position. he wasn't able to convert, but he looks good in that position. He should not have passed that ball, for one. heat Something that I will say I i still get frustrated about what Jordan is...
00:41:30
Speaker
Be a little more selfish, please. Like, you need to shoot the ball. You are the number nine. So once he gets back, once he gets that confidence back, I literally, I just, it's game what? Six?
00:41:43
Speaker
Seven? Like eight or something. Game eight? i i We've scored 11 goals? Six in the league, five in CCC. Okay, I'm fine. I'm not worried about it.
00:41:55
Speaker
Is it cope to look at the six goals in league play and like we have a little bit, you know, chalk it up to it's been it's been the road show. You have been playing every single one of these games on the road. It's impossible play play well in MLS on the road for an extended period of time. Well, so people would say that that is cope perhaps. That's fine, but you go talk to any MLS player, any MLS coach, any single person who's actually ever had any good take.
00:42:24
Speaker
That's what they're going tell you. That's just the truth. The travel is brutal. It would be. The conditions are crazy. I think there is some sort of expectation you. Famously, it's made people cry. Yeah, you take the show on the road and you play like Real Madrid crossed with the Harlem Globetrotters and you should still be scoring, hanging three, four goals a game on everybody. And if you don't do that you have to grind out one zeros, you're making excuses. I mean, if that's the logic that you subscribe to, that's fine. You don't watch the league, but go for it. It's just kind of not living in reality, man. Like in the road, on the road in MLS, you have to be able, it is essential to be in a successful team. You have to be able to win ugly and grind out low scoring, defensive, not that fun to watch types of games. That's just how the league works, man. And I understand watching a game like the Houston game, which was
00:43:19
Speaker
it It was not it's not the prettiest one zero ever. It's not that is a classic game. It's a classic kind of trash MLS game. But I'm like the reality is that the best teams in this league, the good teams in this league, that's exactly how they win a lot of their games, man. If you go through, I promise you, if you go through Inter Miami's match log the year that they set the points record a couple years ago. so even like with Messi and all the Barca boys on their team, there was a lot of those games, even for them that they were heavily rotated. Yeah, but like like yeah there was one zeros in there. There was two ones in there. There was games where they had to go on the road and see out the zero zero to get to the points record like that is just how it goes, man. So I understand like six league goals. When you look at the table right now and look at their goal total compared to the other teams near the top of the West, I understand a lot of people are going to look at that and say that that's evidence of like a, an anemic offense that needs more like, you know,
00:44:16
Speaker
better DPS or whatever. I don't really know if that's the conclusion that I would come to from that. Like, I think with, for me, what I look at it, that is like, are you taking results? Are you getting, are you grinding out those wins? Are you able to play in these kinds of ugly road games under adverse circumstances until take and still take results? The good teams do that in this league. The bad teams don't. And they have been doing that so far. So I, are they, I'm worried. No.
00:44:44
Speaker
Are they inter Miami? No. But I don't... Like, are they even Nashville? No. Here's what I'll say. But i don't... I'm not going to sit here and pretend like it's some there's somehow like some massive attacking problem. And also...
00:45:00
Speaker
There's no attacking solution coming, so I don't really know what I'm supposed to say. Well, so on that the extent to which I'm concerned about the offense is this, which is exactly what we talked about.
00:45:13
Speaker
You can go on the road for six games to start the season and finish 4-1-1 by grinding out 1-0s with Paul Rothrock crashing the back post, and that's great. That's phenomenal. I have no problem with that.
00:45:26
Speaker
When you have a CCC game at Tigris, for example, where you really, really need a road goal, and that's a much more challenging environment, just generally a much more challenging situation to score, ah like what what are you able to do in those circumstances? Are you still able to get the goal that you need? And in this last game, they were not. And I think the concern with that is that – the one guy on your team who you lean on the most, you would lean on the most in those situations isn't available right now. And this situation against Tigris, I think it is fair to point out like that's a situation that is a situation where that can, that can cost you. It doesn't even need to Pedro de la Vega, it's a Pedro de la Vega standing. Like it's a designated player high quality that can produce. And it's a Denny Bowanga, it's a Hunman son, it's a, it's a, it's, I'm glad you went there with that because there is still a pervasive talking point of, you know, why doesn't this team have the Haney Mooktar? Why doesn't this team have the Lucho Acosta?
00:46:34
Speaker
ah And we talked about that on the show that Nico and I did where we were comparing Seattle's DPs to other DPs. But, I mean, I i would argue strongly that they do have that player, and it's Pedro de la Vega. He doesn't play. He just doesn't play because he's been injured. But, I mean, i'm talking I'm not talking about that. I'm talking purely talent level and ability sure and ah production. and kind of like a shown track record and ability of coming through and specifically moments like that. He is that guy. And it's honest, it's frustrating even talk about. Dude, it's getting crazy. It's going be like a summer signing when he comes back after the World And we're going to say that and people are going to hate it. But like, I think that is it's the first time this season where I've been like, man, it really hurts to not have him available right now. I agree.
00:47:19
Speaker
I agree. I've been saying that that. You know, that was really my people hated. they hated my Pedro de la Vega take of like, sell him, sell him. My point was not that I don't rate Pedro de la Vega, though I will say I did try and bait Ari a little bit during that conversation to get him a little mad. And I, you know, I went there a little bit. But It's the fact that you are limited. You are limited but in your game changers right now. Like Albert Rusnak, for as talented and we both appreciate him, he's not a he's not taking on he's not taking over the game.
00:47:56
Speaker
Jordan Morris, I don't see him taking over the game. I haven't seen that in a long time. Jesus Ferreira? okay, you know, we're getting there.
00:48:09
Speaker
But Petro de la Vega, man, it's different different. It's different. it Like, you can see that. And you do see that with a team like LAFC where no what they're not scared.
00:48:22
Speaker
I watch every LAFC game. I do. I will say they've kind of become my second team this year because they are so interesting to watch. They're so fun to watch. They have so many talented players on that field, but like, yeah, Danny Bowanga is good for two goals. Every time he touches the field, he's,
00:48:40
Speaker
in CONCACAF. Like that's just, that's just true. And you know, we just don't have that on this team. We're going to take an ad break. We're going right back with our agenda check. We get a lot of emails here at Lobbing Scorchers.
00:48:53
Speaker
Mailing lists we forgot to unsubscribe from, recruiters begging us to go work for FIFA. But one of the most common is people who want to know how we maintain such an effortlessly classy yet fashion forward wardrobe. Mostly me, I think, but Noah too, I guess.
00:49:06
Speaker
Well, the answer is our sponsor, Podium Menswear. Podium is based in Edmonds and they carry really quality stuff like Filson and Red Wings. They cover all the basics and also have some stuff that's not as easy to get here.
00:49:18
Speaker
You can shop in store at 14 4th Avenue North in downtown Edmonds or online at lobbingscorchers.com slash podium. We've been watching Noah's pickup game evolve in real time, and Soccer.com deserves some of the credit for this.
00:49:31
Speaker
New boots, new ball, and suddenly he's a completely different player, or at least he looks like one, which in pickup is half the battle. Here's the thing about having the right gear. It changes how you play. You move differently in boots that fit properly. You strike a quality ball differently.
00:49:45
Speaker
It actually matters. Soccer.com has a huge range of boots for every position and playing style, balls for every level and gear that holds up. Head to lobbingscorchers.com slash soccer.
00:49:56
Speaker
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00:50:02
Speaker
Some people think California has a monopoly on wine, but it turns out the Pacific Northwest produces plenty of it too. Our sponsor, Full Pole Wines, stocks a huge number of local wines and also lots of others from different parts of the world. The best part?
00:50:15
Speaker
They're run by Sounders fans, and they also have the most important thing I need when choosing a wine. People who know what they're doing who can tell me what to buy. It's super easy. You join their mailing list, they send out a newsletter covering what they have, and you pick the ones you want to either grab at their warehouse on first or have shipped to you.
00:50:32
Speaker
And then when you go to someone's house, you bring one of those bottles and everyone is super impressed. We're proud to be sponsored by FullPullWines.com. Hey everyone, Ari here.
00:50:43
Speaker
I'm excited to tell you about one of our sponsors, Hakes and Ferments. Hakeson is a Seattle-based hot sauce and vinegar brand, making some of the most flavorful hot sauce around. We've partnered up to craft a small batch green blended hot sauce fermented to perfection with bright flavor and medium heat.
00:50:58
Speaker
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00:51:13
Speaker
Welcome back from the ad break, which you definitely did not skip. Hold on. I'm going to close this window. Okay.
00:51:34
Speaker
Don't think this is going fall off. Okay. Ready? yeah Welcome back from the ad ad break, which you definitely did not
Prioritizing Trophies: CONCACAF vs MLS Cup
00:51:42
Speaker
skip. Noah, I got three of you. Every person who skips an ad is another day that Pedro is out. I just want you to know that. like You are causing harm to a child. And to the Seattle Sounders. And to the Seattle Sounders. If you are watching on YouTube, please do like the video, sub to the channel, and all that stuff. Also, qedcoffee.com slash Lobbingscourchers. Get your subscription in today. ah
00:52:05
Speaker
Noah, let's hit this agenda check. I got three of them written down and we're going to start with one that ah we've been talking about on the last couple post-game shows with ah with our boy Caleb.
00:52:16
Speaker
Caleb brought an agenda to the table that I think has been interesting to talk about and he has been contending, Noah, that he values one a one Philip.
00:52:28
Speaker
Phillip and shoots. tro Ari, Ari, what's a Phillip and shoots, the Phillip and shoots trophy, the MLS cup trophy. He, he values Phillip over the CCC trophy to the point where he was saying he doesn't really care if Seattle wins CCC at all. This season is all about Phillip and ah Noah, this agenda did. It got me thinking about, ah you know, what I prioritize in my life. What do you think of the Phillip over CCC agenda?
00:52:56
Speaker
I just want a trophy, man. I just want a trophy. Please. Please. So you don't don't value any over it. You would take Leagues Cup again. You would take you know how stoked I was about Leagues Cup. You know I was excited the whole time we were playing in Leagues Cup. I like any tournament format. I i am indiscriminate.
00:53:16
Speaker
If it's Open Cup, I'm stoked. If it's the Shield, I don't actually believe. The one that I don't care about is the Shield. like If we win a Shield, I'll be mad. Okay. me frame it to you like this. Okay. yeah Someone can guarantee you one of, but not both of CCC or Phillip MOS cup. Which one do you pick? CONCACAF. You get more money and you qualify for club world cup.
00:53:39
Speaker
So the kind of ah the third star stuff that doesn't do anything for you. like Well, first of all, Major League Soccer, you are absolutely... I'm looking to camera because this is very serious. You are cowards.
00:53:51
Speaker
One game, we get to wear the CONCACAF Champions patch? Hell no. Hell no. Because I promise you, if Miami were to win CONCACAF Champions Cup, they'd be wearing that badge every single game, every damn year. When LAFC goes and wins it this year...
00:54:08
Speaker
They're going to, you know, they're going to get a damn, oh my God, it just pisses me off. But CONCACAF Champions Cup is financially better for the club, which, you know, it's prize money so they can spend it however they want.
00:54:25
Speaker
But... I just, I don't know. i ah I like qualifying for more tournaments. qualify If you win Champions Cup, you qualify for the next one.
00:54:36
Speaker
And um I also just think it would be fun to be the first American club to have two. Because yeah LA Galaxy, try and claim it, you know, whatever. You have ah these other American clubs that claim that they have one.
00:54:49
Speaker
No. i want I want two of them. MLS Cup, like, yes, it's it would be awesome. It would be great. But, like, you could do that any year. You can do that any year.
00:55:04
Speaker
So I was thinking of the, ah you know, Philip versus CCC debate. Like, which one would I pick if I was offered one but couldn't have both? And I actually came to the conclusion that if i if if I was given that choice, I think I actually would take Philip.
00:55:20
Speaker
Like I would take Phillip. It's been since 2019 since they've, since they've had Phillip. So that has been a while and get not getting that third star, getting that knocked out. That's gotta be done at some point.
00:55:33
Speaker
And, ah With CCC, I agree. Like, being the first to do it twice, that would be incredible. That would be great bragging rights. There's a lot of great stuff that comes with winning CCC, and it would be a hell of an ah an accomplishment. But, like, let's say they lose this Tigris series.
00:55:53
Speaker
ah That would be unfortunate. It would feel like a letdown. It would feel like a missed op, especially with some of the clubs that we've seen crash out of CCC already feels like the opportunity is right there for this team to go get it if they can get out of this Tigris series. But if they did, if they did lose it Would I be crashing out that hard over it? I mean, you did win it in 2022. As of now, you're still the only MLS team to ever actually do it with respect to the l LA Galaxy in 1999 or whatever. You're the only MLS team as it stands right now to actually do it. So ah it would be unfortunate to get knocked out. I'm not well i'm definitely not trying to argue that
00:56:31
Speaker
But to me, it wouldn't be the absolute end of the world, would it? Like, I would i would be like, all right, that was a bummer. Now all sites set on ah on Leagues Cup, on Phillip, like, let's keep it pushing. Like, I would not be, i think that's kind of the nice thing about having won it.
00:56:47
Speaker
is that you kind of get to feel like that. man you know Maybe people really value CCC as the be-all end-all every single year. i don't really feel like that. So I don't know. I do think that ah like i really i want i won i want cup i want a cup this year. i just always appreciate and strive for MLS in general, but the Sounders specifically, being able to face and defeat
00:57:19
Speaker
Mexican opposition because let's be real ones the last time i value from another i got another country too and that's why I kind of I value the Leagues Cup performances as well exactly and that's why that's why you know and it'll be different this year I honestly it would be shocking if they won Leagues Cup this year considering where they have to go and who they have to play but i I think this is the test, right?
00:57:46
Speaker
This is the test of your level. People are watching LAFC in this tournament and they're saying, whoa. They're saying, whoa, yeah, you know, they're good in MLS, right? But they're playing they're playing the the the white caps and the rap, you know, like whatever.
00:58:03
Speaker
ah Can they do it against Kusasul? Can they do it against a team that's real? Can they do it against, you know, whatever can do motor? They go to Costa Rica, all this. They look like the best team in North America.
00:58:17
Speaker
They absolutely look like it. That pedigree, that status, that standing means something to me because I think the conversation about soccer, especially, especially this year and these following years is going to be a measuring stick of where MLS is and where, what MLS clubs matter.
00:58:36
Speaker
And i I care about that. I do care about that. and MLS Cup is there. It will always be there. And I just, I don't know. There's something to me about CONCACAF Champions Cup.
00:58:51
Speaker
We also haven't won the cup version. We won the league version. We want the cup version. I'm still kind of mad that they changed it to Cup instead of League. That was a bad name change. yeah the thing about They probably got cease and desist by UEFA.
00:59:02
Speaker
the see The thing about CCC this year is it does feel like it was, you know, it always feels so far off when it starts and it's such like a daunting mountain. Yeah, you get a buy. But like we got you got buy this year and you had a really tough matchup with the Whitecaps to start it off that you actually made it through like relatively smooth sailing. And ah it's kind of right out there in front of you. God damn it. Why the hell did you have to fumble? We were so going to be your ass. That would have been...
00:59:31
Speaker
You know, I was saying like after that happened, you know, bring on Tigris, but I take it back. I want to I want to play the FC Cincinnati Evander crash outs in in this round and probably man with with the games that Seattle has been playing lately. They probably think they would have won that pretty easily. But ah all right. No, i'm I'm CCC over over Philip. Okay. All right. All right. That's a, leave your thoughts on that in the comments. Uh, next agenda.
00:59:58
Speaker
So was going to say open cup and shut Uh, the Jesus Ferreira should be the starting number 10 for the Seattle Sounders agenda. This one has been picking up steam. We kind of already talked about this with the, uh, lineup debate at the top of the show, but I think, you know, brigade's been out. Roost snacks had a bad start to the season. they've Unfortunately been cooking a little bit Well, honestly, I think, I think the big, the big the whole Cody Baker goal situation was like comical in how, if you drew up like the thing that would piss off the brigade the most, yeah it would be lazily not getting back on side to rob an Academy kid of his first MLS goal. That's like that. They, they, if they were writing a script, yeah they couldn't have come up with that. No. So that's pretty funny, but it's also like they've been the whole Jesus should be the guy centrally now thing is picking up steam again. And, you know, we talked about it, about the Jesus came off the bench controversially at Tigris. Rusnak was still starting. I think with this, the writing is sort of on the wall that this is what's going to happen next year. Doesn't it feel like that? They have an option for Rusnak, but like,
01:01:08
Speaker
it's it Unless he balls this season, man. Yeah. like And we'll we'll see what happens with that. That could happen. But it feels to me, it feels like a similar situation to when they first got Rusnak and Ladero was winding down. He was on the tail end of his tenure here. They went out and and signed Albert Rusnak in free agency, played him out of position while Ladero winded it down. You literally just sent shivers down like 40 people's spines being like, can't believe they were placed. Oh.
01:01:34
Speaker
yeah leddero with alber re snack I'm scratching and itching. But the point is, like they now have the successor in place kind of again. but For sure. What do you think of the agenda? like should they just like i don't like is the implication that you bench Albert Rusnak and then just make Jesus Ferreira the starter? I think that's what people are arguing. what do you think of that?
01:01:54
Speaker
Here's my take on it. and I'm not a Brigader. I like Albert Rusnak. But... Sometimes you need to put a little passion, a little fire into someone and sitting their ass down and saying, sorry, man, this guy's playing better than you.
01:02:11
Speaker
That can change a lot for a lot of people. um Play, start playing Jesus up to the World Cup break and see what happens.
01:02:23
Speaker
Albert's gonna be there. It's not like he's going anywhere. He's gonna get minutes, especially as we get into leagues. You know, we'll we'll get into other competitions. There's other games to play. There's other things. He'll get his minutes.
01:02:34
Speaker
But I kind of agree with this. I think this agenda is kind of hot.
01:02:40
Speaker
Yeah, like I wouldn't hate it if ah if the next lineup they rolled out had Jesus at the 10. ah Also, yeah, it's a contract year for him.
01:02:52
Speaker
Where's the contract year boost for for Albert? For Albert? Well, I mean, you i guess got that it's not technically a contract year. Next year would be it. But ah we'll see. I mean, honestly, man, the whole DP situation is going to be interesting. I think really for me, it's going to piss so many people off. Yeah, oh man, I honestly, i'm actively looking for I'm actively looking forward to when the Jesus DP escalators hit. Like a lot of people are going to be really unhappy, but I'm going to be loving it. don't know. But Keep him forever. I mean, I think the the takeaway from this agenda is just like this might not be happening soon or this year, but this is happening. Like people better get used to the idea of Jesus Ferreira as like the DP attacking number 10 centerpiece of this team. And, you know,
01:03:38
Speaker
I don't know. A lot of people aren't going to like that. He is so young, dude. he He's 25. He's literally like been one of the league leaders in assists so far, which, okay, this, can I go on a tangent yeah real quick? Okay. All right. That's what this show is ah is about. So there's been a lot of talk since Jesus Ferreira has been on this team about how his goal scoring production isn't what you we thought it would be. It's not what it should be. It's not what it was at FC Dallas. And why is that happening? Why is he not scoring? Like, sure, yeah, he's he's getting his numbers as a playmaker, but shouldn't he be scoring more?
01:04:11
Speaker
At LAFC, they're having the exact same debate with Sun Hyung-min who is racking up assists like nobody's business, but has not been getting on the score sheet. And there has been a lot of crash out debate and discourse with their team.
01:04:25
Speaker
ah You know, Sun Hyung-min, he's one of the best EPL goal scorers of this generation. How is it possible that Mark Dos Santos can't get this guy back scoring goals? And like, he meanwhile, he's got 10 assists.
01:04:39
Speaker
all comps. So he is he he he is kind of- He had four assists in like 35 minutes. Yeah, exactly. so Three of them came within like eight minutes. So this is this is what this is how I'll frame it for people with Ferreira, just so people understand like how I'm thinking of it because I feel like there's kind of just a misalignment fundamentally. here. Jesus Pereira. Now, if you look at his production, since he's been on this team, he has, uh, he's only, he's only scored five goals. He's played like 56, 57 games at this point. He's only scored five goals, but he does have 14 primary assists. All right.
01:05:15
Speaker
If you give him his secondary assist, he's pushing up towards 20, but I won't even do that. Won't even do that. The secondary assists don't count. He has 14 primary assists, five goals in 50 some odd games since he's been on this team.
01:05:28
Speaker
Okay. I understand the five goals is lower than what you would expect or what we feel like it should be. But literally, noah for me, if i like if you just flipped that and you said, okay, Jesus Ferrer in his first 50 some odd games with the Sounders would have 14 goals and five assists.
01:05:48
Speaker
I would look at that and be like, that is fine. That is good. That is what he should be producing. And I'm happy with that production. And he's looking like a guy that you can, that can be a focal point of this attack going forward, especially at his age. So what, like, what does it matter who technically scores the goal as long as the game flamed in the comments for this but I don't disagree with you. What is what is the actual argument against that logic like this is why I don't believe in statistics people because the beautiful game is sometimes played outside of the ones and zeros and hey what this is is this is a stat like this is 14 goals that he is accounting for. it
01:06:30
Speaker
Exactly. And also the ones that he is not technically accounting for in the playmaking that he's not accounting for in creating a lot of these opportunities, making something out of nothing, getting out of space, all of this, the pressing, the, oh my God, the fact that he didn't play against Tee Grace and he wasn't pressing.
01:06:49
Speaker
What were we doing, Brian? Brian, come on. But ah sorry, I just, I just, why did he not, so why did he not start? ah an assist is just as good as a goal. a good Yes. It's like, yeah I feel like I'm on drugs with this. Like, I understand that, like, I want him scoring more too. I think they need to do more to get him. An assist is just as good as a goal.
01:07:11
Speaker
If he was a number nine, I'd be like, wo okay, that's a little weird. He's wearing the number nine. but like and like it is a different We've talked a lot about how it's kind of a different utility for him than we expected. i just like I'm sure he expected it different too. Yeah, but it's it to me, again, it doesn't...
01:07:28
Speaker
It does not matter if he's the one technically scoring the goal. Someone's going to clip the... I think assists are just as important as goals and put us on TikTok and we're going to be really famous in England or something. What is actually wrong with that, though? Americans don't know what to talk about soccer. Whatever, whatever. Last agenda, Noah. This one was yours. You have a signing that you want the Seattle Sounders to make. Sounders, Craig, Craig, thank for watching the show. appreciate you. Um... Hit my line because let's go find us a left back. Let's go find us a left back. We need either a backup or a starter. I don't care. But where's the depth? What's happening?
01:08:09
Speaker
I think, I mean, maybe this will be controversial too. I think New Who is kind of in nails this year. No, no, for sure. ah But like the the backup. There's no one to play below him though. Right. Yeah, that's ah that is a good point. Sign someone from anywhere. don't care. Honestly, maybe I'm more open to the Pete idea than you are. But like we have not seen that enough yet to know if that's
Defensive Depth Concerns
01:08:31
Speaker
like fine. Why are they doing, why are they?
01:08:34
Speaker
Doing the Reed Baker Whiting thing again to another player, they're like, we need another left back. Instead of signing one, why don't we just convert another guy who plays a different position? like Because then you don't have to go spend resources. Come on.
01:08:46
Speaker
Come on, we've got $15 billion dollars in game. Use the war chest on a backup left back. God, that would piss so many people off and I would be happy. Yeah, yeah. No, I don't i don't i don't hate it. I think like coming out of that Tigris game, there was a bit of a feeling. like ah We didn't talk about it at all on the post-game show, but then I realized later, i was like, what was going on with the...
01:09:07
Speaker
Like they had peed out there at left back and you know, it was sick that he, uh, that Giniac crashed out on him. Yeah, that was tight. I love that, but it was also, that was also his best defensive play of the game. Yeah. I mean, you know, it was a good yellow. It's fine. don't know. They could use more depth at that position. all right, we're going to take one last ad break and then we'll be back with, uh, just a few national storylines to, uh,
Minnesota United Critique
01:09:30
Speaker
close it out. We'll be right back.
01:09:33
Speaker
Welcome back from another ad break that you definitely do not skip. ah No, I don't have a heck of a lot to close it out, but I did have a couple of league-wide storylines that I wanted to talk about before we get out of here for the night. ah Yeah, yeah. The first one, the first one, did you see this? Oh, yeah. ah Oh, yeah. Minnesota United, our friends. you know know no i don't I might be one of the most hated people in the state of Minnesota. going say, I don't think it's any secret that we here Law of Excorchers have had our differences with the state of Minnesota. We have more haters in Minnesota than Portland. That's that's crazy. By far at this point. By a law. At this point, yeah. you know and like we have ah
01:10:11
Speaker
We've played our part in how those relations have deteriorated. like i innocent. I'm innocent. i I said some things. You said some things. I'm innocent. The state of Minnesota said some things. they you know We don't care much for their style of play. They're more defensive of their style of play than I would argue that they should be. That's what's been going on lately is that they are they're trying to tell us that we're the lame ones for not liking how their team plays. I disagree with that. It's whatever. That's not even what I'm here to litigate today. What I am here to talk about is they ah put out a 1.4 K word statement on a one Hamas Rodriguez being dehydrated. That is like, and i look,
01:10:58
Speaker
If you ever find yourself having... Dude, this is the... Why did no one make a graphic? And maybe I need to do this. But you know the ah the the Slam and Sam Darnold graphic that it were just as mononucleosis? Yeah, yeah. Why did no one do one that said, ah out indefinitely dehydration? This is just... I saw this tweet, and it's a Minnesota United... they did four three There's three... Graphics. Yeah. So it's an update regarding the health of Hamas Rodriguez. And they go over a thousand words talking about how he got dehydrated. He had to get hospitalized. His reintegration into training, blah, blah, blah. We take the health of our health, privacy of the players very seriously. Club and our medical professionals. They're talking about the medical professionals. and Noah, what is going on with this whole situation? Like this, that...
01:11:51
Speaker
Hamas signed with Minnesota United under these kind of weird circumstances. scam them out of We sort of joking about how it was a fitness stop for the World Cup. But then there was already weird stuff going with this. I don't think I was joking about that. The coach has seemed very clearly... To me, it feels like he knows that this is a World Cup fitness stop. He knows it's bullshit. He knows that it was kind of a desperation publicity stunt for team that not to...
01:12:18
Speaker
not to restart the whole beef with the state of Minnesota, but well, okay. Here's what I will say. Like ah Minnesota United fans have been very defensive about their play style. They don't like when we clo clown on it.
01:12:32
Speaker
And last year, The thing was, like, we could talk all the trash about it that we wanted, but it was it was worth working. And they knocked Seattle out of the playoffs with it. So, you know, I still am going whine about that, but fair play. What you did worked. I can't really argue with that. But guess what? Guess what? This year, it's not working.
01:12:56
Speaker
It's not Minnesota United is in 12th place right now. I want to say like, wait, let let me just pull it up Ninth place right now. Okay. So they're two, two and two with a minus six goal differential 1.33 points per game. So they won their last game against the l LA galaxy. Congratulations. You beat.
01:13:14
Speaker
But like you got six O'd by Vancouver. You held on for a zero zero against Seattle, which apparently was a great result. But like the point is like things like you shouldn't be defending this because it's not working right now. It's not working. It's not going to work this year. and You've gotten further from winning MLS cup right now. You're further than you were last year.
01:13:39
Speaker
So that's in shambles. Ari. And like, you can not, you can say that that's us being haters, but like, I mean, am a hater, but that's not why I'm saying that. You don't have to admit it. I'm just trying to, I'm just trying to tell you, but like this hummus thing was clearly in desperation in response to a situation that they knew that they were going to be in this year with all the players that they lost. The coach knew that he was talking about how he's just been weird about it. I think it's fair to say he's been weird about it. His quotes have not been excited at all about the Hamas thing. He gets on the field like once or twice. He was on the field in the Seattle game, looked kind of good, but now you have to put out a 1.4 K word statement about how he's dehydrated.
01:14:19
Speaker
What are we talking about? What are we doing? Here's, here's the truth of the whole situation, Ari. And I, I fear that this might make some people mad. James Rodriguez,
01:14:30
Speaker
would rather not drink water than play for Minnesota United. He would rather literally die, literally become a shriveled up prune, raisin, than play for Minnesota United and play in that Loon system. And honestly, i think that's the most respect I've ever had for him.
01:14:54
Speaker
it's It is objectively hilarious, though. like he is out The statement is so good, dude. The statement is so funny. They're like, we're monitoring the situation, and he's being taken care of by medical professionals. and I know that there were people in Colombia attacking the medical professionals, trying to dox them. ah Don't do that.
01:15:14
Speaker
But also, it's really funny. The whole situation, you I said, I told you this was going to happen. It's like Minnesota United fans hate me, but everything I've ever said about that club comes true. I said this Hamas thing. It's a scam. It's a setup.
01:15:34
Speaker
It's a rug pull. He's not going to play. He's going to have less minutes than just about anyone. like yeah Like, I don't, I don't even know if he'll six games. Do you think he's going to play in six games? I don't think so.
01:15:49
Speaker
No. I said, Ramsey ball sucks. Ramsey's going to leave when you do mediocrely. You won't win a trophy. Didn't do that. Then he went to a club, and I said he's going to go to some middling championship club.
01:16:01
Speaker
Literally went to a middling championship club, and then he got booted out the door. So i'm not trying to I'm not trying to say that I know Loon's football, but I know Loon's football, and here's what's going to happen next.
01:16:16
Speaker
Thomas is going to leave. You're going to lose that money. But honestly, you're going to be thankful that it was a six month contract. Move on to the next. Sign someone in the summer.
01:16:27
Speaker
Pray to God that you can reload in the summer because this is a spoon contending team.
Phil Neville's Job Security
01:16:33
Speaker
Man, it feels like they're going to be able to troll just enough to stay out of that tier. But, you know, God willing, God willing, they'll ah finish between 12th and 14th like they absolutely deserve. Noah, Phil Neville is officially coaching for his job. God, no, he gave a blazed end of he gave a blazing hot presser. I still have to clip it up. Can we give a shout out to someone? So much shit to do this week that I haven't clipped the Phil Neville. But yeah, who do you want to shout out? ah Jeremy Peterman.
01:16:59
Speaker
shout out shout out jeremy peterman he wrote i think 50 000 words yeah um on this game and uh it's just it's it's well so it's his magnum let's talk about the let's talk about the game that led to all this first because that was funny the timbies so they were ahead of vancouver at vancouver 2-1 in second half stoppage time this was such a good game all it was amazing was incredible content but timby's all you had to do was hold on for four or five more minutes And then like at that point, Noah, I was thinking like, Oh, okay. This is great. This is the type of win that Phil Neves always manages to pull out. Like, cause this would have been a great win for the Timbs. Like they have not been playing well. They're off to a horrible start, but you go to Vancouver Cascadia rivalry match. They've been one of the best teams in the league to start the year. They've been frying at home. They got a plus 15, whatever goal differential. You go in there, you, get a two one win over them. And suddenly like the vibes are better. Phil Neville is like, look, see, I do know what I'm doing after all. And we can get this season going here. They were five minutes from being able to delude themselves into believing that. But then they gave up a penalty kick that Thomas Thomas Miller bammed in in second half stoppage time to tie it. And then that wasn't good enough. They give up a game winner to Sebastian Berhalter where that was. Remember the Wayne Rooney, the famous Wayne Rooney, D.C. United play where he like made the slide tackle. and yeah Yeah. This was the Sebastian Berhalter magnum opus like.
01:18:35
Speaker
that if that version his version of that type of play where he makes a crazy slide tackle at one end of the field to win the ball back and then lung busting run all the way to the top of the penalty area scores the game winning goal BC place goes crazy Timbs lose but then the show started at the press conference which I'll put out as the blazing hot presser tomorrow hopefully where Har shout out Har in Vancouver she asked Phil Neves what I think I don't understand why coaches get mad in these situations because if the results are going a certain type of way for you to get asked this question, you got to like on some level know that it's coming. Like you the fact that he would get offended at that suggestion like he did, it's like, all right, well, what do you think is going to get asked when you start the season like this?
01:19:20
Speaker
It's part of the job, Phil Neves. But anyway, she asked him if he was concerned about his job security and he did not take kindly to that situation. Uh, he, they, it wasn't even a back and forth. He was, uh, but he was giving her a hard time. he was pissed off. He kind of melted down at the presser, which was just awesome to see.
01:19:40
Speaker
ah the back and forth was so good. Should we, should we play out the back and forth between us? Like it's a role playing situation. I can't remember exactly what was said, but, sure. Yeah. There should be a quote if you can pull it up, but you know basically... you be the you' be I'll be hard. I'll be yeah and you'll be i'll be feel Phil.
01:19:57
Speaker
ah Phil, are you ah concerned about your job security after these results? Who's saying not? Well, the fans are saying that. Who's who's saying that? A lot of the fan base is saying. you know, you know ah what the great thing about football is that we're all, you know, i'm accountable to the fans and team. And, you know, you can be mad at me, but you get behind the boys. Yeah, he said that. He said that. And I love this club.
01:20:32
Speaker
I'll do whatever I need to do. Good Phil impression there, as always. Yeah, it's like when you start to see the, as a siren goes by right behind me. Sorry, guys. for Good stuff, good stuff, good stuff. It could be our car on fire. You never know. Whenever you see a coach getting into it like that with the media, talking about his job security,
01:20:53
Speaker
That's how you know he knows he's under pressure. That's how you know. it's But it's like at the same time every year that Phil Neville has this conversation. And then, again, he goes somewhere, gets one big win.
01:21:05
Speaker
Well, so that's the question, because I really thought that was going to be this Vancouver game. yeah do you think that Do we think that Phil Neves pulls it out again? hope I obviously hope so. We're rooting for it. We think he's a great coach, fantastic coach, and he should get a 10-year extension. yes But do we think that the club is going to see it as such? Is he going to be able to turn it around and get the requisite results to do that again? Because if you think about it, like where they're at right now, I mean, I had the table up to make fun of the Loons.
01:21:34
Speaker
The Timbs are now tied with Sporting KC, bottom of the West, 0.67 points per game, one four and one record, negative six goal differential. same One of the worst defenses in Major League Soccer, 15 goals conceded. I think that's the league leading, or it's not a league leading total. Oh, my God. Orlando City has given up 23 goals. Orlando City is objectively. Yeah, and ah Montreal has given up 17. But so they've given up the third most goals in the league. Like, if there is a lot...
01:22:03
Speaker
the amount of turnaround that has to take place for him to get it, this whole thing to a place where he keeps the job. Just doesn't it feel like kind of a lot at this point?
01:22:14
Speaker
I, I have, I like feel like I don't have an insight into the timbers like at all in this space, but I mean, it does feel, I mean, he has like, if we're being real, he's run his course.
01:22:27
Speaker
yeah It's been changed over the roster twice, three times now. He you can't get it done. i really like... Even in the best of times, it was not good. No, it was not. like You had Evander on your team. Ran him out of town. Ran him out of town, which, I mean, that's kind of more of a him thing, seemingly. But...
01:22:48
Speaker
I don't know, man. i don't think i think he's I think he's gone, but I think the question is... Do you think it's mid-season or end of season? That's the question. I think it it just you have to figure out who's available to hire, and I think they're going to make their decision based on
Portland Timbers Management Critique
01:23:03
Speaker
that. Well, okay, question number two.
01:23:05
Speaker
ah If they do move on from Phil Neves, do you trust Ned Grabovoi to be the guy to lead the next coaching search and make that hire? No, I think he's terrible at his job. I think he's objectively horrible at his job.
01:23:17
Speaker
Like he's an average player. He doesn't an average gm he doesn't really take much. he kind of flies under the radar. Phil Neves is so front and yeah center all the time that grabs kind of just like, I wonder, I guess under the radar. I'm sure that there's brigaders against him.
01:23:31
Speaker
Oh, nice tim for a fact army. yeah Yeah. Oh yeah. There's, there's brigaders against, Mary. yeah yeah Well, but important I mean, I'm a brigader against Merritt Paulson. Yeah, I think most people are, but like ah a lot of their fan base is for sure. And a lot of their fan base has been brigaders against Phil Neves the whole time. Grab a boy. I'm not sure as much, but it's like, dude, I don't don't.
01:23:52
Speaker
the They might need just like a factory reset down there. It's not looking good. Yeah. ah that's That's a bad scene for them. like good for us. Yeah, no, I mean, i love it's it's great me personally. Keep going, actually. Extend them. Extend them both.
01:24:07
Speaker
Ned, if you want to come on this podcast, you're more than welcome. Oh, would love that. We are going to try and convince you to to extend Phil Neville, though. You got to extend
FC Cincinnati and Neymar Speculation
01:24:17
Speaker
Phil Nebs. Last thing for the night, no, and then we can get out of here. I don't know if you saw this one, but Tom Bogues tweeted today, FC Cincinnati apparently targeting Neymar, which... I saw that. You know, it's not interesting. Hyper-preliminary Hyper-preliminary talks. So it's not interesting from the Neymar perspective of it. You know, you see players like this, you've seen this player get linked to MLS a lot of times. I'm kind of past the point where it's like, ooh, like that guy might come to MLS. It's just like we've seen it so He's also like doesn't play. He's literally James. Like he's James tier. Yeah, exactly. But like to that point, this is what that does tell me, which is that since he's getting desperate now,
01:25:03
Speaker
They are in a lot of trouble. Pat Noonan is, he was in my hot seat rankings that I wrote for Sounder at Heart this week. Shout out to Sounder at Heart. But Pat Noonan, like I was going through the coaches that are on the hot seat. I had Phil Neves. I had Bradley Carnell from Philly.
01:25:17
Speaker
I had Pat Noonan right there. He's got to be. Like they had one of the most horrendous crash outs of CCC I've ever seen against this Tigris team that Seattle is now playing. But honestly, their vibes dating back to last year have not been good. Evander is crashing out on Instagram. And now they're like, Oh, we're, we're trying to throw the name, our thing out there to like add some juice and some excitement. Like maybe some fans are going to see that and be like, Oh, I'm going to forget about like all the bad results of the season. But like, as a, I'm just going to read a Spencer's text actually, because I think he actually sized it up pretty well. We were talking about this on the lobbying scorchers group chat and spent said they really saw a vander's lack of effort and said, we need more of this, but make it more expensive. Exactly. Exactly. yeah Like, that's... It's like like, look over here. Yeah. name are We're going to get Neymar. Guys, we're on Neymar and the former MVP. But he's also... does He's not actually playing well. Can you imagine that work rate?
01:26:12
Speaker
but People say Rusnak is lazy, but have you seen Evander play? That's what I'm saying, bro. The Brigade doesn't watch the guys that actually mail it in. Evander is fucking... He is one of the weirdest players ever. I've never seen player like him. he is a unique man unto himself because the goals he scores are some of the sickest, most incredible goals you'll ever see. turns it on for 45 seconds at a time. I swear if you actually watch him through a whole game, he's like pretty bad. I know that sounds crazy, but like just watch him play. He's a highlight tape guy. Like you yeah you don't want to watch the full match. You watch the clips and the clips are, but like his clip farmer is a, he's a clip farmer and the clips are are incredible, but it's like, he offers you absolutely nothing in terms of like a two way skillset or defensive work rate. needs a DP compliment to him.
01:27:00
Speaker
Yeah. And like, but it's, it's so weird how he can put up the numbers that he puts up plan like he does, but he does do that. But then you put Neymar in him as the dual tens. That might be one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. You would score some flight goals, but here's, here's the other question is signing Neymar them kind of announcing that they want to move off of a Vander.
01:27:22
Speaker
See, now we're cooking. Cause I think that's more likely than they would play the dual 10s. They're not getting good results right now. Their sander their CCC match at Tigris was honestly embarrassing. like I know Seattle just played there too and didn't have a great result, but like Seattle was at least like competing out there. They weren't like lying like a, yeah, like since he was just not, they didn't even come to play at all, at all at all.
01:27:47
Speaker
So there was that and Evander crashed out on Instagram after that. And now they're doing the, I think we've seen this show before the last time Evander crashed out on Instagram, he was gone within three months. And then 33 year old Neymar is the replacement dude. That's probably a downgrade at this point. What is up with these Eastern conference team? I guess, well, guess Minnesota's West, but they, they're basically East.
01:28:11
Speaker
Yeah. They may as well. They may as well be like, Yeah, no, it what's feeling all it feels like the same thing. You know, Neymar is, i guess, of higher pedigree player than Hamas on the the club level, yeah at least. yeah I mean, I guess. But Hamas... Neymar is considered one of the three or four like most talented players ever.
01:28:31
Speaker
Hamas is probably not quite that. i I don't know. I'm not going to comment. don't know. We don't need to get into the Neymar thing. I'm not going to comment. It would be funny if they do it, and I'm rooting for them to do it and run the Neymar-Evander dual tens for a team that concedes 158 goals. Cut Evander loose and send him to Seattle.
01:28:50
Speaker
I would be down. Depth piece? Yeah, he can sign a Tam deal. and i would i would ta deal Tam deal. Evander, if you're watching the pod, come to the Emerald
Conclusion and Promotions
01:28:59
Speaker
City. It'll be fun. You can you can play for a season, but I promise you if you play lazy, you're not and not playing.
01:29:05
Speaker
He is actually the complete opposite of a sounder. It's kind of awesome. Yeah. All right. Let's call it right there for the night. Great episode. Great to be here at the Sounder at Heart Studio where we're finally getting things done. set up uh if you're watching on youtube go ahead and like the video uh like comment subscribe follow us on instagram we're almost at 100 ratings on apple and spotify so if you get us more ratings give us a rating give us a rating also please one of the biggest things you can do to help the show right now subscribe to qed coffee the new title sponsor for lobby scorchers kickoff qedcoffee.com slash Lobbing Scorchers.
01:29:44
Speaker
ah You can sub right there. Also use code LS74 when buying anything on the website for 25% off. LobbingScorchers.com slash USA. Code Scorchers, 10% off. Anything on the U.S. soccer website as well.
01:29:56
Speaker
But that's all we got. We will be back at it probably on Monday for kickoff. the Sounders are not playing a league match this weekend. So... Won't have a game to talk about, but we'll certainly have CCC to talk about coming up on Wednesday.
01:30:11
Speaker
It's all on the line. It's a home game at Wimmin Field. I'm looking forward to that. But appreciate y'all. Love y'all. We'll see you next time. Until then, we out. And we gotta go!
01:30:22
Speaker
Toronto Kevin Egan. Thanks for the follow.