May 12, 2026 • 45 mins
Tonight on Sounders Weekly, Jackson Felts talks to Paul Rothrock in the locker room after the San Diego draw, and looks ahead to San Jose with the winger, along with Ari Liljenwall of MLS and Lobbing Scorchers, plus Earthquakes play-by-play broadcaster Ted Ramey.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Coming to you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders
Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good even and everybody, welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Felt's
good to be with you here on this Tuesday night
special Tuesday night edition of Sounders Weekly. And that is
because we have a busy, busy week for soccer here
in Seattle. Of course, the Sounders played to a one
to one DROG in San Diego last Saturday. Then they
(00:31):
also play tomorrow night at Loomin Field in three games
and eight days that will be against the San Jose
Earthquakes tomorrow that, by the way, we'll have a six
thirty kickoff and six o'clock Providence Swedish pre met show.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We'll have that right here for you.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM again six thirty kickoff,
six o'clock pre game. Let's tell folks you can also
watch the match on Apple TV and listen in Spanish
language on l Ray thirteen sixty. So that is match
two of three in this stretch. And then the Sounders
also have a game against the La Galaxy coming up
on Saturday that will have a six o'clock providence.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
We just pre match show and six twenty five kickoff.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So just it's easy to think, you got six o'clock
pre game tomorrow, you got six o'clock pregame on Saturday
for Sounders San Jose, eight earthquakes tomorrow and Sounders La
Galaxy on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
You got all that. There'll be a test later. Okay. Busy,
busy week for the Sounders.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And by the way, the Rain of course, they had
a game last Sunday, just a couple of days ago
at Lumen and won nothing, lost to Washington. They also
have a game coming up on Friday. Kiley Dunning will
have you up for Rain Weekly coming up in an
hour here on KJAR. But we are talking Sounders for
the next hour here on Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
How about that?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Jackson Feltz here and we're gonna have a fun show tonight.
A lot of things to get to in our finals.
I'll work backwards here. Why not in our finals? Just
because I was just texting with him confirming him calling
in in a little bit. Ted Raimi is the play
by play voice of the San Jose Earthquakes, and Ted
ted and I are having some nice conversations right now.
(02:12):
San Jose is obviously off to a really hot start
this season. But they're dealing is he texted me right here,
they're dealing with a few injuries. So we'll ask about
that and we'll talk about the possible rotation with ted Rami.
Coming up in our last segment tonight, of course, we'll
have a visit from Ari Lillienwall Major League Soccer dot Com,
the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. He will jump on and talk
(02:35):
all things Sounders and MLS and San Jose ahead and
then coming up in just a few moments, you are
going to hear from Paul Rothrock. And I know I
kind of pumped this interview on social media a little
bit Jackson on radio if you want to follow on
any of the socials, But this Paul Rothrock interview you're
(02:56):
gonna hear in just a matter of moments. I had
talked with him. We sat down at a couple lockers
after the one to one game against San Diego this
last weekend, and Paul, as he always is, is just
so open, so honest, so raw with not only his
emotions but just everything going on with his frankly life,
(03:18):
and one of the things that came up, of course,
was the fact that San Jose Earthquakes, our opponents tomorrow,
just was in negotiations in the offseason for his services,
and of course Paul returned. He had opportunities to go
many different places, as he talks about in this conversation,
but he says in this conversation that you were going
(03:40):
to hear that. Listen, San Jose and I were in negotiations.
I came back here. Now I lead the team in goals.
I kind of put these words in his mouth. He
leads the team in goals. But San Jose, I want
to show them that maybe they should have done a
little bit more to sign me. And that says right
there that Paul Rothrock was not feeling as appreciated when
(04:01):
it came to the offer from the San Jose Earthquakes,
And honestly, you probably wonder how many other teams came
in with that kind of thought. So Paul in this
circumstance going into tomorrow's game, he clearly already got the
one nothing winner down in San Jose a couple months
ago in that game down there in Northern California. Now
here we are for the second game, and by the way,
(04:23):
this Heritage Cup as well. Seattle can win the Heritage
Cup with a win or a draw, and Paul wants
to come out and show San Jose that they should
have done more to sign him. And you love that mentality.
It's a little bit of a Michael Jordan right here.
I took that personally, and you can hear from Paul
coming up in the conversation that it does sound like
(04:45):
he took that personally. And I expect a big game
out of Paul Rothrock tomorrow. We will see what happens.
But yeah, a great conversation coming up with Paul Rothrock.
After the one to one game against San Diego. Let's
spend just a quick moment before we hear from Rothrock
talking about that game. I think that game was marked
by a first half that was not good enough for Seattle.
(05:08):
You had obviously the Jordan Morris offsides goal that was disallowed,
and overall, there was just I think too many moments
where Jordan was beaten physically by Dua. There was too
many moments where the Sounders got caught. Obviously in the
eighteenth minute, that's a great goal I think by San Diego.
Some really nice inner play and then the frankly just
(05:30):
knew who gets beat and it's I wouldn't say as
much of a knock on Newho as it is a
excellent play designed by San Diego. So they score in
the eighteenth minute, and then overall the offense just wasn't
cooking the way we needed it to. Second half, Brian
Schmitzer makes this big change in the sixty third minute.
It's a double change where he brings on Peter Kingston,
(05:51):
who I thought did very well, brings on Danny Mazowski.
They changed the formation a little bit too, where they
kind of changed to a three in the back. You
see also a moment later Tino Lopez come on the
field as well, and it sets up an entirely different
look by the Sounders for that last half hour, and
(06:12):
clearly it worked. There was so much more energy for
a team that I mean. I turned to Pete Fewing
during the game, and I think he mentioned this in
the postgame show. There was moments in that first sixty
minutes where it felt like Seattle was playing like it
was the last game before the World cut break, and
it was like, let's just get to the break. They
didn't feel like they were really in it for a
(06:33):
lot of those sixty minutes. So Schmitzer makes this brilliant
change changes formation, changes the tactics, and it really does work.
You feel the energy, you feel everything come together, and
it does, I mean eventually leads to about four goals,
but it does lead to one goal. Danny Mazowski. The
moose was loose in the eightieth minute, he puts it
(06:53):
a very very classic Danny Mazowski goal. Assists on the
cornerkick by Albert Rusnak, Christian Roldan kicked it on, Mazowski
put it in and badabing bada boom.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
It's one to one.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Really felt like Seattle could have gotten a second goal.
You're gonna hear from Paul Rothrock. He was disappointed they
didn't get that second goal, But overall, I kind of
look at the view from thirty five thousand feet and say,
you didn't play well for sixty minutes and you got
a goal towards the end of the game to still
eke out a point.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I'm happy at the end of it.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Rothrock wasn't happy, I think probably by the you know,
just the way that he was talking about how the
team was in the locker room. I don't think the
Sounders were happy. That's a good thing that they aren't happy,
But I am because at the end of the day,
it's another point continue Seattle's great start to twenty twenty six.
Right now, you know, we're staying up there, top four
(07:46):
in the Western Conference very much with Vancouver San Jose
in our sites. LAFC absolutely blew it against Houston on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
That was great to see.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So the Sounders are squarely in position, have a top three,
maybe even top two spot in the Western Conference. When
all things are said and done, they'll get Yamar back
after the World Cup. They'll get Pedro de la Vega
back after the World Cup. You throw that all together,
maybe make a summer move and this season. Right now,
we are currently because of the start, in good position,
(08:19):
but that game against San Diego. At the end of
the day, I'm happy because it also by the way,
we're now twenty one unbeaten at lumen Field and that
dates all the way back to the Club World Cup.
Our last loss at lumen Field was against PSG in
the Club World Cup nearly a year ago.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
That is a long damn time.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Twenty one straight unbeaten at home, and we will try
to continue that these next couple weeks. This next I
should say, four days against San Jose tomorrow and then
against the LA Galaxy on Saturday. Let's go down to
the locker room after the game. After the one to
one drag ins San Diego, I had the chance to
sit down with Paul Rothrock. This is a long conversation,
(09:05):
but damn if it isn't worth your time, please enjoy
his open and honest thoughts, including how he definitely felt
slighted by the offer he received by the San Jose
eight Earthquakes in the offseason. Enjoy this long conversation with
Paul Rothrock. I believe it starts with me asking Paul
how the feelings of the one to one draw this
(09:26):
last weekend against San Diego compared to the feelings of
the one to one draw the previous weekend against Kansas City.
Here is the Sounders attacking midfielder Paul Rothrock.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
You know they're both disappointing for different reasons. I think
it feels less like we lost two points today than
last week. In my opinion, I think collectively we were better.
I think no respect to Kansas City but I think
San Diego is a tougher opponent as well. I thought,
(09:59):
you know, we matched the intensity wise. I think they
gave us some problems, especially in the first half, and
we got broken a few too many times. You know,
the goal, we kind of get broken and then they
break us down again as we're kind of sitting in
a lower block. And that's one too to really reflect
(10:20):
on too. But I think there's positives to take out it.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Today.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
I thought the subject came on did great. I thought,
you know, the tactical change of shifting Albert back in
line and bring some different guys on and and you know,
we looked and I was proud of the way we
finished the game, even though we can come away with
a better outcome. But yeah, frustrating, frustrating two games. I
(10:45):
think humbling two games as well.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I think we we've.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Learned a lot in these two games about ourselves. And
you know, if we're we're going to continue striving for.
You know, what we've said we're going to strive for
is supporters shot and and you know are those aspirations
we've you know, we've got to learn from these challenges
and learn from them quickly.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
What do you learn about yourselves in these two games.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
You know, I think we I think we responded better
to the goal that we gave up this game then
we did last game. I think that, you know, we
were feeling like we were really getting on a rhythm,
and now these two games sets you back a little bit.
And you know, I think you tend to learn. It's
(11:35):
easier to learn more when you leave points on the
board than when you're winning. And I think the best
teams can still, you know, really learn and improve week
to week when they're winning, and I think we have
done that this season. But yeah, these these last two games,
we let were left with just that pitt in our
stomach a little bit, not coming away with more.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
You talk about the the right and the momentum and
then kind of being installed in these two draws. How
difficult is it to build extended momentum when you have
a huge break coming after just three more games.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Yeah, I mean, I don't think we're thinking like that.
I think we're just it's game by game right now,
and these are big games. It's a big home stand
that we have here. You know, I think the fans
have been great. Luman's felt like a great atmosphere, the
grass plays well. There's no reason why we can't win
these next two games at home, and then you know
it's gonna be a fun game away at LA. But
(12:37):
you know, if we can, obviously, game by game now,
but if we can take, you know, including today, ten
points out of the final four games, that's you know,
that's a job well done. And we're sitting in We're
sitting in a good position. But obviously, you know, a
tough opponent on Wednesday too.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Your defense, I mean, you'll still lead the league in
goals giving up, and it's one of those things these
last you know, six games now at least one goal
given up in each of the six games, but you
still have the best defense statistically in the league. How
do you process those two things together? Is it a positive?
Is it sort of just like no, like one one
(13:15):
goal is too many per game.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
I think it's easier to win when you get a
clean sheet. And I think the two goals that we
have given up in the last two weeks are you know,
I would I would say uncharacteristic of us. I think
they were soft goals, both of them, and and that
falls on all of us collectively. And you know, we haven't.
(13:39):
We haven't scored the same amount of goals. But you know,
I think over the over the season, if you if
you can keep putting up two plus you know x
G a game, they're gonna fall eventually, and and and
sometimes you know, over the course of the long season,
you know, ebbs and flows a little bit like that.
I think there's been game to where we haven't had
(14:02):
many chances at all and we've pulled out a win
because we've kept the kept the shutown, We've scored legs.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
San Jose, San Jose.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
It's gonna you know, smash and grab example, Houston away
Yep as well. And so I think, you know, just
naturally there's gonna be other games that don't follow your
way in the same same way. But I still think,
you know, we could have come away with six points
in these last two. So it's it's back to the
(14:30):
drawing board for us, and we don't have much time.
You know, it's a quick turnaround. And honestly, as a player,
I like that because you know your job is then
just to recover as quickly as you can and and
think about the next game. You don't really have time
to dwell.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
On you know what what you did wrong.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
The last game for too long?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
So san Jose coming up. I'm not sure if you've
gone on the record, it was documented that you had
talks with San Jose in the offseason. Yeah, was that happening?
And how close were you to maybe going to San Jose?
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Yeah, that was happening. You know, I was happening. I
was having talks with a lot of teams in our honesty,
and yeah, I mean it's full transparency. It was San Jose,
it was La Galaxy, it was a couple of other
(15:24):
teams in the Western Conference, a couple of other teams
in the Eastern Conference, a couple of teams in the
English Championship.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
But and we know that you've you said that there
were offers for more money, but you came back here. Yeah,
and now now you lead the team and goals.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Well, I'm enjoying myself and I think I'm very happy
with my decision to stay here. My my life is
really rich here in different ways. And I've said that before,
but I really feel that way. I feel happy about
my decision. I've got, you know, my buddy Jackson giving
me a funny face the moment as I'm trying to,
(16:01):
you know, give a professional interview, but uh yeah, you know,
I I you know, there's an opportunity to to tell
a different story here, and I prefer that story. And
I also, you know, I've said in other interviews that
there's still a lot for me to reach for here,
and there's there's great role models for me to get
(16:27):
to work with every day, from Schmidtz to Precky to
Christian to Jordan too, you know, before that Nico and
Raoul and Staph And you know, I haven't done anything
compared to what they've done. I haven't won a championship
here yet. I'm one of the MS coups. So yeah,
(16:48):
and and I and I really like this team. This
is such a fun teams. As a close team, I
think you guys can tell we all love each other's company.
It's an unselfish team.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, it's a great group. And we'll wrap with this. So,
considering San Jose being one of the many many teams
and now to see what they're doing this season and
facing them again with such massive stakes to give three
points on Wednesday, what's the mentality going and facing I mean,
obviously you guys have already faced them. But still this
(17:19):
game coming up, with the history, the stakes on the line,
what's the mindset going into Wednesday?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Yeah, I'll you know, I'll let you know a little secret.
Like I like I also, I knew within free agency
how every team felt about me, you know, because I
was able to I'm Asian stucking to different teams, and
I think whether they were into it or not, that
(17:46):
gives me different type of motivation, right.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Okay, come on, transparency, let's go. Okay, Well, I think
everybody knows kind of what you're saying right now.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Yeah, you know, like a team who I know, you know,
ended up not you know, they weren't in or whatever.
It's that's a different type of motivation, right, I'm like, okay,
I know where you guys stood and but if you.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
But if you only value me like this, then I'm
going to go prove it. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Or you know, San Jose for example, it's like, you know,
I'm on the Sounders. Now, this is my team, so
I want to you know, that's a that's a different thing.
And yeah, I mean this.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Is this is.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
This is this is my team now.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
And I wan't approve that maybe they should have tried
a little harder or something.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, that's exactly that's exactly it.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
But yeah, I think for Wednesday, this is like I
think our team does really well against good teams. That's historically,
that's that's what the Sounders are good at. I think
everyone gets ready for a big game. I think we'll
probably likely have slight rotated lineup. We'll see how guys
(18:56):
are feeling after this week. Who knows, but you know,
a game three days later, that's and we're gonna need
our depth here, and I think we've got some of
the best depth.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
In the league.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
So I'm really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward
to repping my city against San Jose and we'll see
what happens.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
We'll see what happens. The quote machine Paul Rothick go
kick their ass Onnesday. Man cheers Jackson. Well, that's great
stuff from Paul Rothrock and I just love it. You
hear that he wants to send a message to San
Jose that they should have done more to get him,
and you know, he kind of danced around the words,
and I'm glad he kind of opened up and set
it flat out there that it certainly does sound like
(19:41):
he felt a little bit slighted by the offer that
he received by them, and he obviously took it out
on San Jose in that first game down there in
northern California, and hopefully we see him do it again
tomorrow night against the earthquakes.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
All right, we will get a break.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
We will come back and chat with Ari Lillionwall, Major
League Soccer dot Com and Lobbing scorches. We'll talk to
him about all things Sounders and MLS. Very quickly, we'll
mention that Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Provident Swedish,
the official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra
is ninety five calories and two point six grams of carbs.
It's only worth it if you enjoy it. We'll have
(20:17):
Ari next on Sounders Weekly to preview San Jose tomorrow.
That's next on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC,
Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Jackson Feldt is gonna be with you here on this
Tuesday night, looking ahead to the Sounders game tomorrow against
the San Jose Earthquakes six o'clock pre game six point
thirty kickoff right here ninety three point three kjr FM
thanks to a very open and honest Paul Rothrock for
sitting down. You heard that conversation in the first segment
of the show. If you missed that, check out the
(20:58):
Seattle Soccer Shows Pop podcast page wherever you get your
podcasts and hear that first segment.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
But of course, in case you miss any of.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Tonight's show, always Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
I would also say, if you are an avid Sounders
or MLS or soccer podcast fiend and you just can't
soak up enough, check out the Lobbing Scorchers podcast. The
man who hosts Lobbing Scorcheres joins us right now. He
is also a writer and editor for mlssoccer dot com,
(21:29):
and he's also a fantasy football champion. Ari Lillianwalla joins
us right now. Ari, how you doing, Buddy.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
I'm good, Jackson, how are you?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I'm good, Man, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I kind of just ended the last segment by saying
that at the end of the day, it's a lot
different of a feeling. The one to one against San
Diego than it was the one to one against Kansas City.
I was honestly happy to get a point out of
that San Diego game.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Where are you at with that draw this last weekend?
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Yeah, I think these last two games have been tough.
I think this offense is struggling to convert their chances
right now, and it's led to a situation where you
draw the worst team in the league at Sporting Kansas City,
and then you end up falling behind and having to
come back against the San Diego team that's better than
Sporting Kansas City, but they still haven't been a super
great team this year. So you know, the good news
(22:18):
is I feel like the chance generation has still been
pretty good, is just a matter of finishing them. You
get Danny Mussovski off the mark in that last game there,
so I'm looking forward to seeing if he can kind
of build on that and you know, have maybe a
number nine step up and win the job. That's what
Brian Schmetzer was talking about after the game. He said,
you know, I still don't really know who to start
at that position right now because no one's really won it.
(22:40):
So let's see if someone can win it, and I
do think that some of this chance generation the luck
should theoretically even out, but we'll see. You know, you
don't want to be expected gold merchanting as we call it.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
On my show.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
That's a great line that you and know do. I
think it's a very very good line for expectacle merchancy.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Ari. Let's you know. I was going to ask you
about the forward spot.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
I think you talked about it right there, and I
think it's a question for next week of who you
start at the nine going into that LAFC game with
a full week of prep right now. Of course, you
have the midweek game tomorrow against San Jose and you
have the Galaxy on Saturday, so we know that we're
probably going to see two different forwards when it comes
to these games. So I guess then as we look
(23:23):
ahead to tomorrow, Ari, San Jose has question marks themselves
with rotation and with injuries, So I do want to
talk to you about what they're coming off of. And
it probably was on paper the game of the weekend
going in Vancouver, San Jose top of the Western Conference.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
It finishes one to one. What do you see in
that one?
Speaker 5 (23:44):
Yeah, this Quakes team that Seattle's about to play. They've
been the best team in the league so far this
year as far as record in their points per game,
but they are kind of going through it themselves right now.
I think everyone at the top of the West, to
be honest with you, is kind of going through a
bit of a lull, a bit of some struggles, and
the Quakes are no exception. They've been kind of going
through similar stuff that Seattle's been going through. This Vancouver
(24:06):
game was a game where Brucerini even said it after
the game. They were dealing with injuries, they're on the road,
they're fatigued, they're tired, and he was saying that this
was basically a survival test for them, and they were
able to survive. To their credit, they get out of
there with the one to one draw, but they had
thirty percent possession and they were under a lot of
pressure throughout the game. So it's a team that, as
(24:27):
good as they have been this year, they're missing Timo
Werner for this Seattle game, and they're missing Nico Securist,
who's quietly been one of, if not the best number
tens in the entire league so far. Homegrown kid for them,
so It's definitely a good team, a team that's capable
of getting a result in Seattle, but they are definitely
not going into the match at full strength, So that
(24:48):
presents an opportunity that Seattle needs to try and capitalize on.
You when you get the best team in a kind
of a weekend state, you got to take advantage of it.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Ari, I'm wondering of your expectations then considering the play
out for them, considering there will be roast, some rotation
on both sides, is a draw the minimum expectation for
Seattle fans.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
I mean, I think any home game, regardless of who
you're playing, should be thought of like that. But I
would say it's fair to say that that's probably the case,
even more so with this game, given that San Jose's
coming into this game a bit of a wounded opposition.
But I also don't want to overstate that. I mean,
they've got a lot of guys still and Preston Judd,
who scored their goal in the last game, is looking
(25:31):
like Chris Wandelowski reincarnate. So you're still gonna have to
deal with that, and you're gonna have to deal with
a really good team, And I don't think it's definitely
not a given that you're gonna get a result in
this game, even with injuries that San Jose is dealing with.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Ario wrote down a note for our chats moving forward,
and I forgot about my note until just right now.
So I want to go back a little bit. You
and Noah do something that we don't get to do
on our post game show, and you do fan interactions
and I absolutely love that. And one thing I want
to start doing in our conversations is asking you the
very simple question of what were the fans, you know, overall,
(26:09):
if you kind of just view them all together as
one huge fan base, how are the fans reacting? What
was their tone coming out of the one to one
against San Diego?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yeah, you know, on our postgame call in show, I
was actually surprised at how not negative it was. You know,
the team just drew the worst team in the league
and then had a home draw against a team that
I think we all feel that they're a lot better
than so I thought there would be more crashing out
than there actually was, and I don't really know the
reason for that. I think part of it is, you know,
(26:40):
the this fan base has a high soccer IQ. So
when they see a couple games where the team's generating
some really good chances and they're just not going in,
they're probably more willing to give some equity to that
than other fan bases might be, especially because the start
of the season on the whole has still been very good.
This team is six one and three and averaging over
two points per game, So I think there was there
(27:02):
was some goodwill built through that as well. But you know,
that's a that's a cautionary situation. You don't want to
bank on that too much. To keep that, you got
to start winning the.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Games again, Yes, certainly do, especially as we look ahead
to the Galaxy there on Saturday, that that certainly lines
up for a you know, I wouldn't say must win,
but expectation of a win for sure, as opposed to
the expectation for a draw minimum Tomorrow. Ari Lulinwall was
our guest MLS Soccer dot Com host of the podcast
Lobbing Scorches. Get Lobbing Scorches anywhere you get your podcasts,
(27:33):
including the iHeartRadio app. Also subscribe to Lobbying Scorches on YouTube.
They have the live Monday shows. They have the live
Thursday shows. They have the postgame shows with those great
fan interactions, love lobbing scorches there on YouTube. Ari, let's
unfortunately talk about the Portland Timbers.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
They won six nothing. That is for everybody out there
who didn't hear me.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
They won six to nothing and they beat the team
that Seattle got the against Kansas City. That was pretty
infuriating to me, Ari watching them due to Kansas City,
what we wished we had done. How do you read
into that six nothing game?
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Well, I definitely I agree. It makes the Seattle results
even more frustrating in hindsight, because they had to scrap
out a draw against that team and then the Timbers
pumped four goals right by them in about twenty five minutes.
But I actually think Jackson that it's good news that
the Timbers won this game and won it in the
matter that they did, because it is against it is
(28:35):
against the worst team in the league, so I don't
think it says anything about their quality, and it gives
them the delusion that they're onto something with Phil Nevill
and that they're going to turn it around, and that
gives them less incentive to fire Phil Neville, and he
might get to stick around for a little longer, which
that's great news for us in Seattle's great news. We
(28:55):
want him extended. We want him coaching that team as
long as possible. And they're going to look at that
city zero and think, oh man, maybe we're actually turning
it around, when the reality is they were just beating
up on the literal worst team in the entire league.
And it probably doesn't mean anything at all, but I
want them to think it does.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
So the timbers are still crap, is what I'm hearing. Yeah, absolutely,
I love that. All right, all right, you know what,
you put a smile on my face. You turned it
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
I am.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I'm now on the other side. Thank you for taking
me there. I was pretty bummed out. But yeah, if
they stick with Phil Neville, that would be a joy,
because he's terrible. They're a whole organization is a joke.
Right now, It's great, all right, all right, let's talk
about another demolition that happened in the Western Conference. Portland,
Kansas City probably wasn't too shocking. What was very shocking
(29:44):
on Sunday night was the Houston Dynamo kicking lafc's ass.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
What the hell happened.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
There LFCR hungover. I mean, we're seeing it happen in
real time. They were juggling CCC didn't make it to
the final, and now they're doing with the ramifications of that.
They didn't have Deny bo Woga in this game, but
that wouldn't have He wouldn't have helped them prevent the
Houston Dynamo from scoring four goals at home. I think
(30:10):
that's the most alarming thing for LAFC, and so I'm
not really I'm not putting them on downfall Watch yet.
I'm not gonna go that far. I think the vast
odds are in favor of them straightening it out, getting
on track and becoming one of the premier teams in
the Western Conference in the league again. But I don't know.
It does feel it feels dicey down there, Jackson. I mean,
(30:31):
when when you see that Conka CAF Champions Cup hangover
set in, like they're having it set in, that can
be really really hard to break out. If we know
that better than anybody. So I do think there is
a genuine chance that they might be dealing with that,
not just in the short term here, it could affect
the rest of their season. That's we've seen that happen
to many an MLS team and for them for that
team to go out there with that roster and lose
(30:52):
that badly at home to the Houston Dynamo, who have
not been all that good this year, that's definitely raises
my eyebrows as to what they've got going on going
forward here.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Yeah, it's a stunning and embarrassing loss for LAFC four
to one loss against Houston. Houston of all teams are.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Let's rap with this. You just mentioned CONCACAFF.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
This happened after we were already off MLS completely out
of CONCACAFF Champions Cup. No Nashville, they couldn't get it done.
And it's in all lega Emeki's CONCA CAF final. What
do you make of MLS being another oh fer in
Seattle still being the only MLS team to ever win
modern CONCA CALF. What do you make of what happened
(31:34):
this year in those semi finals?
Speaker 5 (31:37):
Yeah, you know, I kind of feel like the seventy
two Dolphins. Honestly, up the point I'm getting to after
these MLS crackhouts here, I'm kind of up to minds
on it. Because on one hand, I would like to
see MLS in general be more successful in the competition,
and if another team wins it, I think it is
good for the league and I'm not against that. But
(31:57):
I don't know. I don't know about you, but I
always get to the end of it and I'm watching
these teams scrap it out for a spot in the final,
and I'm rooting for them to lose because I think
if Seattle can't get a second one, I'd rather have
them be the only one to do it. I think
there's great novelty in that, and it really it's the
ultimate solace I think for when you do get knocked
out of CONCACAF Champions Cup. Being the only one to
(32:19):
have ever won it. For me, it makes it state
what happened in CCC this year sting a little less
that one does sting because I feel like they really
could have beat that Tigris team, and if they do
beat that Tiagris team, there's a pretty good chance that
they're hosting a final. But you know, like when you
won one, that hurts less, it does, But I don't know,
I end up rooting against the MLS teams by the
(32:40):
end every time, and that was no different this year.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Yeah, no, it's it's great to feel like the seventy
two Dolphins for sure. That's a great comment. But man,
that's the first time it entered my brain the idea
of hosting the concor CAF Final this year, which we
would have, and that would have been an absolute joy,
And that's that's hard to swallow.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Well, Ari, we'll leave it there.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
We'll let you go and I'll see you at the
stadium tomorrow night for the San Jose game.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Thanks man, you got it, Thanks Jackson, Ari.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Lullianwall good stuff there. He's a writer and editor for
MLS Soccer dot Com. He hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers
Love Having Arion. I will see him in the building
tomorrow night there at Lumen Field once again, we'll have
the six o'clock pregame six point thirty kickoff at Lumen
for Sounders San Jose Earthcakes.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Hey.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
We'll also mention that tomorrow's match is presented by michelob Ultra,
The Superior Game, Meet Superior Taste, Grab a michelob Ultra
at through Superior Light Beer as you cheer your team
on mikelub Ultra Official Beer, sponsor of Seattle Sounders FC.
We will get a break and we will dive into
tomorrow's game even deeper. Ted Rainey is the play by
(33:44):
play voice of the San Jose Earthquakes. He will join
us next to break down Sounders quakes on Sports Radio
ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders
FC Seattle's Sports Radio Night three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Welcome back, Jackson Felt's good to be with you here
on this Tuesday night, on Tuesday this week, of course,
because the Seattle Sounders face off tomorrow night against the
San Jose Earthquakes. Thanks to our guests so far tonight
Paul Rothrock in the locker room, who wants to show
San Jose they should have offered him more, and then
(34:23):
Ari Lillianwaller that previous segment. But now it's time, of
course to preview this match coming up tomorrow night even deeper.
And the man who's joining us is one of my
favorite people to listen to and favorite broadcasters around all
of MLS. He is the play by play voice for
the San Jose Earthquakes. He's also a broadcaster for the
San Jose Sharks. By the way, he does it all
(34:45):
on NBC Sports Bay Area down there and Ted Raimi
joins us right now, Ted, welcome back to the show,
my friend.
Speaker 7 (34:55):
How are you, mister Pels. I'm doing well, man, Thanks
for having me on. How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Oh, I'm good, but not as good as you. Ted.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
What a start to the season for the San Jose Earthquakes.
It's been part of my conversation, just general MLS conversation
with almost every guest I've had every single week that
it's just the surprise of the season has been the Earthquakes.
What's it like down there broadcasting and covering this massive
surprise team.
Speaker 7 (35:24):
It's been a whole lot of fun just because they've
done it with a squad. It's not like LAFC or
a Miami or something like that. Now that there's anything
wrong with the way those teams have been built, but
this is not some high priced, star laden team. These are,
for the majority, a bunch of college guys who are
(35:45):
Americans or have ties to the American collegiate system. We've
been starting an average of something like eight collegiate players
per game, and it's just been so much fun to
watch these guys get it done. To watch the wins
come the way that they have. And again, I keep
on going back to that word fun. We've had a
lot of fun here in San Jose in my time
(36:06):
with the team, but never quite this much fun. And
I know that our rate of winning will not stay
at this level, but I do think that they are
a four real team, a legit team that is going
to be a problem as we get deeper and deeper
into the season for the rest of Major League Soccer.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
Well, it makes sense, Ted that you're having so much
success with these young college kids, because I mean, you
look at Bruce Arena and the success he once had
long ago at the college level.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
What did he win three straight national championships? I want
to say.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Back there, So, I mean he's he clearly knows how
to build up players and coach young players. And I
think it's one of the funny things. I chuckled when
you said that as well, because that's something that we've
talked about on our broadcasts. Just watching you guys from
afar as it almost is Sounder like Ted, where the
Sounders have taken college kids, local kids, built it up
(36:55):
and just one one and one some more with players
who've gone through system and been through local it feels
like San Jose is is a little bit taking the
page out of Seattle's playbook.
Speaker 7 (37:07):
Yeah, whether you talk about Jordan Morris or you talk
about the role Don Brothers, whoever it's gonna be, there's
a lot of college talent on there. Andrew Thomas certainly
showed his cardinal pride when he was shutting down San
Jose earlier this year. But you know, it's it's fun,
and I think that these franchises show how much value
there is in the collegiate system. And it's actually a
conversation I've had with a lot of guys from around
(37:28):
Major League soccer over the past five years in particular,
is more and more of the academy pathway has been
the pathway for guys to make their way into Major
League soccer. But you look no further than a player
like Chris Jandolowski, who was a product of the American
collegiate system.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
So much of the story.
Speaker 7 (37:45):
Right now in all of global soccer or football, however
we want to call it, is about guys being ready
when they're sixteen years old, and that just isn't going
to be the case for everyone. Our homegrown midfielder Ecoacha
Curius made his debut at sixteen back in twenty twenty two,
and you can see the skill, but he didn't have
the body, the physicality for what Major League Soccer was
(38:05):
bringing back then at the end of last year, he
finally started to show it. And you could compare that
to what you saw from Jordan Morris if you tried
to make his debut back at sixteen, and how much
different that would have been. And how you know, we're
so impatient with these young players. We need to let
them develop and have time, and that's what college allows
these players to do. And again you also get a
lot of the rivalries that there's a good amount of
(38:26):
smack talk.
Speaker 6 (38:27):
I've talked to these guys about.
Speaker 7 (38:28):
Their different programs, whether it's going to be, you know,
a cal State school or one of the premier universities.
It's all part of the fun. And so guys I
think have that common DNA and background of their development
pathways and they relate on a lot of different levels
and it's allowed for a lot of great chemistry and
a lot of great success.
Speaker 5 (38:45):
Here.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Ted Ramy's our guest, He's the play by play voice
of the San Jose Earthquakes down there in northern California.
Of course, tomorrow night it'll be San Jose Seattle. We
got a six thirty kickoff that'll be right here Sports
Radio ninety three point three kjr F. So looking forward
to that tomorrow evening. We hit the air at six
o'clock tomorrow night. Ted, let's rewind a little bit. Let's
(39:07):
talk about this last week. And that was a fun
one at least for me to watch the highlights of
because it was the game I think everybody in the
league and fans were looking forward to seeing. Probably not
at the start of the year you would have predicted
that would be the game, but this week was all
eyes on Vancouver San Jose.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
It ends one to one take us through what happened
in that one.
Speaker 7 (39:30):
So I think going into it a lot of people
were thinking dry. I know that that's kind of where
I was thinking. Both teams without some of their bigger stars,
and I think it played out that way where you
saw that they were lacking the big offensive bite and
that both these teams are capable of making due to
no Muler on the field, no Timo Werner on the field,
or two of the most obvious ones. But I think
you saw a lot of the supporting cast out there
(39:51):
for both these teams make an impact if we can
still call a Sebastian Berhalter a supporting cast type member
because he's been so good since coming over from all
into Vancouver. But what the game was was the Earthquakes
jumped out took an early lead, and I often wonder
how much it made them a little bit too passive
and a lot of that game because they had the
early lead, they never really took back control of possession.
(40:12):
If you look at the momentum chart that's out there.
I know that Matt Doyle posted it on his substack,
but if you look at his, you know, momentum chart,
it's pretty much San Jose with the goal at the
fourth minute peaking, and then the rest of the game
was pretty much all possession by Vancouver and Daniel ur
Keeper stood on his head and made some great stops,
(40:33):
one beautiful double stop, I want to say, in the
fifty seventh minute, and other than that, Vancouver was controlling
the possession and trying to score. San Jose's much improved
defense this year was able to hold them off the
boarding the goal they scored. It was I won't say fluky,
but it was not like a complete breakdown of everything.
It started on a set piece. But you know, this
(40:53):
was a game that showed you how cag these two
teams can be. And I think how people should maybe
be looking forward to a potential playoff rematch between the
two teams, as I would be very, very intrigued to
see more between these two sides. Obviously a long way
to go. I don't want to get ahead of myself,
but right now, with the earthquakes at the top of
the West and the supporter shield, well you can't help.
Speaker 6 (41:14):
But at least, you know, want to feel a little.
Speaker 7 (41:17):
Bit cocky for a short time. I'm out of time,
I'll put them that way.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Enjoy it while you absolutely can, and having dream while
you can, Ted for sure, Ted looking at this game
tomorrow night in Seattle. You mentioned San Jose dealing with
a couple of injuries as Seattle looks to you know,
get back Yamar and Pedro de Levega after the World Cup.
They won't factor in for a while for Seattle either.
So my question is kind of the two parted of
(41:42):
as you deal with those injuries, Ted and then also
deal with this midweek road game where it's home away
home this week for the Earthquakes. Will there be rotation
from Bruce Arena coming up tomorrow?
Speaker 7 (41:54):
You think that's been his mo O with the Quakes
up to this point of his tenure in San Jose.
He did it last year with the heavy rotation. He
did it this year. I believe we had seven changes
in our midweek game against Saint Louis a couple of
weeks ago compared to the Saturday previously, and I think
that's what he's going with again.
Speaker 6 (42:13):
And you just saw it, you know what, the.
Speaker 7 (42:15):
Earthquakes losing Niekochi Garrison, Timo Meyer to soft muscle injuries,
optis tissue injuries. That was over the course of eight
games in twenty eight days that the Earthquakes played. So
there's no surprise to me that even with the rotation
that Bruce employed that there was still injury. And I
think that's why he's going to try and do it
the same. I would not be surprised to see again
(42:37):
heavy heavy rotation. I don't want to put words or
you know, anything in anyone's mouth whether or not Bruce
is going to do that I'm just guessing that I'm
not going to be shocked if you see, you know,
more than five or six changes from what the earthquakes
showed the other night, just because he's done that in
the past. Now, being a good sports broadcaster that I am,
that means I'm even better at being wrong.
Speaker 6 (42:58):
So it'll probably be like two changes. Well, there you are,
but right as always said and being good at wrong ted.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Let's wrap with this because I kind of want to
view these games in two different circumstances. Because Seattle will
obviously be working with this midweek game too, looking ahead
of the LA Galaxy two days later on Saturday. So
the fact that we don't know what the rotation is
going to be, both for our team and for your team,
(43:24):
I'm kind of just trying to paint the most likely
scenario and how this game plays out tomorrow night, and
if it's more of how these teams play rather than
who is playing for these teams. So how do you
think the game will look coming up tomorrow night at LUMEN.
Speaker 7 (43:41):
I'm not going to be shocked if this one walks
away with a draw, but I do think that Seattle
is going to come out very, very hard in the
first twenty thirty minutes. As we know so many games
in the past for Seattle, they ride the crowd, they
ride the energy, especially in some of these midweek games,
and then you have that you know, little blast you
score once, you score twice, and then you're able to
ride that to a win. And I think Seattle is
(44:04):
very good at knowing how to do that. If San
Jose can weather that storm that's gonna come in the
first twenty thirty minutes, I think that's gonna go a
long way. I think right now the big problem for
San Jose is offensive production without their premiere Winger and
Timo Werner and their you know premiere ten and Niko Chakiris.
So I think San Jose is not going to park
the bus. But I think they are going to be
defensively structured, trying to weather the storm and then see
(44:27):
what happens after that. But I feel like this is
trending towards a draw. Yep that said, like I just
alluded to, I'm good at being wrong.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Yeah, I would not be surprised either with the exact
thoughts that you had. Ted Rami, play by play voice
of the San Jose Earthquakes excited for this match coming
up tomorrow. Thank you so much for the time, sir.
Speaker 6 (44:47):
Anytime man let me know we'll talk soon.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
It's Ted Rami, play by play voice of the San
Jose Earthquakes. Always love talking to Ted. All right, we'll
look ahead two tomorrow night again. It is six thirty
kickoff six o'clock. Pregame right here Sports Radio ninety three
point three KJRFM. It'll be the Provident Swedish prematch show
there at six o'clock.
Speaker 3 (45:08):
A couple final notes before we end tonight show.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence, Swedish official healthcare
partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra is ninety five
calories and two point six grams of carbs. It's only
worth it if you enjoy it. Have a good rest
of your evening. Everybody. We will talk to you tomorrow,
but for here and for right now, if you want
to continue talking some soccer, It's now rain Weekly with
(45:33):
Kihi Dunning talking all things RAINFC. That will start next
on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Coming to you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders
Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good even and everybody, welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Felt's
good to be with you here on this Tuesday night
special Tuesday night edition of Sounders Weekly. And that is
because we have a busy, busy week for soccer here
in Seattle. Of course, the Sounders played to a one
to one DROG in San Diego last Saturday. Then they
(00:31):
also play tomorrow night at Loomin Field in three games
and eight days that will be against the San Jose
Earthquakes tomorrow that, by the way, we'll have a six
thirty kickoff and six o'clock Providence Swedish pre met show.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We'll have that right here for you.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM again six thirty kickoff,
six o'clock pre game. Let's tell folks you can also
watch the match on Apple TV and listen in Spanish
language on l Ray thirteen sixty. So that is match
two of three in this stretch. And then the Sounders
also have a game against the La Galaxy coming up
on Saturday that will have a six o'clock providence.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
We just pre match show and six twenty five kickoff.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So just it's easy to think, you got six o'clock
pre game tomorrow, you got six o'clock pregame on Saturday
for Sounders San Jose, eight earthquakes tomorrow and Sounders La
Galaxy on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
You got all that. There'll be a test later. Okay. Busy,
busy week for the Sounders.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And by the way, the Rain of course, they had
a game last Sunday, just a couple of days ago
at Lumen and won nothing, lost to Washington. They also
have a game coming up on Friday. Kiley Dunning will
have you up for Rain Weekly coming up in an
hour here on KJAR. But we are talking Sounders for
the next hour here on Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
How about that?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Jackson Feltz here and we're gonna have a fun show tonight.
A lot of things to get to in our finals.
I'll work backwards here. Why not in our finals? Just
because I was just texting with him confirming him calling
in in a little bit. Ted Raimi is the play
by play voice of the San Jose Earthquakes, and Ted
ted and I are having some nice conversations right now.
(02:12):
San Jose is obviously off to a really hot start
this season. But they're dealing is he texted me right here,
they're dealing with a few injuries. So we'll ask about
that and we'll talk about the possible rotation with ted Rami.
Coming up in our last segment tonight, of course, we'll
have a visit from Ari Lillienwall Major League Soccer dot Com,
the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. He will jump on and talk
(02:35):
all things Sounders and MLS and San Jose ahead and
then coming up in just a few moments, you are
going to hear from Paul Rothrock. And I know I
kind of pumped this interview on social media a little
bit Jackson on radio if you want to follow on
any of the socials, But this Paul Rothrock interview you're
(02:56):
gonna hear in just a matter of moments. I had
talked with him. We sat down at a couple lockers
after the one to one game against San Diego this
last weekend, and Paul, as he always is, is just
so open, so honest, so raw with not only his
emotions but just everything going on with his frankly life,
(03:18):
and one of the things that came up, of course,
was the fact that San Jose Earthquakes, our opponents tomorrow,
just was in negotiations in the offseason for his services,
and of course Paul returned. He had opportunities to go
many different places, as he talks about in this conversation,
but he says in this conversation that you were going
(03:40):
to hear that. Listen, San Jose and I were in negotiations.
I came back here. Now I lead the team in goals.
I kind of put these words in his mouth. He
leads the team in goals. But San Jose, I want
to show them that maybe they should have done a
little bit more to sign me. And that says right
there that Paul Rothrock was not feeling as appreciated when
(04:01):
it came to the offer from the San Jose Earthquakes,
And honestly, you probably wonder how many other teams came
in with that kind of thought. So Paul in this
circumstance going into tomorrow's game, he clearly already got the
one nothing winner down in San Jose a couple months
ago in that game down there in Northern California. Now
here we are for the second game, and by the way,
(04:23):
this Heritage Cup as well. Seattle can win the Heritage
Cup with a win or a draw, and Paul wants
to come out and show San Jose that they should
have done more to sign him. And you love that mentality.
It's a little bit of a Michael Jordan right here.
I took that personally, and you can hear from Paul
coming up in the conversation that it does sound like
(04:45):
he took that personally. And I expect a big game
out of Paul Rothrock tomorrow. We will see what happens.
But yeah, a great conversation coming up with Paul Rothrock.
After the one to one game against San Diego. Let's
spend just a quick moment before we hear from Rothrock
talking about that game. I think that game was marked
by a first half that was not good enough for Seattle.
(05:08):
You had obviously the Jordan Morris offsides goal that was disallowed,
and overall, there was just I think too many moments
where Jordan was beaten physically by Dua. There was too
many moments where the Sounders got caught. Obviously in the
eighteenth minute, that's a great goal I think by San Diego.
Some really nice inner play and then the frankly just
(05:30):
knew who gets beat and it's I wouldn't say as
much of a knock on Newho as it is a
excellent play designed by San Diego. So they score in
the eighteenth minute, and then overall the offense just wasn't
cooking the way we needed it to. Second half, Brian
Schmitzer makes this big change in the sixty third minute.
It's a double change where he brings on Peter Kingston,
(05:51):
who I thought did very well, brings on Danny Mazowski.
They changed the formation a little bit too, where they
kind of changed to a three in the back. You
see also a moment later Tino Lopez come on the
field as well, and it sets up an entirely different
look by the Sounders for that last half hour, and
(06:12):
clearly it worked. There was so much more energy for
a team that I mean. I turned to Pete Fewing
during the game, and I think he mentioned this in
the postgame show. There was moments in that first sixty
minutes where it felt like Seattle was playing like it
was the last game before the World cut break, and
it was like, let's just get to the break. They
didn't feel like they were really in it for a
(06:33):
lot of those sixty minutes. So Schmitzer makes this brilliant
change changes formation, changes the tactics, and it really does work.
You feel the energy, you feel everything come together, and
it does, I mean eventually leads to about four goals,
but it does lead to one goal. Danny Mazowski. The
moose was loose in the eightieth minute, he puts it
(06:53):
a very very classic Danny Mazowski goal. Assists on the
cornerkick by Albert Rusnak, Christian Roldan kicked it on, Mazowski
put it in and badabing bada boom.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
It's one to one.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Really felt like Seattle could have gotten a second goal.
You're gonna hear from Paul Rothrock. He was disappointed they
didn't get that second goal, But overall, I kind of
look at the view from thirty five thousand feet and say,
you didn't play well for sixty minutes and you got
a goal towards the end of the game to still
eke out a point.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I'm happy at the end of it.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Rothrock wasn't happy, I think probably by the you know,
just the way that he was talking about how the
team was in the locker room. I don't think the
Sounders were happy. That's a good thing that they aren't happy,
But I am because at the end of the day,
it's another point continue Seattle's great start to twenty twenty six.
Right now, you know, we're staying up there, top four
(07:46):
in the Western Conference very much with Vancouver San Jose
in our sites. LAFC absolutely blew it against Houston on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
That was great to see.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
So the Sounders are squarely in position, have a top three,
maybe even top two spot in the Western Conference. When
all things are said and done, they'll get Yamar back
after the World Cup. They'll get Pedro de la Vega
back after the World Cup. You throw that all together,
maybe make a summer move and this season. Right now,
we are currently because of the start, in good position,
(08:19):
but that game against San Diego. At the end of
the day, I'm happy because it also by the way,
we're now twenty one unbeaten at lumen Field and that
dates all the way back to the Club World Cup.
Our last loss at lumen Field was against PSG in
the Club World Cup nearly a year ago.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
That is a long damn time.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Twenty one straight unbeaten at home, and we will try
to continue that these next couple weeks. This next I
should say, four days against San Jose tomorrow and then
against the LA Galaxy on Saturday. Let's go down to
the locker room after the game. After the one to
one drag ins San Diego, I had the chance to
sit down with Paul Rothrock. This is a long conversation,
(09:05):
but damn if it isn't worth your time, please enjoy
his open and honest thoughts, including how he definitely felt
slighted by the offer he received by the San Jose
eight Earthquakes in the offseason. Enjoy this long conversation with
Paul Rothrock. I believe it starts with me asking Paul
how the feelings of the one to one draw this
(09:26):
last weekend against San Diego compared to the feelings of
the one to one draw the previous weekend against Kansas City.
Here is the Sounders attacking midfielder Paul Rothrock.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
You know they're both disappointing for different reasons. I think
it feels less like we lost two points today than
last week. In my opinion, I think collectively we were better.
I think no respect to Kansas City but I think
San Diego is a tougher opponent as well. I thought,
(09:59):
you know, we matched the intensity wise. I think they
gave us some problems, especially in the first half, and
we got broken a few too many times. You know,
the goal, we kind of get broken and then they
break us down again as we're kind of sitting in
a lower block. And that's one too to really reflect
(10:20):
on too. But I think there's positives to take out it.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Today.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
I thought the subject came on did great. I thought,
you know, the tactical change of shifting Albert back in
line and bring some different guys on and and you know,
we looked and I was proud of the way we
finished the game, even though we can come away with
a better outcome. But yeah, frustrating, frustrating two games. I
(10:45):
think humbling two games as well.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I think we we've.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Learned a lot in these two games about ourselves. And
you know, if we're we're going to continue striving for.
You know, what we've said we're going to strive for
is supporters shot and and you know are those aspirations
we've you know, we've got to learn from these challenges
and learn from them quickly.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
What do you learn about yourselves in these two games.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
You know, I think we I think we responded better
to the goal that we gave up this game then
we did last game. I think that, you know, we
were feeling like we were really getting on a rhythm,
and now these two games sets you back a little bit.
And you know, I think you tend to learn. It's
(11:35):
easier to learn more when you leave points on the
board than when you're winning. And I think the best
teams can still, you know, really learn and improve week
to week when they're winning, and I think we have
done that this season. But yeah, these these last two games,
we let were left with just that pitt in our
stomach a little bit, not coming away with more.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
You talk about the the right and the momentum and
then kind of being installed in these two draws. How
difficult is it to build extended momentum when you have
a huge break coming after just three more games.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Yeah, I mean, I don't think we're thinking like that.
I think we're just it's game by game right now,
and these are big games. It's a big home stand
that we have here. You know, I think the fans
have been great. Luman's felt like a great atmosphere, the
grass plays well. There's no reason why we can't win
these next two games at home, and then you know
it's gonna be a fun game away at LA. But
(12:37):
you know, if we can, obviously, game by game now,
but if we can take, you know, including today, ten
points out of the final four games, that's you know,
that's a job well done. And we're sitting in We're
sitting in a good position. But obviously, you know, a
tough opponent on Wednesday too.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Your defense, I mean, you'll still lead the league in
goals giving up, and it's one of those things these
last you know, six games now at least one goal
given up in each of the six games, but you
still have the best defense statistically in the league. How
do you process those two things together? Is it a positive?
Is it sort of just like no, like one one
(13:15):
goal is too many per game.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
I think it's easier to win when you get a
clean sheet. And I think the two goals that we
have given up in the last two weeks are you know,
I would I would say uncharacteristic of us. I think
they were soft goals, both of them, and and that
falls on all of us collectively. And you know, we haven't.
(13:39):
We haven't scored the same amount of goals. But you know,
I think over the over the season, if you if
you can keep putting up two plus you know x
G a game, they're gonna fall eventually, and and and
sometimes you know, over the course of the long season,
you know, ebbs and flows a little bit like that.
I think there's been game to where we haven't had
(14:02):
many chances at all and we've pulled out a win
because we've kept the kept the shutown, We've scored legs.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
San Jose, San Jose.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
It's gonna you know, smash and grab example, Houston away
Yep as well. And so I think, you know, just
naturally there's gonna be other games that don't follow your
way in the same same way. But I still think,
you know, we could have come away with six points
in these last two. So it's it's back to the
(14:30):
drawing board for us, and we don't have much time.
You know, it's a quick turnaround. And honestly, as a player,
I like that because you know your job is then
just to recover as quickly as you can and and
think about the next game. You don't really have time
to dwell.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
On you know what what you did wrong.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
The last game for too long?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
So san Jose coming up. I'm not sure if you've
gone on the record, it was documented that you had
talks with San Jose in the offseason. Yeah, was that happening?
And how close were you to maybe going to San Jose?
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Yeah, that was happening. You know, I was happening. I
was having talks with a lot of teams in our honesty,
and yeah, I mean it's full transparency. It was San Jose,
it was La Galaxy, it was a couple of other
(15:24):
teams in the Western Conference, a couple of other teams
in the Eastern Conference, a couple of teams in the
English Championship.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
But and we know that you've you said that there
were offers for more money, but you came back here. Yeah,
and now now you lead the team and goals.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Well, I'm enjoying myself and I think I'm very happy
with my decision to stay here. My my life is
really rich here in different ways. And I've said that before,
but I really feel that way. I feel happy about
my decision. I've got, you know, my buddy Jackson giving
me a funny face the moment as I'm trying to,
(16:01):
you know, give a professional interview, but uh yeah, you know,
I I you know, there's an opportunity to to tell
a different story here, and I prefer that story. And
I also, you know, I've said in other interviews that
there's still a lot for me to reach for here,
and there's there's great role models for me to get
(16:27):
to work with every day, from Schmidtz to Precky to
Christian to Jordan too, you know, before that Nico and
Raoul and Staph And you know, I haven't done anything
compared to what they've done. I haven't won a championship
here yet. I'm one of the MS coups. So yeah,
(16:48):
and and I and I really like this team. This
is such a fun teams. As a close team, I
think you guys can tell we all love each other's company.
It's an unselfish team.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, it's a great group. And we'll wrap with this. So,
considering San Jose being one of the many many teams
and now to see what they're doing this season and
facing them again with such massive stakes to give three
points on Wednesday, what's the mentality going and facing I mean,
obviously you guys have already faced them. But still this
(17:19):
game coming up, with the history, the stakes on the line,
what's the mindset going into Wednesday?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Yeah, I'll you know, I'll let you know a little secret.
Like I like I also, I knew within free agency
how every team felt about me, you know, because I
was able to I'm Asian stucking to different teams, and
I think whether they were into it or not, that
(17:46):
gives me different type of motivation, right.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Okay, come on, transparency, let's go. Okay, Well, I think
everybody knows kind of what you're saying right now.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
Yeah, you know, like a team who I know, you know,
ended up not you know, they weren't in or whatever.
It's that's a different type of motivation, right, I'm like, okay,
I know where you guys stood and but if you.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
But if you only value me like this, then I'm
going to go prove it. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Or you know, San Jose for example, it's like, you know,
I'm on the Sounders. Now, this is my team, so
I want to you know, that's a that's a different thing.
And yeah, I mean this.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Is this is.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
This is this is my team now.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
And I wan't approve that maybe they should have tried
a little harder or something.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, that's exactly that's exactly it.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
But yeah, I think for Wednesday, this is like I
think our team does really well against good teams. That's historically,
that's that's what the Sounders are good at. I think
everyone gets ready for a big game. I think we'll
probably likely have slight rotated lineup. We'll see how guys
(18:56):
are feeling after this week. Who knows, but you know,
a game three days later, that's and we're gonna need
our depth here, and I think we've got some of
the best depth.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
In the league.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
So I'm really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward
to repping my city against San Jose and we'll see
what happens.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
We'll see what happens. The quote machine Paul Rothick go
kick their ass Onnesday. Man cheers Jackson. Well, that's great
stuff from Paul Rothrock and I just love it. You
hear that he wants to send a message to San
Jose that they should have done more to get him,
and you know, he kind of danced around the words,
and I'm glad he kind of opened up and set
it flat out there that it certainly does sound like
(19:41):
he felt a little bit slighted by the offer that
he received by them, and he obviously took it out
on San Jose in that first game down there in
northern California, and hopefully we see him do it again
tomorrow night against the earthquakes.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
All right, we will get a break.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
We will come back and chat with Ari Lillionwall, Major
League Soccer dot Com and Lobbing scorches. We'll talk to
him about all things Sounders and MLS. Very quickly, we'll
mention that Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Provident Swedish,
the official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra
is ninety five calories and two point six grams of carbs.
It's only worth it if you enjoy it. We'll have
(20:17):
Ari next on Sounders Weekly to preview San Jose tomorrow.
That's next on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC,
Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Jackson Feldt is gonna be with you here on this
Tuesday night, looking ahead to the Sounders game tomorrow against
the San Jose Earthquakes six o'clock pre game six point
thirty kickoff right here ninety three point three kjr FM
thanks to a very open and honest Paul Rothrock for
sitting down. You heard that conversation in the first segment
of the show. If you missed that, check out the
(20:58):
Seattle Soccer Shows Pop podcast page wherever you get your
podcasts and hear that first segment.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
But of course, in case you miss any of.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Tonight's show, always Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts.
I would also say, if you are an avid Sounders
or MLS or soccer podcast fiend and you just can't
soak up enough, check out the Lobbing Scorchers podcast. The
man who hosts Lobbing Scorcheres joins us right now. He
is also a writer and editor for mlssoccer dot com,
(21:29):
and he's also a fantasy football champion. Ari Lillianwalla joins
us right now. Ari, how you doing, Buddy.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
I'm good, Jackson, how are you?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I'm good, Man, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I kind of just ended the last segment by saying
that at the end of the day, it's a lot
different of a feeling. The one to one against San
Diego than it was the one to one against Kansas City.
I was honestly happy to get a point out of
that San Diego game.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Where are you at with that draw this last weekend?
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Yeah, I think these last two games have been tough.
I think this offense is struggling to convert their chances
right now, and it's led to a situation where you
draw the worst team in the league at Sporting Kansas City,
and then you end up falling behind and having to
come back against the San Diego team that's better than
Sporting Kansas City, but they still haven't been a super
great team this year. So you know, the good news
(22:18):
is I feel like the chance generation has still been
pretty good, is just a matter of finishing them. You
get Danny Mussovski off the mark in that last game there,
so I'm looking forward to seeing if he can kind
of build on that and you know, have maybe a
number nine step up and win the job. That's what
Brian Schmetzer was talking about after the game. He said,
you know, I still don't really know who to start
at that position right now because no one's really won it.
(22:40):
So let's see if someone can win it, and I
do think that some of this chance generation the luck
should theoretically even out, but we'll see. You know, you
don't want to be expected gold merchanting as we call it.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
On my show.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
That's a great line that you and know do. I
think it's a very very good line for expectacle merchancy.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Ari. Let's you know. I was going to ask you
about the forward spot.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
I think you talked about it right there, and I
think it's a question for next week of who you
start at the nine going into that LAFC game with
a full week of prep right now. Of course, you
have the midweek game tomorrow against San Jose and you
have the Galaxy on Saturday, so we know that we're
probably going to see two different forwards when it comes
to these games. So I guess then as we look
(23:23):
ahead to tomorrow, Ari, San Jose has question marks themselves
with rotation and with injuries, So I do want to
talk to you about what they're coming off of. And
it probably was on paper the game of the weekend
going in Vancouver, San Jose top of the Western Conference.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
It finishes one to one. What do you see in
that one?
Speaker 5 (23:44):
Yeah, this Quakes team that Seattle's about to play. They've
been the best team in the league so far this
year as far as record in their points per game,
but they are kind of going through it themselves right now.
I think everyone at the top of the West, to
be honest with you, is kind of going through a
bit of a lull, a bit of some struggles, and
the Quakes are no exception. They've been kind of going
through similar stuff that Seattle's been going through. This Vancouver
(24:06):
game was a game where Brucerini even said it after
the game. They were dealing with injuries, they're on the road,
they're fatigued, they're tired, and he was saying that this
was basically a survival test for them, and they were
able to survive. To their credit, they get out of
there with the one to one draw, but they had
thirty percent possession and they were under a lot of
pressure throughout the game. So it's a team that, as
(24:27):
good as they have been this year, they're missing Timo
Werner for this Seattle game, and they're missing Nico Securist,
who's quietly been one of, if not the best number
tens in the entire league so far. Homegrown kid for them,
so It's definitely a good team, a team that's capable
of getting a result in Seattle, but they are definitely
not going into the match at full strength, So that
(24:48):
presents an opportunity that Seattle needs to try and capitalize on.
You when you get the best team in a kind
of a weekend state, you got to take advantage of it.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Ari, I'm wondering of your expectations then considering the play
out for them, considering there will be roast, some rotation
on both sides, is a draw the minimum expectation for
Seattle fans.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
I mean, I think any home game, regardless of who
you're playing, should be thought of like that. But I
would say it's fair to say that that's probably the case,
even more so with this game, given that San Jose's
coming into this game a bit of a wounded opposition.
But I also don't want to overstate that. I mean,
they've got a lot of guys still and Preston Judd,
who scored their goal in the last game, is looking
(25:31):
like Chris Wandelowski reincarnate. So you're still gonna have to
deal with that, and you're gonna have to deal with
a really good team, And I don't think it's definitely
not a given that you're gonna get a result in
this game, even with injuries that San Jose is dealing with.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Ario wrote down a note for our chats moving forward,
and I forgot about my note until just right now.
So I want to go back a little bit. You
and Noah do something that we don't get to do
on our post game show, and you do fan interactions
and I absolutely love that. And one thing I want
to start doing in our conversations is asking you the
very simple question of what were the fans, you know, overall,
(26:09):
if you kind of just view them all together as
one huge fan base, how are the fans reacting? What
was their tone coming out of the one to one
against San Diego?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
Yeah, you know, on our postgame call in show, I
was actually surprised at how not negative it was. You know,
the team just drew the worst team in the league
and then had a home draw against a team that
I think we all feel that they're a lot better
than so I thought there would be more crashing out
than there actually was, and I don't really know the
reason for that. I think part of it is, you know,
(26:40):
the this fan base has a high soccer IQ. So
when they see a couple games where the team's generating
some really good chances and they're just not going in,
they're probably more willing to give some equity to that
than other fan bases might be, especially because the start
of the season on the whole has still been very good.
This team is six one and three and averaging over
two points per game, So I think there was there
(27:02):
was some goodwill built through that as well. But you know,
that's a that's a cautionary situation. You don't want to
bank on that too much. To keep that, you got
to start winning the.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Games again, Yes, certainly do, especially as we look ahead
to the Galaxy there on Saturday, that that certainly lines
up for a you know, I wouldn't say must win,
but expectation of a win for sure, as opposed to
the expectation for a draw minimum Tomorrow. Ari Lulinwall was
our guest MLS Soccer dot Com host of the podcast
Lobbing Scorches. Get Lobbing Scorches anywhere you get your podcasts,
(27:33):
including the iHeartRadio app. Also subscribe to Lobbying Scorches on YouTube.
They have the live Monday shows. They have the live
Thursday shows. They have the postgame shows with those great
fan interactions, love lobbing scorches there on YouTube. Ari, let's
unfortunately talk about the Portland Timbers.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
They won six nothing. That is for everybody out there
who didn't hear me.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
They won six to nothing and they beat the team
that Seattle got the against Kansas City. That was pretty
infuriating to me, Ari watching them due to Kansas City,
what we wished we had done. How do you read
into that six nothing game?
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Well, I definitely I agree. It makes the Seattle results
even more frustrating in hindsight, because they had to scrap
out a draw against that team and then the Timbers
pumped four goals right by them in about twenty five minutes.
But I actually think Jackson that it's good news that
the Timbers won this game and won it in the
matter that they did, because it is against it is
(28:35):
against the worst team in the league, so I don't
think it says anything about their quality, and it gives
them the delusion that they're onto something with Phil Nevill
and that they're going to turn it around, and that
gives them less incentive to fire Phil Neville, and he
might get to stick around for a little longer, which
that's great news for us in Seattle's great news. We
(28:55):
want him extended. We want him coaching that team as
long as possible. And they're going to look at that
city zero and think, oh man, maybe we're actually turning
it around, when the reality is they were just beating
up on the literal worst team in the entire league.
And it probably doesn't mean anything at all, but I
want them to think it does.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
So the timbers are still crap, is what I'm hearing. Yeah, absolutely,
I love that. All right, all right, you know what,
you put a smile on my face. You turned it
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
I am.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I'm now on the other side. Thank you for taking
me there. I was pretty bummed out. But yeah, if
they stick with Phil Neville, that would be a joy,
because he's terrible. They're a whole organization is a joke.
Right now, It's great, all right, all right, let's talk
about another demolition that happened in the Western Conference. Portland,
Kansas City probably wasn't too shocking. What was very shocking
(29:44):
on Sunday night was the Houston Dynamo kicking lafc's ass.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
What the hell happened.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
There LFCR hungover. I mean, we're seeing it happen in
real time. They were juggling CCC didn't make it to
the final, and now they're doing with the ramifications of that.
They didn't have Deny bo Woga in this game, but
that wouldn't have He wouldn't have helped them prevent the
Houston Dynamo from scoring four goals at home. I think
(30:10):
that's the most alarming thing for LAFC, and so I'm
not really I'm not putting them on downfall Watch yet.
I'm not gonna go that far. I think the vast
odds are in favor of them straightening it out, getting
on track and becoming one of the premier teams in
the Western Conference in the league again. But I don't know.
It does feel it feels dicey down there, Jackson. I mean,
(30:31):
when when you see that Conka CAF Champions Cup hangover
set in, like they're having it set in, that can
be really really hard to break out. If we know
that better than anybody. So I do think there is
a genuine chance that they might be dealing with that,
not just in the short term here, it could affect
the rest of their season. That's we've seen that happen
to many an MLS team and for them for that
team to go out there with that roster and lose
(30:52):
that badly at home to the Houston Dynamo, who have
not been all that good this year, that's definitely raises
my eyebrows as to what they've got going on going
forward here.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Yeah, it's a stunning and embarrassing loss for LAFC four
to one loss against Houston. Houston of all teams are.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Let's rap with this. You just mentioned CONCACAFF.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
This happened after we were already off MLS completely out
of CONCACAFF Champions Cup. No Nashville, they couldn't get it done.
And it's in all lega Emeki's CONCA CAF final. What
do you make of MLS being another oh fer in
Seattle still being the only MLS team to ever win
modern CONCA CALF. What do you make of what happened
(31:34):
this year in those semi finals?
Speaker 5 (31:37):
Yeah, you know, I kind of feel like the seventy
two Dolphins. Honestly, up the point I'm getting to after
these MLS crackhouts here, I'm kind of up to minds
on it. Because on one hand, I would like to
see MLS in general be more successful in the competition,
and if another team wins it, I think it is
good for the league and I'm not against that. But
(31:57):
I don't know. I don't know about you, but I
always get to the end of it and I'm watching
these teams scrap it out for a spot in the final,
and I'm rooting for them to lose because I think
if Seattle can't get a second one, I'd rather have
them be the only one to do it. I think
there's great novelty in that, and it really it's the
ultimate solace I think for when you do get knocked
out of CONCACAF Champions Cup. Being the only one to
(32:19):
have ever won it. For me, it makes it state
what happened in CCC this year sting a little less
that one does sting because I feel like they really
could have beat that Tigris team, and if they do
beat that Tiagris team, there's a pretty good chance that
they're hosting a final. But you know, like when you
won one, that hurts less, it does, But I don't know,
I end up rooting against the MLS teams by the
(32:40):
end every time, and that was no different this year.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Yeah, no, it's it's great to feel like the seventy
two Dolphins for sure. That's a great comment. But man,
that's the first time it entered my brain the idea
of hosting the concor CAF Final this year, which we
would have, and that would have been an absolute joy,
And that's that's hard to swallow.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Well, Ari, we'll leave it there.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
We'll let you go and I'll see you at the
stadium tomorrow night for the San Jose game.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Thanks man, you got it, Thanks Jackson, Ari.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Lullianwall good stuff there. He's a writer and editor for
MLS Soccer dot Com. He hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers
Love Having Arion. I will see him in the building
tomorrow night there at Lumen Field once again, we'll have
the six o'clock pregame six point thirty kickoff at Lumen
for Sounders San Jose Earthcakes.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Hey.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
We'll also mention that tomorrow's match is presented by michelob Ultra,
The Superior Game, Meet Superior Taste, Grab a michelob Ultra
at through Superior Light Beer as you cheer your team
on mikelub Ultra Official Beer, sponsor of Seattle Sounders FC.
We will get a break and we will dive into
tomorrow's game even deeper. Ted Rainey is the play by
(33:44):
play voice of the San Jose Earthquakes. He will join
us next to break down Sounders quakes on Sports Radio
ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders
FC Seattle's Sports Radio Night three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Welcome back, Jackson Felt's good to be with you here
on this Tuesday night, on Tuesday this week, of course,
because the Seattle Sounders face off tomorrow night against the
San Jose Earthquakes. Thanks to our guests so far tonight
Paul Rothrock in the locker room, who wants to show
San Jose they should have offered him more, and then
(34:23):
Ari Lillianwaller that previous segment. But now it's time, of
course to preview this match coming up tomorrow night even deeper.
And the man who's joining us is one of my
favorite people to listen to and favorite broadcasters around all
of MLS. He is the play by play voice for
the San Jose Earthquakes. He's also a broadcaster for the
San Jose Sharks. By the way, he does it all
(34:45):
on NBC Sports Bay Area down there and Ted Raimi
joins us right now, Ted, welcome back to the show,
my friend.
Speaker 7 (34:55):
How are you, mister Pels. I'm doing well, man, Thanks
for having me on. How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Oh, I'm good, but not as good as you. Ted.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
What a start to the season for the San Jose Earthquakes.
It's been part of my conversation, just general MLS conversation
with almost every guest I've had every single week that
it's just the surprise of the season has been the Earthquakes.
What's it like down there broadcasting and covering this massive
surprise team.
Speaker 7 (35:24):
It's been a whole lot of fun just because they've
done it with a squad. It's not like LAFC or
a Miami or something like that. Now that there's anything
wrong with the way those teams have been built, but
this is not some high priced, star laden team. These are,
for the majority, a bunch of college guys who are
(35:45):
Americans or have ties to the American collegiate system. We've
been starting an average of something like eight collegiate players
per game, and it's just been so much fun to
watch these guys get it done. To watch the wins
come the way that they have. And again, I keep
on going back to that word fun. We've had a
lot of fun here in San Jose in my time
(36:06):
with the team, but never quite this much fun. And
I know that our rate of winning will not stay
at this level, but I do think that they are
a four real team, a legit team that is going
to be a problem as we get deeper and deeper
into the season for the rest of Major League Soccer.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
Well, it makes sense, Ted that you're having so much
success with these young college kids, because I mean, you
look at Bruce Arena and the success he once had
long ago at the college level.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
What did he win three straight national championships? I want
to say.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Back there, So, I mean he's he clearly knows how
to build up players and coach young players. And I
think it's one of the funny things. I chuckled when
you said that as well, because that's something that we've
talked about on our broadcasts. Just watching you guys from
afar as it almost is Sounder like Ted, where the
Sounders have taken college kids, local kids, built it up
(36:55):
and just one one and one some more with players
who've gone through system and been through local it feels
like San Jose is is a little bit taking the
page out of Seattle's playbook.
Speaker 7 (37:07):
Yeah, whether you talk about Jordan Morris or you talk
about the role Don Brothers, whoever it's gonna be, there's
a lot of college talent on there. Andrew Thomas certainly
showed his cardinal pride when he was shutting down San
Jose earlier this year. But you know, it's it's fun,
and I think that these franchises show how much value
there is in the collegiate system. And it's actually a
conversation I've had with a lot of guys from around
(37:28):
Major League soccer over the past five years in particular,
is more and more of the academy pathway has been
the pathway for guys to make their way into Major
League soccer. But you look no further than a player
like Chris Jandolowski, who was a product of the American
collegiate system.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
So much of the story.
Speaker 7 (37:45):
Right now in all of global soccer or football, however
we want to call it, is about guys being ready
when they're sixteen years old, and that just isn't going
to be the case for everyone. Our homegrown midfielder Ecoacha
Curius made his debut at sixteen back in twenty twenty two,
and you can see the skill, but he didn't have
the body, the physicality for what Major League Soccer was
(38:05):
bringing back then at the end of last year, he
finally started to show it. And you could compare that
to what you saw from Jordan Morris if you tried
to make his debut back at sixteen, and how much
different that would have been. And how you know, we're
so impatient with these young players. We need to let
them develop and have time, and that's what college allows
these players to do. And again you also get a
lot of the rivalries that there's a good amount of
(38:26):
smack talk.
Speaker 6 (38:27):
I've talked to these guys about.
Speaker 7 (38:28):
Their different programs, whether it's going to be, you know,
a cal State school or one of the premier universities.
It's all part of the fun. And so guys I
think have that common DNA and background of their development
pathways and they relate on a lot of different levels
and it's allowed for a lot of great chemistry and
a lot of great success.
Speaker 5 (38:45):
Here.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Ted Ramy's our guest, He's the play by play voice
of the San Jose Earthquakes down there in northern California.
Of course, tomorrow night it'll be San Jose Seattle. We
got a six thirty kickoff that'll be right here Sports
Radio ninety three point three kjr F. So looking forward
to that tomorrow evening. We hit the air at six
o'clock tomorrow night. Ted, let's rewind a little bit. Let's
(39:07):
talk about this last week. And that was a fun
one at least for me to watch the highlights of
because it was the game I think everybody in the
league and fans were looking forward to seeing. Probably not
at the start of the year you would have predicted
that would be the game, but this week was all
eyes on Vancouver San Jose.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
It ends one to one take us through what happened
in that one.
Speaker 7 (39:30):
So I think going into it a lot of people
were thinking dry. I know that that's kind of where
I was thinking. Both teams without some of their bigger stars,
and I think it played out that way where you
saw that they were lacking the big offensive bite and
that both these teams are capable of making due to
no Muler on the field, no Timo Werner on the field,
or two of the most obvious ones. But I think
you saw a lot of the supporting cast out there
(39:51):
for both these teams make an impact if we can
still call a Sebastian Berhalter a supporting cast type member
because he's been so good since coming over from all
into Vancouver. But what the game was was the Earthquakes
jumped out took an early lead, and I often wonder
how much it made them a little bit too passive
and a lot of that game because they had the
early lead, they never really took back control of possession.
(40:12):
If you look at the momentum chart that's out there.
I know that Matt Doyle posted it on his substack,
but if you look at his, you know, momentum chart,
it's pretty much San Jose with the goal at the
fourth minute peaking, and then the rest of the game
was pretty much all possession by Vancouver and Daniel ur
Keeper stood on his head and made some great stops,
(40:33):
one beautiful double stop, I want to say, in the
fifty seventh minute, and other than that, Vancouver was controlling
the possession and trying to score. San Jose's much improved
defense this year was able to hold them off the
boarding the goal they scored. It was I won't say fluky,
but it was not like a complete breakdown of everything.
It started on a set piece. But you know, this
(40:53):
was a game that showed you how cag these two
teams can be. And I think how people should maybe
be looking forward to a potential playoff rematch between the
two teams, as I would be very, very intrigued to
see more between these two sides. Obviously a long way
to go. I don't want to get ahead of myself,
but right now, with the earthquakes at the top of
the West and the supporter shield, well you can't help.
Speaker 6 (41:14):
But at least, you know, want to feel a little.
Speaker 7 (41:17):
Bit cocky for a short time. I'm out of time,
I'll put them that way.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Enjoy it while you absolutely can, and having dream while
you can, Ted for sure, Ted looking at this game
tomorrow night in Seattle. You mentioned San Jose dealing with
a couple of injuries as Seattle looks to you know,
get back Yamar and Pedro de Levega after the World Cup.
They won't factor in for a while for Seattle either.
So my question is kind of the two parted of
(41:42):
as you deal with those injuries, Ted and then also
deal with this midweek road game where it's home away
home this week for the Earthquakes. Will there be rotation
from Bruce Arena coming up tomorrow?
Speaker 7 (41:54):
You think that's been his mo O with the Quakes
up to this point of his tenure in San Jose.
He did it last year with the heavy rotation. He
did it this year. I believe we had seven changes
in our midweek game against Saint Louis a couple of
weeks ago compared to the Saturday previously, and I think
that's what he's going with again.
Speaker 6 (42:13):
And you just saw it, you know what, the.
Speaker 7 (42:15):
Earthquakes losing Niekochi Garrison, Timo Meyer to soft muscle injuries,
optis tissue injuries. That was over the course of eight
games in twenty eight days that the Earthquakes played. So
there's no surprise to me that even with the rotation
that Bruce employed that there was still injury. And I
think that's why he's going to try and do it
the same. I would not be surprised to see again
(42:37):
heavy heavy rotation. I don't want to put words or
you know, anything in anyone's mouth whether or not Bruce
is going to do that I'm just guessing that I'm
not going to be shocked if you see, you know,
more than five or six changes from what the earthquakes
showed the other night, just because he's done that in
the past. Now, being a good sports broadcaster that I am,
that means I'm even better at being wrong.
Speaker 6 (42:58):
So it'll probably be like two changes. Well, there you are,
but right as always said and being good at wrong ted.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Let's wrap with this because I kind of want to
view these games in two different circumstances. Because Seattle will
obviously be working with this midweek game too, looking ahead
of the LA Galaxy two days later on Saturday. So
the fact that we don't know what the rotation is
going to be, both for our team and for your team,
(43:24):
I'm kind of just trying to paint the most likely
scenario and how this game plays out tomorrow night, and
if it's more of how these teams play rather than
who is playing for these teams. So how do you
think the game will look coming up tomorrow night at LUMEN.
Speaker 7 (43:41):
I'm not going to be shocked if this one walks
away with a draw, but I do think that Seattle
is going to come out very, very hard in the
first twenty thirty minutes. As we know so many games
in the past for Seattle, they ride the crowd, they
ride the energy, especially in some of these midweek games,
and then you have that you know, little blast you
score once, you score twice, and then you're able to
ride that to a win. And I think Seattle is
(44:04):
very good at knowing how to do that. If San
Jose can weather that storm that's gonna come in the
first twenty thirty minutes, I think that's gonna go a
long way. I think right now the big problem for
San Jose is offensive production without their premiere Winger and
Timo Werner and their you know premiere ten and Niko Chakiris.
So I think San Jose is not going to park
the bus. But I think they are going to be
defensively structured, trying to weather the storm and then see
(44:27):
what happens after that. But I feel like this is
trending towards a draw. Yep that said, like I just
alluded to, I'm good at being wrong.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Yeah, I would not be surprised either with the exact
thoughts that you had. Ted Rami, play by play voice
of the San Jose Earthquakes excited for this match coming
up tomorrow. Thank you so much for the time, sir.
Speaker 6 (44:47):
Anytime man let me know we'll talk soon.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
It's Ted Rami, play by play voice of the San
Jose Earthquakes. Always love talking to Ted. All right, we'll
look ahead two tomorrow night again. It is six thirty
kickoff six o'clock. Pregame right here Sports Radio ninety three
point three KJRFM. It'll be the Provident Swedish prematch show
there at six o'clock.
Speaker 3 (45:08):
A couple final notes before we end tonight show.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence, Swedish official healthcare
partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra is ninety five
calories and two point six grams of carbs. It's only
worth it if you enjoy it. Have a good rest
of your evening. Everybody. We will talk to you tomorrow,
but for here and for right now, if you want
to continue talking some soccer, It's now rain Weekly with
(45:33):
Kihi Dunning talking all things RAINFC. That will start next
on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
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