October 15, 2025 • 45 mins
Tonight on Sounders Weekly, Jackson Felts reacts to Seattle's 1-0 win over RSL including Brian Schmetzer's postgame comments, then Ari Liljenwall jumps on to take a look at the various playoff scenarios ahead before Jessica Charman dives deep into the Decision Day match against New York City FC.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good Eden, everybody, welcome into Sounders Weekly. Thanks for staying
up late with us here tonight, late on a Tuesday
night after that cracking game. We appreciate you stay in
tuned here to Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
This is Sounders Weekly. My name is Jackson Felts. I'm
here for the next hour. Then Keiley Dunning will take
over for Rain Weekly in an hour to talk about
(00:27):
what's going on with the Rain, who with a draw
over the weekend nearly clinched a playoff Bertha. Also, there
is some major, major news, you know, let's just share
that before we get into Sounders Weekly and turn our
entire attention for the next hour to the Sounders. The massive,
massive Rain news that came out yesterday morning is that
(00:49):
their captain, the og, the legend, Lou Barnes, a longtime
center back, excellent defender for Seattle Rain, She's gonna be
retiring from pro soccer at the end of the season.
Sure Keeley Dunning will have some more on that and
the Rain, as they have just a couple more matches
left in the season before the playoffs begin. And they
(01:09):
nearly have a spot clinched after a draw this last weekend. Okay,
that's what's going on in an hour with Rain Weekly.
This is Sounders Weekly, and we are talking about a
hot Sounders team. This is a team right now in
Seattle that we kind of It's funny. A couple weeks ago,
we kind of looked at the standings, I should say,
after the Porland game. We looked at the standings and said,
(01:30):
all right, you know, now we've kind of locked in
that five seed. It wasn't fully locked in yet, but
even with a draw in one of the last two
games RSL, which was this last weekend, and then New
York City coming up on Decision Day, if you got
one point in either of those two games, you're locked
into the five seed.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So we were.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Probably in the kind of an interesting mental place at
that moment coming that was coming out of the Porland game.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Then of course you get the nothing.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Win over RSL, and now we are fully locked into
the five seed for the Sounders.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
That is done. That is over. That is kaputt.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And you know, now it's sort of the situation going
into a decision day.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
It's weird.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
We have absolutely nothing to play for, and I think
the focus for head coach Brian Schmetzer will be very
much on the side of let's make sure that this
team is playing at the quality and the level it
needs to because I mean, shoot, people, two weeks from
last weekend, that is the start of the playoffs. We're
a week and a half away from the playoffs beginning.
(02:36):
And this team, you look at the standings right now,
this team doesn't have a lot of options of what's
gonna happen, you know, because LAFC right now is at
fifty nine points in third. Minnesota is in fourth place
with fifty eight points. San Diego is in second with
sixty points. Those are the potential three opponents for the Sounders.
Everybody's on thirty three games. Everybody has one game left,
(02:59):
and if you kind of break it down, because let's
just look here and let's see who each of these
teams have. So San Diego on their decision day match,
they're gonna be hosting oh no, sorry, They're gonna be
going to Portland to face the Timbers. So there's that. Meanwhile,
you have LAFC, who are one point back of San
Diego in third and for Decision Day LAFC are going
(03:22):
to Colorado, so there's that. LAFC was on a tear
before they lost one nothing in Austin yet on Sunday
that was kind of a shocking result for LAFC. So
LAFC also on the road and then currently fourth place
Minnesota their Decision Day game, also on the road. They
are going to play the LA Galaxy, and the Galaxy
(03:44):
of course horrible this year. I believe they did get
a win just this last weekend. But yeah, So for
those teams, you know, spots two through five, San Diego, LAFC, Minnesota, Seattle,
every one of them is on the road. And for
the Sounders, we know we are going to be facing
one of those three teams. It just matters who ends
up being the four seed. So for the Sounders, you know,
(04:08):
it's kind of that element of you want to be
playing well and you want to be in good run
of form going into the playoffs where you're gonna be
going to San Diego, to Los Angeles or two Minnesota.
At this moment, that's Minnesota. But listen, it's craziness of
Decision Day. There's three teams within two spots two points
of each other. Anything can happen on decision day. We
(04:30):
know well about that. So you want to be playing well,
you want to be in good run of form, but
you also want to make sure that nobody gets injured,
right because this is a team. Over the course of
these last thirty three games and Conker Calf and League's
Cup and the Club World Cup, it has been an
injured team. And we've kind of had one here one
there in out. Albert Rusnak was missing from suspension. We've
(04:52):
had international duty. Christian Roldan playing over the last week
with the United States men's national team. Awesome to see him.
There lots of other players on international duty. I think
there was a thirteen guys missing this last game against
Salt Lake, which makes it so much more impressive that
the Sounders gotta one nothing win.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
So you have all of this together.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You want this team to be both available and healthy
come playoff time. And right now we are missing game
Argos on Roddy, we are missing Kim Kihee.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
We hope to have both of them.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Back for the start of the playoffs, but that's a
lot of TBD right now. But Jackson Reagan played well.
I thought that Alex Roldan sliding into that center back spot.
It was kind of that three that shifts to a four.
Thought Alex did well overall. That was a game against
Salt Lake and we're gonna talk about it coming up
with Ari Lillionwall. We also, by the way, have a
new debut coming up here on Sounders Weekly later tonight.
(05:49):
You know, we bounce around. We always have MLS Season
Pass on Apple TV. Broadcasters. Jessica Charman is a broadcaster
I believe, a former play by play voice of Charlotte
I want to say, but she's now doing MLS Season
Pass on Apple TV and she will be joining us
for our final segment tonight to preview Sounders and New
York City. And I think one of the interesting questions
(06:11):
is exactly what I'm talking about here is what the
Sounders do to stay healthy to make sure that they
are having a good run of form. And you don't
just want to go out and lose at New York City.
You don't want to go out and play your backups
and play a defiance like lineup. That's absolutely not going
to happen. So the dynamics of this game, and also
(06:33):
I haven't even looked into what New York city's playing
for yet well, of course get into that with Ari
as well, But there's gonna be some interesting dynamics here
with this decision day given that Seattle has absolutely nothing
to play for and is just kind of waiting to
see if it's San Diego, LAFC, or Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So it'd be very interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Well, Love Ari will love Jessica coming up later tonight
to talk about everything going on. But the RSL to
go back to it, it kind of for me, really
does come down to a team that needs to figure
out ways to put other teams away.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
And I think you can look at this.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
As a broader issue going back pretty much since the
end of the league's Cup title. It's a team that
absolutely should have had a second goal in STARSL. You
had that penalty opportunity that Jordan Morris has saved. Boy,
that would have been nice for Jordan Moore's confidence to
get that goal, because that dude hasn't scored since he
broke the club record for most goals. It's been a
(07:33):
long time since Jordan Morris is on the score sheet.
We need him to get back on that and that
would have been a great opportunity, a great confidence builder
to put that penalty in the back of the net
and he couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Really unfortunate that that was saved. So there's that.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
But then also you have other opportunities, shots going wide,
Klanni Pedro and it was great to see Pedro de
la Vega. My goodness, he has been a revolution since
he got healthy. Great to have him back out there
and looking very very good on the wing. We now
need him to stay healthy and not get hurt again
come playoff time. But to go back to it, so
(08:10):
you have opportunities, you aren't able to get the second
against RSL that you really needed Portland the previous week.
They were pressing at moments and really would have loved
to get that too. Nothing winner, and you see Danny
Mazowski got a couple opportunities. There were other opportunities and
we couldn't get that second goal against Portland. Yes, we're
(08:30):
winning these games, but it's about putting them away. You
think about the LA Galaxy game which was back on
September thirteenth. I see September thirteenth where they end up
scoring late and making it a two to two game.
We know, of course Austin that should have been a draw.
That turned into a loss Vancouver. We were up two
to one. Sounders I think have a right now issue
(08:53):
that they need to fix, which is when you are
ahead in second halves of games, or you are in
a spot to earn a result, put the other team away.
That is kind of the one major concern I have
right now a week and a half from the playoffs beginning,
and we know that the team has the quality to
put other teams away.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
They did it to Miami in the League's Cup final.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
They have the players, they have the health, they have
everybody they need I think right now back together for
this New York City game to put a game like
this away.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And City's a good team and we're gonna get into it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
But I think the Sounders have it in them to
maybe not you know, fully get a win, but get
a result and look good going into the playoffs. But
my goodness, if you are in position for a result
or for a win in the second half, you have
the horses back. Albert's back from suspension, Christian will be back,
knew who will be back, everybody will be back. Put
(09:49):
it all together for a good performance on decision day
where you're feeling good going into that first playoff game.
It is, by the way, and I can't say this enough.
Over the next week, this is going to be a
first round playoff series best of three. So it'll be
a best of three against either LAFC San Diego or Minnesota.
First games on the road, second games back here in Seattle,
(10:13):
third game, if necessary, back on the road. That's how
that first round series would work. So we know that
the Sounders potentially, you know, you go on the road,
you defend welly, a penalty kick, shootout win. Ultimately you
come home looking for a two zero sweep. I would
love to see that, but we'll see how that shakes out.
(10:33):
All right. Well, again, we'll get to a lot coming
up here with Ari and with Jessica later on in
tonight's show. What do you say we shift gears here
in Sounders Weekly and enough hearing from me about that
Sounders win over RSL and again, don't want to discredit
it. It was a great goal from Paul Rothrock. Awesome to
see that league's cup banner dropped. That was great. It
(10:54):
was a pouring down rain, but it was I think
a good game for the Sounders and at the end
of the day, it's a win, there's not too much
to complain about. But we are a week and a
half from the playoffs starting and I want to make
sure that this team is firing on every possible cylinder.
So I do have that concern about putting teams away.
That's why I have the tone that I do. But
(11:16):
I also have the confidence that this team can put
teams away. If they are ahead, they'll be able to
switch that gear with everybody back.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Okay, enough of me.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
What does head coach Brian Schmetzer think of that win
against Rayale Salt Lake? What does he think about what's
ahead for the team and the health of the team.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Let's hear a bit from head coach Brian Schmenzer.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
All of the games at home are critical. You can't
you know, you can't be successful in MLS without winning
your home games. We've got ten wins at home, only
one loss, only one loss. And so there's only one
other team that has ten wins at home. It's Vancouver,
(11:58):
but they've got two losses at their place. So there's
something you guys can write about, something positive about our
home form, because there was a time when our home
form kind of dipped a little bit and so this year,
credit to them. Great to take care of business at
home against an RSL team that again desperate to win.
(12:20):
They needed to win this game. And you know, I
say this all the time. Next man up. I mean
that's one of the calling cards of this club. Guys
step up and do what they're supposed to do. Not
just in the best of times when you're winning three nothing,
you know things are easy and bring guys on, but
(12:41):
in hard games. You know, JP hasn't played and I
don't know how long got it out, sixty minutes. I
got on the opposite end of that spectrum. Peter Kingston
making his debut. I've got Steph three hundred and fifty
gay appearances for the club. We've got young leader stepping up,
Pedro Heyesus, Jordan Morris, Jackson, Alex you got guys Jonathan Bell,
(13:08):
Dany Lava. I mean, everybody on this squad has pitched
in at some point in time over the course of
this year. So I appreciate them very much. Does that
what you're saying kind of give you a little bit
more confidence than as far as you're the likelihood to
make a long run in the postseason?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Sure, I don't think many people want to play us. Look,
I think in the Western Conference there's a lot of
good teams. I mean, Vancouver came back and one tonight
Lafc's on fire. You know, San Diego's had a great year,
Minnesota's had an exceptional year. So it's a dog fight.
You know, it's a dogfight. I mean, it's it's going
(13:50):
to be it's gonna be hard whoever we match up against.
And you know, I got plenty of confidence in our team.
We've we've been in a lot of big games this
year year, and some of that experience is gonna, you know,
make us better in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
And then what did you think of a celebration for
the goal?
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Did you see the Mariners saying? I loved it? I mean,
go Mariners, go Ems good luck.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
Nobody knows Jordan Morris as well as you do. That
moment of the p K was that his decision? Was
that your decision? And you know how did he deal
with that miss afterwards?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Well? He Look, the players make the decisions on the
penalty kicks on the field. I obviously give them some guidance.
They know the guys that I'd like to take it.
But look, Jordan, you know, for his confidence wanted to
score and I have zero problem with that him stepping
up it. Look, it's unfortunate that he didn't score, and
(14:49):
you can tell. Look, he wears his emotions on a sleeve.
He had his head down for a little bit. But
what you guys can do when you rewatch the game
is you take a look at some of the stuff
that the kid did down on this direction of the field,
some of his defending, getting back, making sacrifices for the team.
His running in behind tonight again was a step forward
(15:11):
for me. He got into some dangerous positions that we
didn't pass him the bowl. So his ability to make
one movement and then another one and then another one,
you know, so I thought he did some good stuff,
but obviously missing the penalty kick, Yeah, he's gonna be disappointed.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
That's good stuff there.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
From head coach Brian Schmitzer after the win over Salt Lake.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
All right, let's say a break.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Let's chat with Ari Lillionwall from Major League Soccer dot
Com and then podcast Lobbing Scorcheres. Ari will join us
to look ahead to decision Day, talk about the RSL win,
and talk lots more MLS Soccer. He is next year
on Sounders Weekly Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders
FCS Sports Radio sonoint three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Jackson felt good to have you with us here late
on this Tuesday night special show because of course we
have the cracking game that happened earlier today and tomorrow
night we will have the baseball post game following of
course Game three for the Seattle Maritors in the ALCS
Crazy what's going on there across the street Game three
(16:26):
and four and five. Later this week they're at te
Mobile Park. Joining us right now here on Sounders Week.
Please we get back to talking. Sounders Soccer is our
good friend from the podcast Lobbing Scorcheres. He also is
a writer and editor for MLS Soccer dot com. Make
sure you subscribe to Lobbing Scorches wherevery year podcasts, including
the iHeartRadio app, and of course subscribe to the Lobbing
(16:47):
Scorches YouTube. You'll be notified when they go live on
Monday mornings with Kickoff and on Thursday nights. The Under
the Lights Show Ari Lillianwall does it all, and he
joins us, right now, Ari, how you doing by.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I'm doing good, Jackson.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
I'm looking forward to this decision Day. I feel like
we can enjoy it a little more this year because
Seattle has already walked in fifth, so there's not really
a seeding to play for and the pressure on it,
so we can kind of just watch everyone else duel
it out and enjoy it.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
That's kind of what I opened the show with, is
it's this weird situation where after the Portland game a
couple of weeks ago, we looked at the situation and
we kind of said, okay, you know, in one point
and you know, we get the pretty much the five
seed locked up. Well, the Sounders got three points, and
here we are. So it is a little weird from
our perspective. Let's talk about Decision Day in a minute,
(17:39):
and what's going on against New York City FC out
of the Eastern Conference.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
This game against oursl one nothing.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I have a take on it that I'll share with
you in a minute, but let's just start with your
takeaways from the one nothing win.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I thought it started out excellent, like the first thirty
to thirty five minutes of that game, I was sitting
there thinking, all right, all right, here we go, like
this looks like the team that we saw in Leagues Cup.
So on one hand, it was good to see them
be able to find that level again, even if they
didn't really I wouldn't say they sustained that into the
second half. It looked like they actually conceded the equalizer,
(18:15):
which would have been another blown lead at home, but
it gets waved off on var So it was a
lot less comfortable to win than it should have been
given how good the game started. So I think it's
a mixture of feeling good about the fact that they
did start the game off really well and they got
on top of RSL and looked like they did in
Leagues Cup, with also this kind of continued issue of
(18:37):
not being able to close out a home.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Game where you have the lead, and then that's exactly it.
That was.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
That's my whole issue right now is man, we're a
week and a half away from the playoffs, and since
winning League's Cup, I don't think the Sounders have been
able to kind of to put a game away. And
you know, it is the Portland game, and it's the
RSL game, and it's Vancouver getting a draw there, or
in the Galaxy getting a draw there. I mean, right
now I should be celebrating two straight wins and locking
(19:07):
into a five seed going into decision day, but already,
like my mind's already on the play It's hard for
me to even focus on decision day. My mind is
already on the playoffs, and because of that, my mind
is already on this issue that we can't seem to
break right now.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Yeah, Well, one thing I will say is I feel
like we've seen it happen before, where when Seattle's coming
out of the tournament or in regular season play, they
maybe don't play up to the level that they do
when they are in the Tournament's almost like they need
the stakes to bring their maximum level. So from that standpoint,
I feel like it's decently likely that once the playoffs
(19:43):
actually start and they snap back into Seattle Sounders Brian
Schmetter tournament mode, maybe they will just revert back to
that League Cup form this team.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
I've learned better than to doubt this.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Team in a tournament, even if they go into it
in not great form, it seems like they just always
turn up for it. So I think it's at least
the possibility that that could happen in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Again this year.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
That is a great point. And you know the Schmitzer
we heard from Schmitzer in the opening segment, and it's
the Schmitzer factor of you know, no matter what you're doing,
he's going to turn it on come playoff time. And
unless the team is suffering a major injury, we're probably
gonna go deep. You know, you look at outside of
(20:23):
twenty eighteen where you had Christian and Chad go down.
That team's probably an MLS Cup against Atlanta. And you know,
ultimately these teams were that they haven't gone deep, have
been because of injuries.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
And this team already, you.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Know, we look at right now the center back situation
with Yamar and with Kim. But on the offensive end,
this team finally is healthy and they finally are together,
and they get guys back this week and it just
seems like this attack could be built for something special
if it all comes together.
Speaker 7 (20:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
I mean, I think this team this year has been
playing offensively at about as high a level as I've
seen since I've been around the team. The chance, the
chance generation has been really really good all year they've
scored a bunch of goals, and like, even in a
game like this, I felt like they looked really good
at attack in the first half, even without Albert Rusnak
out there. They won League's Cup with Rusnack not even
(21:17):
out there, so with him getting back into the mix,
and then I thought Jordan actually had a really bright
start to the game. I know, he missed the penalty
and he hasn't scored a goal since he came back yet,
but he gets the assist on that first row Rock goal.
He was all over the place while they were on
top of our RSL at the start of that first half,
but yeah, he gets the assist and then draws the
penalty that he ended up missing, So I thought that
(21:39):
was at least an encouraging sign for him. And if
he gets going, then I think you'll feel pretty good
about where the attack is that personnel wise going into
the playoffs, and to at least be able to score
some goals in the playoffs. You know, who knows if
they're going to make it all the way playoffs are
or when defense really comes into play, But I mean,
they'll at least give himselves a fighting.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Chance if they can.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
If they can attack like Ari lillianwall is our guest.
He's a writer and editor for MLS Soccer dot com.
He hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. Get it on the
iHeartRadio app and subscribe to the Lobbing Scorchers page on YouTube.
And I think, Ari, you're rounding out the Sounders conversation
before we look ahead to New York City and Decision Day.
You know, I kind of look at this and I say,
if we get Kim or Yamar back to go next
(22:21):
to Jackson, you have new who, you have Alex rol Don.
You know, you have Christian Rodan and Obed Vargus in
the holding midfield.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Then you look at that four.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Up top and I kind of see five people to
go in four spots. You have Jordan up top, and
then you know you have kind of a it really
does break down to four for three because you have
Peter dal Lavega, you have Albert Rusnak, you have Paul Rothrock,
and you have Heesus Frera.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Those four to go in three spots? Uh do you?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
I mean, since they're all available this week, what do
you do with your Brian Schmitzer.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
It's a it is a tough question for me personally,
the setup I like the most is is Dey la
Vega Russnack, Ferreira with Morris up top. I just think,
heyis Ferreira has shown such just like dependability in that
wide channel this year and I really like what he
brings there. And Rothrock, I mean, he's earned starting, really
started a bunch of games this year. But I think
(23:17):
his skill set, if you if you're talking about between
him and Ferira, his skill set would lend itself better
to a super sub. So that's what I would do
as a first choice. But I mean, I'm sure there's
gonna be the further they make in the playoffs, there's
gonna be games probably where Rothrock starts and Feria comes
off the bench, or they run another setup.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
But that's how I like it as the first choice. Yeah,
I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It is just so tough, and maybe you know, there
is an element of oh Beed Vargas coming back from
the U twenty World Cup with Mexico, Christian Roaldon coming
back from his United States men's national team duty. Maybe
there's a situation where we have to slide Albert Rusnack
back and this isn't an issue yet, but I think
that is a very real question come a week and
a half from now, when you're playing one of San
(24:00):
Diego LAFC and Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.
Two weeks ago when we spoke, we didn't have a
show last week. But two weeks ago when we spoke,
I asked you who you wanted, and you said Minnesota.
If the playoffs started this minute, it would be Minnesota.
Are you still on Minnesota?
Speaker 7 (24:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (24:17):
No, I still have been saying that that's my preferred matchup.
Doesn't mean it's gonna be an easy matchup. It doesn't
mean they're gonna be guaranteed to beat him. This is
a team that beats Seattle twice this year, but that's
almost one thing in favor of the matchup. I think
it's pretty hard to beat the same team three times
in a row and they're gonna get to the two
fracks at least at this team. So I just feel
(24:37):
like it's more about how good I think the other
teams are than thinking that Minnesota is going to be
an easy matchup or a pushover. But I also think
tactically as well, it's the best matchup and you don't
have to deal with guys like Denny Bowanga and Andrews Dryer,
So I'll take it.
Speaker 8 (24:53):
Well.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
I mean, you see LAFC go out on Sunday and
lose one nothing against Austin, and I think, you know,
I was, as I was kind of thinking through this
interview a couple of days ago, I thought the question of, well,
you know, who's your odds on favorite to win the
West right now? Was so obviously LIFC. After that really
poor loss to Austin. Is LAFC still the favorite?
Speaker 6 (25:16):
I mean, I tend to think that Austin result is
an outlier. They had been so hot for a lot
of games before going into that game, so definitely was
surprising to see that result. I didn't see that game,
so I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I definitely
it does not make me think any less of their
playoff credentials. Really, I still think when you have the
(25:37):
Denny Bolonga Sun Hong Min duo, you're honestly probably going
to be the favorites going into most games you've played.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
They certainly are.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Ari Let's continue and let's look ahead to the decision day,
and there's gonna be a lot of drama in Decision Day.
I mentioned in the previous segments San Diego at sixty,
LAFC at fifty nine, Minnesota at fifty eight. Yeah, that
will be very, very fun to watch for us, And
to go back to your common at the start of
the interview, a little bit stress free while watching the
Sounders game against New York City. Now on the other side,
(26:06):
where the Sounders just want a good run of form
going into the playoffs. New York City meanwhile, sitting in
fifth place in the East with fifty six points. They
are tied on points with Charlotte in fourth. They are
three points ahead of Orlando and seventh, two points ahead
of Nashville and sixth. So this is a New York
City team. Ari, maybe you can shed some light on
(26:27):
how good they are, and I imagine they're gonna be
playing pretty hard to try to get up to that
four spot this weekend.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
No, they're in kind of the opposite situation as Seattle.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
They need to win this game.
Speaker 6 (26:38):
They're fighting with Charlotte and Nashville for top four and
home field advantage in the first round, so they're gonna
be going for this game. It's kind of a gotta
habit game, probably as far as they're concerned a bit,
just because they have home field advantages right there if
they win this game, so they're gonna be going for it,
and I think they're kind of a team that gets
left on more than they should. I was talking to
(27:00):
Nico Moreno about it on my Kickoff show this morning.
But I think Alonzo Martinez there starting striker, might be
the most underrated player.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
In the whole league.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
Had seventeen goals this year after having sixteen goals last year,
so he's very legit.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
He's one of the best.
Speaker 6 (27:14):
Number nines that Seattle's going to have to deal with
all year, and it'll be I think it'll be a
good test for maybe a guy like Stu Stewart Hawkins,
who with all the CB injuries and absences and stuff,
he might actually get a chance to play in this game.
I think Snager Bernell is going to be back, so
I'm hoping that Seattlefield's a lineup like that and get
some experience and minutes for guys who can play in
(27:35):
a situation where it's high stakes. You're going to be
playing against a team that needs the game and is
going to be going for it, but realistically the result
of this game, it doesn't matter for Seattle points wise.
It matters performance wise to like get the vibes going
in a good direction going into the playoffs, but points wise,
it doesn't really affect anything. So you can I think
you can afford to like be creative with your lineup
(27:57):
in this situation, maybe more than you normally would, but
like with the with it in your mind too that
you do need to play well and you can't have
a situation right where you get too crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
With the lineup and then get blown out. You don't
want that.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
But I think there's a balance there where you can
take advantage of the fact that points wise, it doesn't
really affect you either way.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yeah, it really is that weird setting, and you see
it in the NFL a bunch in that final week.
And that's why you know our league and the other
leagues do the smart thing where you don't play the
final week of the regular season in fantasy because like
fantasy football, because you know that teams are going to
be resting and doing weird things, and you know sometimes
when you're locked into something other than the top seed,
there is that dynamic of of do you rest guys
(28:37):
versus do you get guys good in form? I'm it's
such an intriguing proposition, you know, for for Brian Schmitzer
to you know, maybe get experience versus you know, get
guys playing their best.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
I think you gotta start Jordan Morris because you got.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
To get him feeling himself and I mean, gosh, to
miss that penalty and not score, or not miss the
penalty but have it saved and and then not score
and still you mentioned having not scored since he got back.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I need to see Jordan get in a good run
of form.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
And you know, I would like to see Albert Russ
not getting a good run of form after he missed
this last week. And you add these things together, maybe
maybe it is Snyder and you let Christian take a
breather after traveling with the US or obed after traveling
with the Mexico there at the U twenty World Cup,
it's there. I think you nail that that there is
a balance, and it's gonna be interesting to see what
that balance is. From Brian Schmitzer ari as we wrap
(29:29):
it up and take a look at kind of the
wider Eastern conference, I asked you about the favorite there
in the West, but for the East, Philadelphia wins the
Supporter Shield. They have that going into decision today they
wanted a couple weeks ago. You have Cincinnati and Miami
both second and third with sixty two points, and then
as I mentioned, Charlotte and New York City with fifty
six points and fourth and fifth. Philly's obviously the shield winner.
(29:52):
Miami has messy. Who do you see coming out of
the East at this moment.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
I think Philadelphia and Miami are the front runners, But
if I had to pick a dark horse, I would
say Charlotte SC. I think they've sneakily been one of
the hottest teams in the league for the entire second
half of the season. They've got their striker Toplamatti, who
replays Patrick Augimond.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
He's been playing out of his mind.
Speaker 6 (30:18):
He looks like one of the best attackers in MLS.
And they're really really good defensively. So they're like a
really complete team that it seems like could do well
in the playoffs. They'd really I think, solidified themselves as
like an upper tier club in the league this year.
Speaker 7 (30:32):
But I mean.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
Philadelphia, they won the Supporter Shields, so they could obviously
make a run. And then anytime you have Lionel Messi
in a tournament, he can just go supernova for any
seta games and get you over the line. So though,
if I had to pick three front runners that would
be it would be Silly and Miami, with Charlotte as.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
The dark horse.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well, Charlotte's former broadcaster Jessica Charman is going to join
us in our next segment. She's calling Seattle, New York
City coming up for EMLA season past this weekend. So
definitely get a hurt two cents on Charlotte there, But
good thoughts, Ari. We'll talk next week when the whole
field is set and we know exactly who Seattle is
gonna be facing. It's gonna be a fun decision day,
(31:13):
and to echo your words at the start, maybe a
little bit more relaxing than it usually is. So let's
all have a nice relaxing decision day together. I know
you won't be relaxed. You'll be watching every single game,
I assume, with an absolutely Madman TV experience with all
the games on.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So enjoy it, my friend. Try to stay as relaxed
as you can. Thanks Jack, and looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Good stuff there from Ari, and I believe, by the way,
Lobbing Scorchers, his show there on YouTube will have a
live stream to react to everything going on on Decision Day,
so Ari and Noah will have that as you can
subscribe to Lobbing Scorches.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
I might even pop into that.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Ari protexted me earlier today and said, by the way,
do you want to jump in on this on Saturday?
So that will be fun there on Saturday. That will
be on the later slate because the Sounders do have
that game. It's gonna be a Providence Swedish premat show
of two thirty kickoff of three o'clock for the Sounders game.
They're in New York City, so that's our radio broadcast
(32:10):
over a nine to fifty kjar am folks. You can
also watch it MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV
app and listen in Spanish language on Lray thirteen sixty
and Saturday's match is presented by the Western Washington Toyota Dealers,
so that game's in the earlier slate because Sounders are
in that East Coast game.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Against New York City.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
The West Coast Decision Day games all start at six
o'clock so that lobbying scorches live stream there at six o'clock.
That will be a lot of fun and I'll pop
into that and we'll all react to see what happens
between San Diego and Portland, Minnesota, the LA Galaxy and
of course LAFC Colorado, as those three spots will get
figured out and the Sounders will know who they then
(32:50):
end up facing. All right, that will do it for
this segment here at Sounders Weekly. I mentioned our next guest,
Jessica Charman. She is a former voice of Charlotte FC.
She now is a broadcaster for MLS Season Pass on
Apple TV. She knows all about this game here coming up,
and you gonna pick her brain a little bit on
the rest of the Eastern Conference. She knows it well
(33:11):
and if Ari is right, Charlotte may be a dark
horse to go to MLS Cup. Jessica Charman, we'll talk
about decision day ahead next here on Sounder's Weekly Sports
Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders
FC Clle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly. Jackson felt good to have you
with us here on this Tuesday night, staying up late
here for us thanks to our guests so far this evening.
Ari Lillian Wall popping on there a reminder that we'll
have rain weekly with Kiey Dunning coming up here in
just about fifteen minutes here on ninety three point three
KJR FM. But it is time to look ahead to
(33:54):
decision day for the Seattle Sounders at New York City
FC coming up this Saturday. Sounders are gonna be in
the Eastern Conference slate of games at three pm. That
is because they're the one Western Conference team facing an
Eastern Conference team. Somebody had to cross over and the
Sounders are that team. So for that match broadcast, it
(34:16):
will be a two thirty Providence, Swedish pre match show
and three o'clock kickoff over on our sister station of
Sports Radio nine to fifty kr AM. We'll mention also
that this match is presented by the Western Washington Toyota Dealers. Also,
you can listen in Spanish language on l Ray thirteen
sixty and watch the match via MLS Season Pass on
(34:37):
the Apple TV app. And the person who is going
to be calling that match Seattle at New York City
FC is Jessica Charman. She is a former Charlotte FC
broadcaster now with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and
Jessica joins us right here for the first time on KJAR.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Jessica, Welcome to Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 8 (34:58):
How are you Birthly, I'm amazing.
Speaker 7 (35:01):
Secondly, no shade at all.
Speaker 8 (35:03):
If people want to hit the local radio option, absolutely
do it. It's one of my favorite features at season bars.
I think it's such an important thing to have as
a former radio person. So if you want the Seattle
Central version, go ahead and switch it over. But I
promise I am doing all my prep work to make
sure that you can tell that I am well.
Speaker 7 (35:20):
Versed in your site.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Yeah, we're excited to hear you.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
I do wish the you know, if our friend Kirk
is listening. I wish that the radio option was available
for road games too.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
I think it is still only available for home games.
Speaker 8 (35:34):
Yeah, many home games. And that was my biggest when
I was a radio person too, because at the end
of the day, the road temes are the ones where
it's more complicate. Those are the ones that you have
less of your fans in the stadium, right. But I
think there's issues with the actual physical dynamics of it.
It's a little bit more complicated than maybe we realized, Jess.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Because this is the first time we've had a chance
to chat on Sounders weekly. Let's just get your two
cents and your perspective on our Seattle Sounder out here
and what the Eastern Coast vibe and view is of
our rave Green squad here in Seattle.
Speaker 7 (36:08):
Well, first day, I.
Speaker 8 (36:09):
Was delighted to have an opportunity to commentate the game
last time out of Limonfield against Rail Salt Lake, and
I know it was a completely different side. Brian told
us eleven players unavailable for selection. That's absolutely wild for
a game, But the fact that Seattle was still abled
to get the result out get a clean sheet show
a lot of resilience. I mean, it was a crazy
wild ride. I feel like the Seattle fan from getting
(36:32):
up in the fourth minute missing a penalty, I'll say
saved the penalty.
Speaker 7 (36:35):
As a former goalkeeper, he did not miss it. It
was safe. And then the ball in the back of
the net from.
Speaker 8 (36:40):
Rail Salt Lake right afterwards.
Speaker 7 (36:42):
It was a roller coaster. But I feel that's kind
of been a little bit of.
Speaker 8 (36:45):
Seattle season right There's been a lot of high not
many deep, deep loads, but a little bit of adversity
here and there.
Speaker 7 (36:52):
But what I like about this Seattle.
Speaker 8 (36:54):
Side and any Brian Spencer side is the fact that
they are so well organized, so well discipline that even
if you take out three, four or five starting players,
they're still able to understand the system, They're still able
to play with their resilience, they're still able to grind
out results. And I think that's a credit to the
identity of this side and what they can do on
(37:14):
a week in, week out basis, and also the way
that this has been built with that squad depth, that
you have that rotational piece, And I mean, I'm excited
to watch them coming against New York City, who I
feel like are one of the quiet sleepers in the
Eastern Conference as well, because they have had that sort
of turbulency of a season, a new coach coming in
in Pascal Jansson, up and down results, but also finding
(37:35):
a little bit of a footing, and they have an
opportunity to push for a fourth place spot, which I
know Seattle doesn't, which makes it a really interesting tactical matchup,
particularly with it being played at City Field, which makes
things a little bit more difficult, I should say for opponents.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Yeah, there's such an interesting chess match, Jessica that's going
to happen between the coaches. Because for Seattle it's locked
into the five seed. The only thing really deeply important
about decision day is watching what happens at six pm
with all the rest of Western Conference games and figuring
out if it's Minnesota, San Diego or LAFC will be
facing a week and a half from today for New
(38:11):
York City, you know, to kind of continue off of
the point you were just making. It has been up
and down, and it has been a situation where they
can capture a four seed, which means the home field
advantage in that first game, first round, best of three.
So what does New York City do in this game
that maybe Seattle doesn't is is it absolutely going forward
(38:33):
from front foot from the first second of this game
where Seattle may play a little bit deeper.
Speaker 7 (38:39):
Well, I think the.
Speaker 8 (38:40):
First thing is that as much as Seattle can't play
for anything in terms of positioning in the standing, locked
into that fitth spot, as we know with any American
sport when it comes to playoff times. But always talking
about the momentum that you have to build, and the
worst thing for Seattle, in my opinion, would be to
have a poor performance a poor result going into play,
because you don't want.
Speaker 7 (39:00):
To be licking your wounds after decision there.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
You want to be playing your best possible soccer with momentum,
with belief, even if you're going on the road in
the first game of that round of three.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
So I don't think this is a match where they
have nothing to play for.
Speaker 8 (39:13):
They definitely have all the best to play for with
the momentum and bringing in, you know, potential starters that
weren't available last time out back into the team to
get their feet wet again. But for New York City,
anytime they play at home, I just feel like, again,
I don't want.
Speaker 7 (39:26):
To pop on about.
Speaker 8 (39:27):
The field, and I've been told it's not actually that different,
but there's just a sense when you commentate games.
Speaker 7 (39:33):
I haven't done one.
Speaker 8 (39:33):
At City Field, but I've done a lot at Yankee
Stadium this season.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
It just moves so much faster.
Speaker 8 (39:38):
The transitional moments are so much quicker. The ball seems
to go. You know, one minute your goalkeeper's got a
ball of the boots. The next thing you have an
attacking opportunity. So the route one directness of play is
really important, and I think that that's something that Seattle
is going to have to be aware of defensively.
Speaker 7 (39:53):
There are a couple of moments against rel Salt Lake
where I.
Speaker 8 (39:55):
Feel like Railway able to play the ball long catch
a little bit off guard. But on the flip side,
I think there are players on the Seattle side that
can be really really dangerous in transition as well. So
picking the transitional moments and finishing your opportunities when you
get them. Because New York City scores a lot of
goals and recently they've been pretty good in front of
frame in all the games that I've been working on,
(40:16):
So I would say making sure that when you get
opportunities that you finish them. It's going to be pivotal
in this game, because, as you know, you can't allow
a team. I think back to the penalty and the
miss penalty and how that was an opportunity to get
a two nail cushion last time out for Seattle.
Speaker 7 (40:30):
I don't think that's something.
Speaker 8 (40:31):
That New York City allows you to get away with.
If you get a two nil, if you don't get
a two nail cushion over them. Things get a lot
more difficult in a game against an opponent like New York.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Well, it's interesting, Gosh, if the Sounders went into this
game needing three points, I'd be real scared just based
on that. I hadn't even considered the stadium dynamics. I mean,
we have a situation up here where we play at
lumen Field, a little bit more spacious, big stadium, NFL stadium.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
And then there's also.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
And then you have a Starfire sports car Complex down
south about twenty minutes south in Tuckwilla. That's a much
different stadium when it comes to dimensions and games play
completely differently. So it definitely, you know, screams of that
needing to be aware of how the stadium plays games
as well.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Really good insight there, Jessica.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
What we have you You mentioned you called a lot
of games at Yankee Stadium. I know you're a format
former Charlotte FC broadcaster. I love your two cents on
the Eastern Conference. I was just talking with our good
friend Ari Lillianwall, who hosts a podcast and writes for
emilssoccer dot com. I had him on about twenty minutes ago,
we were talking about the East and how you know
there's Philadelphia, the Shield winners, there's Messi in Miami, and
(41:41):
he said the dark horse to win the East is Charlotte.
And I'm wondering if somebody who knows that organization intimately,
how do you see the East shaking out? And is
Charlotte a legitimate contender to win the East?
Speaker 8 (41:55):
Okay, that is a love of respect to your previous guest,
But did he watch Charlotte versus DC.
Speaker 7 (42:00):
Because that was not a good show. I'm being perfectly recent.
Speaker 8 (42:08):
The win streak was absolutely incredible, and I'll say something
about Charlotte fe they have this ability to grind get results,
and I mean nine straight wins absolutely remarkable, almost unprecedented.
Were almost able to get the ten straight wins, obviously,
but in that streak they showed a lot of resilience,
they showed character.
Speaker 7 (42:28):
It wasn't always convincing in the style of play, and
they went back to.
Speaker 8 (42:31):
Their defensive principles that I think was very good in
the twenty twenty four campaign.
Speaker 7 (42:35):
The issue with Charlotte.
Speaker 8 (42:37):
Now is after they had that result, it was New
York City that broke their win streak. It was New
York City, your opponent this weekend, that was able to
stop them setting history. They kind of hit a bit
of a downward pattern and the play wasn't as good
against DC. I don't think they pick up three points
in that game unless DC goes down to nine players,
including a red card for a goalkeeper but picking up
(42:58):
the ball outside of the box. I'm sorry, Like I'm
also goalies getting red cards as a former goalkeeper, but
that was one of the wildest red cards I've ever seen. Like,
just to lose your bearings that much in an important
game summarizes DC season. But Charlotte has some star power
the likes of Wilfrid Zaha. I know he's a bit
of an interesting character to watch from neutral perspectives, but.
Speaker 7 (43:19):
Has a lot of quality in him.
Speaker 8 (43:20):
And then their newest signing, Dan Tookla Matty really good upfront.
But I think for me, Philadelphia Union has been the
most consistent team. That's why they've won the support his shield.
It's going to be a really interesting matchup because it's
Philadelphia playing Charlotte on Decision Day. In Charlotte, everyone knows
how cool Banks of Americans Stadium is. That's a fortress,
so to say, for those fans. So I'm going to
(43:42):
go out on a women say I think that Philadelphia
wins that game and therefore Ari was incorrect. And I
know that doesn't mean anything for the actual playoffs, but
I think that's going to be a difficult one for me.
Speaker 7 (43:53):
I think I like him.
Speaker 8 (43:55):
Maybe again it's that English ree snobbery and me, but
I think the most consistent team has the best opportunity
to set foot in the East. So I'm going to
go with Philadelphia not only being the supported Shield winners,
but also getting it done and topping the East and
getting a spot in the MLS Final.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
Jessica, we have thirty seconds left here.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
I got to know, as a broadcaster for Decision Day,
do you focus in on one game, one game only
or do your eyes you know during the game, will
they drift it all towards other games?
Speaker 8 (44:24):
I think based on what we're going to be asked
of in terms of the package and being able to
do a lot of score bugs and bug drop, I'm going.
Speaker 7 (44:30):
To have to know every story.
Speaker 6 (44:31):
Legs.
Speaker 8 (44:32):
I'm with a son, so I'm very relieved that I'm
calling Seattle, who I prepped for very hard last week
and New York City, who I've done three or four
games of so that I can give myself a little
bit of time. That it's my first decision day for MLS.
I am so privileged to have a chance to do it.
But yeah, it is going to be a wild ride,
and I'm excited for all of the obstacles, particularly on
the western side of things that can really switch things
(44:52):
up in terms of standing.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
So crazy for the games at six pm. Jessica, have
a great call for MLS Season Pass. We'll be watching
and enjoy the craziness starting at three pm Pacific.
Speaker 7 (45:03):
Thank you so much. Have a good one, guys, Jessica Sharman.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
She is a broadcaster MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
We thank her for her time. Looking ahead to Sounders
New York City FC on Decision Day three pm. We
will have the game for you over on Sports Radio
nine fifty KJR AM.
Speaker 3 (45:21):
Couple notes before we end tonight's show.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence 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 all right, We'll
talk to you at two point thirty on Saturday for
Sounders New York City FC. That's the pregame. We'll talk
to you over on nine to fifty am for that,
(45:43):
But for right here and right now, the focus shifts
from the Sounders to the Rain, who are looking ahead
to the playoffs as well. Kiley Dunning will have Rain Weekly,
which kicks off next on Sports Radio ninety three point
three KJRFL
This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good Eden, everybody, welcome into Sounders Weekly. Thanks for staying
up late with us here tonight, late on a Tuesday
night after that cracking game. We appreciate you stay in
tuned here to Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
This is Sounders Weekly. My name is Jackson Felts. I'm
here for the next hour. Then Keiley Dunning will take
over for Rain Weekly in an hour to talk about
(00:27):
what's going on with the Rain, who with a draw
over the weekend nearly clinched a playoff Bertha. Also, there
is some major, major news, you know, let's just share
that before we get into Sounders Weekly and turn our
entire attention for the next hour to the Sounders. The massive,
massive Rain news that came out yesterday morning is that
(00:49):
their captain, the og, the legend, Lou Barnes, a longtime
center back, excellent defender for Seattle Rain, She's gonna be
retiring from pro soccer at the end of the season.
Sure Keeley Dunning will have some more on that and
the Rain, as they have just a couple more matches
left in the season before the playoffs begin. And they
(01:09):
nearly have a spot clinched after a draw this last weekend. Okay,
that's what's going on in an hour with Rain Weekly.
This is Sounders Weekly, and we are talking about a
hot Sounders team. This is a team right now in
Seattle that we kind of It's funny. A couple weeks ago,
we kind of looked at the standings, I should say,
after the Porland game. We looked at the standings and said,
(01:30):
all right, you know, now we've kind of locked in
that five seed. It wasn't fully locked in yet, but
even with a draw in one of the last two
games RSL, which was this last weekend, and then New
York City coming up on Decision Day, if you got
one point in either of those two games, you're locked
into the five seed.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So we were.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Probably in the kind of an interesting mental place at
that moment coming that was coming out of the Porland game.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Then of course you get the nothing.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Win over RSL, and now we are fully locked into
the five seed for the Sounders.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
That is done. That is over. That is kaputt.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And you know, now it's sort of the situation going
into a decision day.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
It's weird.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
We have absolutely nothing to play for, and I think
the focus for head coach Brian Schmetzer will be very
much on the side of let's make sure that this
team is playing at the quality and the level it
needs to because I mean, shoot, people, two weeks from
last weekend, that is the start of the playoffs. We're
a week and a half away from the playoffs beginning.
(02:36):
And this team, you look at the standings right now,
this team doesn't have a lot of options of what's
gonna happen, you know, because LAFC right now is at
fifty nine points in third. Minnesota is in fourth place
with fifty eight points. San Diego is in second with
sixty points. Those are the potential three opponents for the Sounders.
Everybody's on thirty three games. Everybody has one game left,
(02:59):
and if you kind of break it down, because let's
just look here and let's see who each of these
teams have. So San Diego on their decision day match,
they're gonna be hosting oh no, sorry, They're gonna be
going to Portland to face the Timbers. So there's that. Meanwhile,
you have LAFC, who are one point back of San
Diego in third and for Decision Day LAFC are going
(03:22):
to Colorado, so there's that. LAFC was on a tear
before they lost one nothing in Austin yet on Sunday
that was kind of a shocking result for LAFC. So
LAFC also on the road and then currently fourth place
Minnesota their Decision Day game, also on the road. They
are going to play the LA Galaxy, and the Galaxy
(03:44):
of course horrible this year. I believe they did get
a win just this last weekend. But yeah, So for
those teams, you know, spots two through five, San Diego, LAFC, Minnesota, Seattle,
every one of them is on the road. And for
the Sounders, we know we are going to be facing
one of those three teams. It just matters who ends
up being the four seed. So for the Sounders, you know,
(04:08):
it's kind of that element of you want to be
playing well and you want to be in good run
of form going into the playoffs where you're gonna be
going to San Diego, to Los Angeles or two Minnesota.
At this moment, that's Minnesota. But listen, it's craziness of
Decision Day. There's three teams within two spots two points
of each other. Anything can happen on decision day. We
(04:30):
know well about that. So you want to be playing well,
you want to be in good run of form, but
you also want to make sure that nobody gets injured,
right because this is a team. Over the course of
these last thirty three games and Conker Calf and League's
Cup and the Club World Cup, it has been an
injured team. And we've kind of had one here one
there in out. Albert Rusnak was missing from suspension. We've
(04:52):
had international duty. Christian Roldan playing over the last week
with the United States men's national team. Awesome to see him.
There lots of other players on international duty. I think
there was a thirteen guys missing this last game against
Salt Lake, which makes it so much more impressive that
the Sounders gotta one nothing win.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
So you have all of this together.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You want this team to be both available and healthy
come playoff time. And right now we are missing game
Argos on Roddy, we are missing Kim Kihee.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
We hope to have both of them.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Back for the start of the playoffs, but that's a
lot of TBD right now. But Jackson Reagan played well.
I thought that Alex Roldan sliding into that center back spot.
It was kind of that three that shifts to a four.
Thought Alex did well overall. That was a game against
Salt Lake and we're gonna talk about it coming up
with Ari Lillionwall. We also, by the way, have a
new debut coming up here on Sounders Weekly later tonight.
(05:49):
You know, we bounce around. We always have MLS Season
Pass on Apple TV. Broadcasters. Jessica Charman is a broadcaster
I believe, a former play by play voice of Charlotte
I want to say, but she's now doing MLS Season
Pass on Apple TV and she will be joining us
for our final segment tonight to preview Sounders and New
York City. And I think one of the interesting questions
(06:11):
is exactly what I'm talking about here is what the
Sounders do to stay healthy to make sure that they
are having a good run of form. And you don't
just want to go out and lose at New York City.
You don't want to go out and play your backups
and play a defiance like lineup. That's absolutely not going
to happen. So the dynamics of this game, and also
(06:33):
I haven't even looked into what New York city's playing
for yet well, of course get into that with Ari
as well, But there's gonna be some interesting dynamics here
with this decision day given that Seattle has absolutely nothing
to play for and is just kind of waiting to
see if it's San Diego, LAFC, or Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So it'd be very interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Well, Love Ari will love Jessica coming up later tonight
to talk about everything going on. But the RSL to
go back to it, it kind of for me, really
does come down to a team that needs to figure
out ways to put other teams away.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
And I think you can look at this.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
As a broader issue going back pretty much since the
end of the league's Cup title. It's a team that
absolutely should have had a second goal in STARSL. You
had that penalty opportunity that Jordan Morris has saved. Boy,
that would have been nice for Jordan Moore's confidence to
get that goal, because that dude hasn't scored since he
broke the club record for most goals. It's been a
(07:33):
long time since Jordan Morris is on the score sheet.
We need him to get back on that and that
would have been a great opportunity, a great confidence builder
to put that penalty in the back of the net
and he couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Really unfortunate that that was saved. So there's that.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
But then also you have other opportunities, shots going wide,
Klanni Pedro and it was great to see Pedro de
la Vega. My goodness, he has been a revolution since
he got healthy. Great to have him back out there
and looking very very good on the wing. We now
need him to stay healthy and not get hurt again
come playoff time. But to go back to it, so
(08:10):
you have opportunities, you aren't able to get the second
against RSL that you really needed Portland the previous week.
They were pressing at moments and really would have loved
to get that too. Nothing winner, and you see Danny
Mazowski got a couple opportunities. There were other opportunities and
we couldn't get that second goal against Portland. Yes, we're
(08:30):
winning these games, but it's about putting them away. You
think about the LA Galaxy game which was back on
September thirteenth. I see September thirteenth where they end up
scoring late and making it a two to two game.
We know, of course Austin that should have been a draw.
That turned into a loss Vancouver. We were up two
to one. Sounders I think have a right now issue
(08:53):
that they need to fix, which is when you are
ahead in second halves of games, or you are in
a spot to earn a result, put the other team away.
That is kind of the one major concern I have
right now a week and a half from the playoffs beginning,
and we know that the team has the quality to
put other teams away.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
They did it to Miami in the League's Cup final.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
They have the players, they have the health, they have
everybody they need I think right now back together for
this New York City game to put a game like
this away.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And City's a good team and we're gonna get into it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
But I think the Sounders have it in them to
maybe not you know, fully get a win, but get
a result and look good going into the playoffs. But
my goodness, if you are in position for a result
or for a win in the second half, you have
the horses back. Albert's back from suspension, Christian will be back,
knew who will be back, everybody will be back. Put
(09:49):
it all together for a good performance on decision day
where you're feeling good going into that first playoff game.
It is, by the way, and I can't say this enough.
Over the next week, this is going to be a
first round playoff series best of three. So it'll be
a best of three against either LAFC San Diego or Minnesota.
First games on the road, second games back here in Seattle,
(10:13):
third game, if necessary, back on the road. That's how
that first round series would work. So we know that
the Sounders potentially, you know, you go on the road,
you defend welly, a penalty kick, shootout win. Ultimately you
come home looking for a two zero sweep. I would
love to see that, but we'll see how that shakes out.
(10:33):
All right. Well, again, we'll get to a lot coming
up here with Ari and with Jessica later on in
tonight's show. What do you say we shift gears here
in Sounders Weekly and enough hearing from me about that
Sounders win over RSL and again, don't want to discredit
it. It was a great goal from Paul Rothrock. Awesome to
see that league's cup banner dropped. That was great. It
(10:54):
was a pouring down rain, but it was I think
a good game for the Sounders and at the end
of the day, it's a win, there's not too much
to complain about. But we are a week and a
half from the playoffs starting and I want to make
sure that this team is firing on every possible cylinder.
So I do have that concern about putting teams away.
That's why I have the tone that I do. But
(11:16):
I also have the confidence that this team can put
teams away. If they are ahead, they'll be able to
switch that gear with everybody back.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Okay, enough of me.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
What does head coach Brian Schmetzer think of that win
against Rayale Salt Lake? What does he think about what's
ahead for the team and the health of the team.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Let's hear a bit from head coach Brian Schmenzer.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
All of the games at home are critical. You can't
you know, you can't be successful in MLS without winning
your home games. We've got ten wins at home, only
one loss, only one loss. And so there's only one
other team that has ten wins at home. It's Vancouver,
(11:58):
but they've got two losses at their place. So there's
something you guys can write about, something positive about our
home form, because there was a time when our home
form kind of dipped a little bit and so this year,
credit to them. Great to take care of business at
home against an RSL team that again desperate to win.
(12:20):
They needed to win this game. And you know, I
say this all the time. Next man up. I mean
that's one of the calling cards of this club. Guys
step up and do what they're supposed to do. Not
just in the best of times when you're winning three nothing,
you know things are easy and bring guys on, but
(12:41):
in hard games. You know, JP hasn't played and I
don't know how long got it out, sixty minutes. I
got on the opposite end of that spectrum. Peter Kingston
making his debut. I've got Steph three hundred and fifty
gay appearances for the club. We've got young leader stepping up,
Pedro Heyesus, Jordan Morris, Jackson, Alex you got guys Jonathan Bell,
(13:08):
Dany Lava. I mean, everybody on this squad has pitched
in at some point in time over the course of
this year. So I appreciate them very much. Does that
what you're saying kind of give you a little bit
more confidence than as far as you're the likelihood to
make a long run in the postseason?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Sure, I don't think many people want to play us. Look,
I think in the Western Conference there's a lot of
good teams. I mean, Vancouver came back and one tonight
Lafc's on fire. You know, San Diego's had a great year,
Minnesota's had an exceptional year. So it's a dog fight.
You know, it's a dogfight. I mean, it's it's going
(13:50):
to be it's gonna be hard whoever we match up against.
And you know, I got plenty of confidence in our team.
We've we've been in a lot of big games this
year year, and some of that experience is gonna, you know,
make us better in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
And then what did you think of a celebration for
the goal?
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Did you see the Mariners saying? I loved it? I mean,
go Mariners, go Ems good luck.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
Nobody knows Jordan Morris as well as you do. That
moment of the p K was that his decision? Was
that your decision? And you know how did he deal
with that miss afterwards?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Well? He Look, the players make the decisions on the
penalty kicks on the field. I obviously give them some guidance.
They know the guys that I'd like to take it.
But look, Jordan, you know, for his confidence wanted to
score and I have zero problem with that him stepping
up it. Look, it's unfortunate that he didn't score, and
(14:49):
you can tell. Look, he wears his emotions on a sleeve.
He had his head down for a little bit. But
what you guys can do when you rewatch the game
is you take a look at some of the stuff
that the kid did down on this direction of the field,
some of his defending, getting back, making sacrifices for the team.
His running in behind tonight again was a step forward
(15:11):
for me. He got into some dangerous positions that we
didn't pass him the bowl. So his ability to make
one movement and then another one and then another one,
you know, so I thought he did some good stuff,
but obviously missing the penalty kick, Yeah, he's gonna be disappointed.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
That's good stuff there.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
From head coach Brian Schmitzer after the win over Salt Lake.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
All right, let's say a break.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Let's chat with Ari Lillionwall from Major League Soccer dot
Com and then podcast Lobbing Scorcheres. Ari will join us
to look ahead to decision Day, talk about the RSL win,
and talk lots more MLS Soccer. He is next year
on Sounders Weekly Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders
FCS Sports Radio sonoint three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Jackson felt good to have you with us here late
on this Tuesday night special show because of course we
have the cracking game that happened earlier today and tomorrow
night we will have the baseball post game following of
course Game three for the Seattle Maritors in the ALCS
Crazy what's going on there across the street Game three
(16:26):
and four and five. Later this week they're at te
Mobile Park. Joining us right now here on Sounders Week.
Please we get back to talking. Sounders Soccer is our
good friend from the podcast Lobbing Scorcheres. He also is
a writer and editor for MLS Soccer dot com. Make
sure you subscribe to Lobbing Scorches wherevery year podcasts, including
the iHeartRadio app, and of course subscribe to the Lobbing
(16:47):
Scorches YouTube. You'll be notified when they go live on
Monday mornings with Kickoff and on Thursday nights. The Under
the Lights Show Ari Lillianwall does it all, and he
joins us, right now, Ari, how you doing by.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I'm doing good, Jackson.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
I'm looking forward to this decision Day. I feel like
we can enjoy it a little more this year because
Seattle has already walked in fifth, so there's not really
a seeding to play for and the pressure on it,
so we can kind of just watch everyone else duel
it out and enjoy it.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
That's kind of what I opened the show with, is
it's this weird situation where after the Portland game a
couple of weeks ago, we looked at the situation and
we kind of said, okay, you know, in one point
and you know, we get the pretty much the five
seed locked up. Well, the Sounders got three points, and
here we are. So it is a little weird from
our perspective. Let's talk about Decision Day in a minute,
(17:39):
and what's going on against New York City FC out
of the Eastern Conference.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
This game against oursl one nothing.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I have a take on it that I'll share with
you in a minute, but let's just start with your
takeaways from the one nothing win.
Speaker 6 (17:54):
I thought it started out excellent, like the first thirty
to thirty five minutes of that game, I was sitting
there thinking, all right, all right, here we go, like
this looks like the team that we saw in Leagues Cup.
So on one hand, it was good to see them
be able to find that level again, even if they
didn't really I wouldn't say they sustained that into the
second half. It looked like they actually conceded the equalizer,
(18:15):
which would have been another blown lead at home, but
it gets waved off on var So it was a
lot less comfortable to win than it should have been
given how good the game started. So I think it's
a mixture of feeling good about the fact that they
did start the game off really well and they got
on top of RSL and looked like they did in
Leagues Cup, with also this kind of continued issue of
(18:37):
not being able to close out a home.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Game where you have the lead, and then that's exactly it.
That was.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
That's my whole issue right now is man, we're a
week and a half away from the playoffs, and since
winning League's Cup, I don't think the Sounders have been
able to kind of to put a game away. And
you know, it is the Portland game, and it's the
RSL game, and it's Vancouver getting a draw there, or
in the Galaxy getting a draw there. I mean, right
now I should be celebrating two straight wins and locking
(19:07):
into a five seed going into decision day, but already,
like my mind's already on the play It's hard for
me to even focus on decision day. My mind is
already on the playoffs, and because of that, my mind
is already on this issue that we can't seem to
break right now.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Yeah, Well, one thing I will say is I feel
like we've seen it happen before, where when Seattle's coming
out of the tournament or in regular season play, they
maybe don't play up to the level that they do
when they are in the Tournament's almost like they need
the stakes to bring their maximum level. So from that standpoint,
I feel like it's decently likely that once the playoffs
(19:43):
actually start and they snap back into Seattle Sounders Brian
Schmetter tournament mode, maybe they will just revert back to
that League Cup form this team.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
I've learned better than to doubt this.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Team in a tournament, even if they go into it
in not great form, it seems like they just always
turn up for it. So I think it's at least
the possibility that that could happen in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Again this year.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
That is a great point. And you know the Schmitzer
we heard from Schmitzer in the opening segment, and it's
the Schmitzer factor of you know, no matter what you're doing,
he's going to turn it on come playoff time. And
unless the team is suffering a major injury, we're probably
gonna go deep. You know, you look at outside of
(20:23):
twenty eighteen where you had Christian and Chad go down.
That team's probably an MLS Cup against Atlanta. And you know,
ultimately these teams were that they haven't gone deep, have
been because of injuries.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
And this team already, you.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Know, we look at right now the center back situation
with Yamar and with Kim. But on the offensive end,
this team finally is healthy and they finally are together,
and they get guys back this week and it just
seems like this attack could be built for something special
if it all comes together.
Speaker 7 (20:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
I mean, I think this team this year has been
playing offensively at about as high a level as I've
seen since I've been around the team. The chance, the
chance generation has been really really good all year they've
scored a bunch of goals, and like, even in a
game like this, I felt like they looked really good
at attack in the first half, even without Albert Rusnak
out there. They won League's Cup with Rusnack not even
(21:17):
out there, so with him getting back into the mix,
and then I thought Jordan actually had a really bright
start to the game. I know, he missed the penalty
and he hasn't scored a goal since he came back yet,
but he gets the assist on that first row Rock goal.
He was all over the place while they were on
top of our RSL at the start of that first half,
but yeah, he gets the assist and then draws the
penalty that he ended up missing, So I thought that
(21:39):
was at least an encouraging sign for him. And if
he gets going, then I think you'll feel pretty good
about where the attack is that personnel wise going into
the playoffs, and to at least be able to score
some goals in the playoffs. You know, who knows if
they're going to make it all the way playoffs are
or when defense really comes into play, But I mean,
they'll at least give himselves a fighting.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Chance if they can.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
If they can attack like Ari lillianwall is our guest.
He's a writer and editor for MLS Soccer dot com.
He hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. Get it on the
iHeartRadio app and subscribe to the Lobbing Scorchers page on YouTube.
And I think, Ari, you're rounding out the Sounders conversation
before we look ahead to New York City and Decision Day.
You know, I kind of look at this and I say,
if we get Kim or Yamar back to go next
(22:21):
to Jackson, you have new who, you have Alex rol Don.
You know, you have Christian Rodan and Obed Vargus in
the holding midfield.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Then you look at that four.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Up top and I kind of see five people to
go in four spots. You have Jordan up top, and
then you know you have kind of a it really
does break down to four for three because you have
Peter dal Lavega, you have Albert Rusnak, you have Paul Rothrock,
and you have Heesus Frera.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Those four to go in three spots? Uh do you?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
I mean, since they're all available this week, what do
you do with your Brian Schmitzer.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
It's a it is a tough question for me personally,
the setup I like the most is is Dey la
Vega Russnack, Ferreira with Morris up top. I just think,
heyis Ferreira has shown such just like dependability in that
wide channel this year and I really like what he
brings there. And Rothrock, I mean, he's earned starting, really
started a bunch of games this year. But I think
(23:17):
his skill set, if you if you're talking about between
him and Ferira, his skill set would lend itself better
to a super sub. So that's what I would do
as a first choice. But I mean, I'm sure there's
gonna be the further they make in the playoffs, there's
gonna be games probably where Rothrock starts and Feria comes
off the bench, or they run another setup.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
But that's how I like it as the first choice. Yeah,
I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It is just so tough, and maybe you know, there
is an element of oh Beed Vargas coming back from
the U twenty World Cup with Mexico, Christian Roaldon coming
back from his United States men's national team duty. Maybe
there's a situation where we have to slide Albert Rusnack
back and this isn't an issue yet, but I think
that is a very real question come a week and
a half from now, when you're playing one of San
(24:00):
Diego LAFC and Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.
Two weeks ago when we spoke, we didn't have a
show last week. But two weeks ago when we spoke,
I asked you who you wanted, and you said Minnesota.
If the playoffs started this minute, it would be Minnesota.
Are you still on Minnesota?
Speaker 7 (24:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (24:17):
No, I still have been saying that that's my preferred matchup.
Doesn't mean it's gonna be an easy matchup. It doesn't
mean they're gonna be guaranteed to beat him. This is
a team that beats Seattle twice this year, but that's
almost one thing in favor of the matchup. I think
it's pretty hard to beat the same team three times
in a row and they're gonna get to the two
fracks at least at this team. So I just feel
(24:37):
like it's more about how good I think the other
teams are than thinking that Minnesota is going to be
an easy matchup or a pushover. But I also think
tactically as well, it's the best matchup and you don't
have to deal with guys like Denny Bowanga and Andrews Dryer,
So I'll take it.
Speaker 8 (24:53):
Well.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
I mean, you see LAFC go out on Sunday and
lose one nothing against Austin, and I think, you know,
I was, as I was kind of thinking through this
interview a couple of days ago, I thought the question of, well,
you know, who's your odds on favorite to win the
West right now? Was so obviously LIFC. After that really
poor loss to Austin. Is LAFC still the favorite?
Speaker 6 (25:16):
I mean, I tend to think that Austin result is
an outlier. They had been so hot for a lot
of games before going into that game, so definitely was
surprising to see that result. I didn't see that game,
so I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I definitely
it does not make me think any less of their
playoff credentials. Really, I still think when you have the
(25:37):
Denny Bolonga Sun Hong Min duo, you're honestly probably going
to be the favorites going into most games you've played.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
They certainly are.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Ari Let's continue and let's look ahead to the decision day,
and there's gonna be a lot of drama in Decision Day.
I mentioned in the previous segments San Diego at sixty,
LAFC at fifty nine, Minnesota at fifty eight. Yeah, that
will be very, very fun to watch for us, And
to go back to your common at the start of
the interview, a little bit stress free while watching the
Sounders game against New York City. Now on the other side,
(26:06):
where the Sounders just want a good run of form
going into the playoffs. New York City meanwhile, sitting in
fifth place in the East with fifty six points. They
are tied on points with Charlotte in fourth. They are
three points ahead of Orlando and seventh, two points ahead
of Nashville and sixth. So this is a New York
City team. Ari, maybe you can shed some light on
(26:27):
how good they are, and I imagine they're gonna be
playing pretty hard to try to get up to that
four spot this weekend.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
No, they're in kind of the opposite situation as Seattle.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
They need to win this game.
Speaker 6 (26:38):
They're fighting with Charlotte and Nashville for top four and
home field advantage in the first round, so they're gonna
be going for this game. It's kind of a gotta
habit game, probably as far as they're concerned a bit,
just because they have home field advantages right there if
they win this game, so they're gonna be going for it,
and I think they're kind of a team that gets
left on more than they should. I was talking to
(27:00):
Nico Moreno about it on my Kickoff show this morning.
But I think Alonzo Martinez there starting striker, might be
the most underrated player.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
In the whole league.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
Had seventeen goals this year after having sixteen goals last year,
so he's very legit.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
He's one of the best.
Speaker 6 (27:14):
Number nines that Seattle's going to have to deal with
all year, and it'll be I think it'll be a
good test for maybe a guy like Stu Stewart Hawkins,
who with all the CB injuries and absences and stuff,
he might actually get a chance to play in this game.
I think Snager Bernell is going to be back, so
I'm hoping that Seattlefield's a lineup like that and get
some experience and minutes for guys who can play in
(27:35):
a situation where it's high stakes. You're going to be
playing against a team that needs the game and is
going to be going for it, but realistically the result
of this game, it doesn't matter for Seattle points wise.
It matters performance wise to like get the vibes going
in a good direction going into the playoffs, but points wise,
it doesn't really affect anything. So you can I think
you can afford to like be creative with your lineup
(27:57):
in this situation, maybe more than you normally would, but
like with the with it in your mind too that
you do need to play well and you can't have
a situation right where you get too crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
With the lineup and then get blown out. You don't
want that.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
But I think there's a balance there where you can
take advantage of the fact that points wise, it doesn't
really affect you either way.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yeah, it really is that weird setting, and you see
it in the NFL a bunch in that final week.
And that's why you know our league and the other
leagues do the smart thing where you don't play the
final week of the regular season in fantasy because like
fantasy football, because you know that teams are going to
be resting and doing weird things, and you know sometimes
when you're locked into something other than the top seed,
there is that dynamic of of do you rest guys
(28:37):
versus do you get guys good in form? I'm it's
such an intriguing proposition, you know, for for Brian Schmitzer
to you know, maybe get experience versus you know, get
guys playing their best.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
I think you gotta start Jordan Morris because you got.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
To get him feeling himself and I mean, gosh, to
miss that penalty and not score, or not miss the
penalty but have it saved and and then not score
and still you mentioned having not scored since he got back.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I need to see Jordan get in a good run
of form.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
And you know, I would like to see Albert Russ
not getting a good run of form after he missed
this last week. And you add these things together, maybe
maybe it is Snyder and you let Christian take a
breather after traveling with the US or obed after traveling
with the Mexico there at the U twenty World Cup,
it's there. I think you nail that that there is
a balance, and it's gonna be interesting to see what
that balance is. From Brian Schmitzer ari as we wrap
(29:29):
it up and take a look at kind of the
wider Eastern conference, I asked you about the favorite there
in the West, but for the East, Philadelphia wins the
Supporter Shield. They have that going into decision today they
wanted a couple weeks ago. You have Cincinnati and Miami
both second and third with sixty two points, and then
as I mentioned, Charlotte and New York City with fifty
six points and fourth and fifth. Philly's obviously the shield winner.
(29:52):
Miami has messy. Who do you see coming out of
the East at this moment.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
I think Philadelphia and Miami are the front runners, But
if I had to pick a dark horse, I would
say Charlotte SC. I think they've sneakily been one of
the hottest teams in the league for the entire second
half of the season. They've got their striker Toplamatti, who
replays Patrick Augimond.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
He's been playing out of his mind.
Speaker 6 (30:18):
He looks like one of the best attackers in MLS.
And they're really really good defensively. So they're like a
really complete team that it seems like could do well
in the playoffs. They'd really I think, solidified themselves as
like an upper tier club in the league this year.
Speaker 7 (30:32):
But I mean.
Speaker 6 (30:33):
Philadelphia, they won the Supporter Shields, so they could obviously
make a run. And then anytime you have Lionel Messi
in a tournament, he can just go supernova for any
seta games and get you over the line. So though,
if I had to pick three front runners that would
be it would be Silly and Miami, with Charlotte as.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
The dark horse.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well, Charlotte's former broadcaster Jessica Charman is going to join
us in our next segment. She's calling Seattle, New York
City coming up for EMLA season past this weekend. So
definitely get a hurt two cents on Charlotte there, But
good thoughts, Ari. We'll talk next week when the whole
field is set and we know exactly who Seattle is
gonna be facing. It's gonna be a fun decision day,
(31:13):
and to echo your words at the start, maybe a
little bit more relaxing than it usually is. So let's
all have a nice relaxing decision day together. I know
you won't be relaxed. You'll be watching every single game,
I assume, with an absolutely Madman TV experience with all
the games on.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
So enjoy it, my friend. Try to stay as relaxed
as you can. Thanks Jack, and looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Good stuff there from Ari, and I believe, by the way,
Lobbing Scorchers, his show there on YouTube will have a
live stream to react to everything going on on Decision Day,
so Ari and Noah will have that as you can
subscribe to Lobbing Scorches.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
I might even pop into that.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Ari protexted me earlier today and said, by the way,
do you want to jump in on this on Saturday?
So that will be fun there on Saturday. That will
be on the later slate because the Sounders do have
that game. It's gonna be a Providence Swedish premat show
of two thirty kickoff of three o'clock for the Sounders game.
They're in New York City, so that's our radio broadcast
(32:10):
over a nine to fifty kjar am folks. You can
also watch it MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV
app and listen in Spanish language on Lray thirteen sixty
and Saturday's match is presented by the Western Washington Toyota Dealers,
so that game's in the earlier slate because Sounders are
in that East Coast game.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Against New York City.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
The West Coast Decision Day games all start at six
o'clock so that lobbying scorches live stream there at six o'clock.
That will be a lot of fun and I'll pop
into that and we'll all react to see what happens
between San Diego and Portland, Minnesota, the LA Galaxy and
of course LAFC Colorado, as those three spots will get
figured out and the Sounders will know who they then
(32:50):
end up facing. All right, that will do it for
this segment here at Sounders Weekly. I mentioned our next guest,
Jessica Charman. She is a former voice of Charlotte FC.
She now is a broadcaster for MLS Season Pass on
Apple TV. She knows all about this game here coming up,
and you gonna pick her brain a little bit on
the rest of the Eastern Conference. She knows it well
(33:11):
and if Ari is right, Charlotte may be a dark
horse to go to MLS Cup. Jessica Charman, we'll talk
about decision day ahead next here on Sounder's Weekly Sports
Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders
FC Clle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly. Jackson felt good to have you
with us here on this Tuesday night, staying up late
here for us thanks to our guests so far this evening.
Ari Lillian Wall popping on there a reminder that we'll
have rain weekly with Kiey Dunning coming up here in
just about fifteen minutes here on ninety three point three
KJR FM. But it is time to look ahead to
(33:54):
decision day for the Seattle Sounders at New York City
FC coming up this Saturday. Sounders are gonna be in
the Eastern Conference slate of games at three pm. That
is because they're the one Western Conference team facing an
Eastern Conference team. Somebody had to cross over and the
Sounders are that team. So for that match broadcast, it
(34:16):
will be a two thirty Providence, Swedish pre match show
and three o'clock kickoff over on our sister station of
Sports Radio nine to fifty kr AM. We'll mention also
that this match is presented by the Western Washington Toyota Dealers. Also,
you can listen in Spanish language on l Ray thirteen
sixty and watch the match via MLS Season Pass on
(34:37):
the Apple TV app. And the person who is going
to be calling that match Seattle at New York City
FC is Jessica Charman. She is a former Charlotte FC
broadcaster now with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and
Jessica joins us right here for the first time on KJAR.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Jessica, Welcome to Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 8 (34:58):
How are you Birthly, I'm amazing.
Speaker 7 (35:01):
Secondly, no shade at all.
Speaker 8 (35:03):
If people want to hit the local radio option, absolutely
do it. It's one of my favorite features at season bars.
I think it's such an important thing to have as
a former radio person. So if you want the Seattle
Central version, go ahead and switch it over. But I
promise I am doing all my prep work to make
sure that you can tell that I am well.
Speaker 7 (35:20):
Versed in your site.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Yeah, we're excited to hear you.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
I do wish the you know, if our friend Kirk
is listening. I wish that the radio option was available
for road games too.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
I think it is still only available for home games.
Speaker 8 (35:34):
Yeah, many home games. And that was my biggest when
I was a radio person too, because at the end
of the day, the road temes are the ones where
it's more complicate. Those are the ones that you have
less of your fans in the stadium, right. But I
think there's issues with the actual physical dynamics of it.
It's a little bit more complicated than maybe we realized, Jess.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Because this is the first time we've had a chance
to chat on Sounders weekly. Let's just get your two
cents and your perspective on our Seattle Sounder out here
and what the Eastern Coast vibe and view is of
our rave Green squad here in Seattle.
Speaker 7 (36:08):
Well, first day, I.
Speaker 8 (36:09):
Was delighted to have an opportunity to commentate the game
last time out of Limonfield against Rail Salt Lake, and
I know it was a completely different side. Brian told
us eleven players unavailable for selection. That's absolutely wild for
a game, But the fact that Seattle was still abled
to get the result out get a clean sheet show
a lot of resilience. I mean, it was a crazy
wild ride. I feel like the Seattle fan from getting
(36:32):
up in the fourth minute missing a penalty, I'll say
saved the penalty.
Speaker 7 (36:35):
As a former goalkeeper, he did not miss it. It
was safe. And then the ball in the back of
the net from.
Speaker 8 (36:40):
Rail Salt Lake right afterwards.
Speaker 7 (36:42):
It was a roller coaster. But I feel that's kind
of been a little bit of.
Speaker 8 (36:45):
Seattle season right There's been a lot of high not
many deep, deep loads, but a little bit of adversity
here and there.
Speaker 7 (36:52):
But what I like about this Seattle.
Speaker 8 (36:54):
Side and any Brian Spencer side is the fact that
they are so well organized, so well discipline that even
if you take out three, four or five starting players,
they're still able to understand the system, They're still able
to play with their resilience, they're still able to grind
out results. And I think that's a credit to the
identity of this side and what they can do on
(37:14):
a week in, week out basis, and also the way
that this has been built with that squad depth, that
you have that rotational piece, And I mean, I'm excited
to watch them coming against New York City, who I
feel like are one of the quiet sleepers in the
Eastern Conference as well, because they have had that sort
of turbulency of a season, a new coach coming in
in Pascal Jansson, up and down results, but also finding
(37:35):
a little bit of a footing, and they have an
opportunity to push for a fourth place spot, which I
know Seattle doesn't, which makes it a really interesting tactical matchup,
particularly with it being played at City Field, which makes
things a little bit more difficult, I should say for opponents.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Yeah, there's such an interesting chess match, Jessica that's going
to happen between the coaches. Because for Seattle it's locked
into the five seed. The only thing really deeply important
about decision day is watching what happens at six pm
with all the rest of Western Conference games and figuring
out if it's Minnesota, San Diego or LAFC will be
facing a week and a half from today for New
(38:11):
York City, you know, to kind of continue off of
the point you were just making. It has been up
and down, and it has been a situation where they
can capture a four seed, which means the home field
advantage in that first game, first round, best of three.
So what does New York City do in this game
that maybe Seattle doesn't is is it absolutely going forward
(38:33):
from front foot from the first second of this game
where Seattle may play a little bit deeper.
Speaker 7 (38:39):
Well, I think the.
Speaker 8 (38:40):
First thing is that as much as Seattle can't play
for anything in terms of positioning in the standing, locked
into that fitth spot, as we know with any American
sport when it comes to playoff times. But always talking
about the momentum that you have to build, and the
worst thing for Seattle, in my opinion, would be to
have a poor performance a poor result going into play,
because you don't want.
Speaker 7 (39:00):
To be licking your wounds after decision there.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
You want to be playing your best possible soccer with momentum,
with belief, even if you're going on the road in
the first game of that round of three.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
So I don't think this is a match where they
have nothing to play for.
Speaker 8 (39:13):
They definitely have all the best to play for with
the momentum and bringing in, you know, potential starters that
weren't available last time out back into the team to
get their feet wet again. But for New York City,
anytime they play at home, I just feel like, again,
I don't want.
Speaker 7 (39:26):
To pop on about.
Speaker 8 (39:27):
The field, and I've been told it's not actually that different,
but there's just a sense when you commentate games.
Speaker 7 (39:33):
I haven't done one.
Speaker 8 (39:33):
At City Field, but I've done a lot at Yankee
Stadium this season.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
It just moves so much faster.
Speaker 8 (39:38):
The transitional moments are so much quicker. The ball seems
to go. You know, one minute your goalkeeper's got a
ball of the boots. The next thing you have an
attacking opportunity. So the route one directness of play is
really important, and I think that that's something that Seattle
is going to have to be aware of defensively.
Speaker 7 (39:53):
There are a couple of moments against rel Salt Lake
where I.
Speaker 8 (39:55):
Feel like Railway able to play the ball long catch
a little bit off guard. But on the flip side,
I think there are players on the Seattle side that
can be really really dangerous in transition as well. So
picking the transitional moments and finishing your opportunities when you
get them. Because New York City scores a lot of
goals and recently they've been pretty good in front of
frame in all the games that I've been working on,
(40:16):
So I would say making sure that when you get
opportunities that you finish them. It's going to be pivotal
in this game, because, as you know, you can't allow
a team. I think back to the penalty and the
miss penalty and how that was an opportunity to get
a two nail cushion last time out for Seattle.
Speaker 7 (40:30):
I don't think that's something.
Speaker 8 (40:31):
That New York City allows you to get away with.
If you get a two nil, if you don't get
a two nail cushion over them. Things get a lot
more difficult in a game against an opponent like New York.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Well, it's interesting, Gosh, if the Sounders went into this
game needing three points, I'd be real scared just based
on that. I hadn't even considered the stadium dynamics. I mean,
we have a situation up here where we play at
lumen Field, a little bit more spacious, big stadium, NFL stadium.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
And then there's also.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
And then you have a Starfire sports car Complex down
south about twenty minutes south in Tuckwilla. That's a much
different stadium when it comes to dimensions and games play
completely differently. So it definitely, you know, screams of that
needing to be aware of how the stadium plays games
as well.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Really good insight there, Jessica.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
What we have you You mentioned you called a lot
of games at Yankee Stadium. I know you're a format
former Charlotte FC broadcaster. I love your two cents on
the Eastern Conference. I was just talking with our good
friend Ari Lillianwall, who hosts a podcast and writes for
emilssoccer dot com. I had him on about twenty minutes ago,
we were talking about the East and how you know
there's Philadelphia, the Shield winners, there's Messi in Miami, and
(41:41):
he said the dark horse to win the East is Charlotte.
And I'm wondering if somebody who knows that organization intimately,
how do you see the East shaking out? And is
Charlotte a legitimate contender to win the East?
Speaker 8 (41:55):
Okay, that is a love of respect to your previous guest,
But did he watch Charlotte versus DC.
Speaker 7 (42:00):
Because that was not a good show. I'm being perfectly recent.
Speaker 8 (42:08):
The win streak was absolutely incredible, and I'll say something
about Charlotte fe they have this ability to grind get results,
and I mean nine straight wins absolutely remarkable, almost unprecedented.
Were almost able to get the ten straight wins, obviously,
but in that streak they showed a lot of resilience,
they showed character.
Speaker 7 (42:28):
It wasn't always convincing in the style of play, and
they went back to.
Speaker 8 (42:31):
Their defensive principles that I think was very good in
the twenty twenty four campaign.
Speaker 7 (42:35):
The issue with Charlotte.
Speaker 8 (42:37):
Now is after they had that result, it was New
York City that broke their win streak. It was New
York City, your opponent this weekend, that was able to
stop them setting history. They kind of hit a bit
of a downward pattern and the play wasn't as good
against DC. I don't think they pick up three points
in that game unless DC goes down to nine players,
including a red card for a goalkeeper but picking up
(42:58):
the ball outside of the box. I'm sorry, Like I'm
also goalies getting red cards as a former goalkeeper, but
that was one of the wildest red cards I've ever seen. Like,
just to lose your bearings that much in an important
game summarizes DC season. But Charlotte has some star power
the likes of Wilfrid Zaha. I know he's a bit
of an interesting character to watch from neutral perspectives, but.
Speaker 7 (43:19):
Has a lot of quality in him.
Speaker 8 (43:20):
And then their newest signing, Dan Tookla Matty really good upfront.
But I think for me, Philadelphia Union has been the
most consistent team. That's why they've won the support his shield.
It's going to be a really interesting matchup because it's
Philadelphia playing Charlotte on Decision Day. In Charlotte, everyone knows
how cool Banks of Americans Stadium is. That's a fortress,
so to say, for those fans. So I'm going to
(43:42):
go out on a women say I think that Philadelphia
wins that game and therefore Ari was incorrect. And I
know that doesn't mean anything for the actual playoffs, but
I think that's going to be a difficult one for me.
Speaker 7 (43:53):
I think I like him.
Speaker 8 (43:55):
Maybe again it's that English ree snobbery and me, but
I think the most consistent team has the best opportunity
to set foot in the East. So I'm going to
go with Philadelphia not only being the supported Shield winners,
but also getting it done and topping the East and
getting a spot in the MLS Final.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
Jessica, we have thirty seconds left here.
Speaker 2 (44:13):
I got to know, as a broadcaster for Decision Day,
do you focus in on one game, one game only
or do your eyes you know during the game, will
they drift it all towards other games?
Speaker 8 (44:24):
I think based on what we're going to be asked
of in terms of the package and being able to
do a lot of score bugs and bug drop, I'm going.
Speaker 7 (44:30):
To have to know every story.
Speaker 6 (44:31):
Legs.
Speaker 8 (44:32):
I'm with a son, so I'm very relieved that I'm
calling Seattle, who I prepped for very hard last week
and New York City, who I've done three or four
games of so that I can give myself a little
bit of time. That it's my first decision day for MLS.
I am so privileged to have a chance to do it.
But yeah, it is going to be a wild ride,
and I'm excited for all of the obstacles, particularly on
the western side of things that can really switch things
(44:52):
up in terms of standing.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
So crazy for the games at six pm. Jessica, have
a great call for MLS Season Pass. We'll be watching
and enjoy the craziness starting at three pm Pacific.
Speaker 7 (45:03):
Thank you so much. Have a good one, guys, Jessica Sharman.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
She is a broadcaster MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
We thank her for her time. Looking ahead to Sounders
New York City FC on Decision Day three pm. We
will have the game for you over on Sports Radio
nine fifty KJR AM.
Speaker 3 (45:21):
Couple notes before we end tonight's show.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence 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 all right, We'll
talk to you at two point thirty on Saturday for
Sounders New York City FC. That's the pregame. We'll talk
to you over on nine to fifty am for that,
(45:43):
But for right here and right now, the focus shifts
from the Sounders to the Rain, who are looking ahead
to the playoffs as well. Kiley Dunning will have Rain Weekly,
which kicks off next on Sports Radio ninety three point
three KJRFL
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