June 11, 2025 • 45 mins
Tonight on Sounders Weekly, Jackson Felts reacts to the 3-0 loss in Vancouver plus listens and reacts to Brian Schmetzer's press conference after it, then looks ahead to the Club World Cup with Niko Moreno and talks about MLS teams in the CWC with Ari Liljenwall.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Coming to you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders
Weekly with your host Jackson Feldts.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, good evening everybody, Jackson Felts Here Sounders Weekly talking
all things Sounders Soccer for the next hour here on
ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Busy Show tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It's not exactly the most pleasant show here we're doing,
but we ought to talk some Sounder soccer and everything
going on with the club here for the next hour
here on KJR is The Sounders are beginning the Club
World Cup this coming weekend Botafogo in Town on Sunday evening.
Of course, the Sounders will of course then play Atletico
Madrid and PSG after that next Thursday and in the
(00:45):
following Monday. So it's Club World Cup time for the Sounders.
But they're a bit limping into the Club World Cup
because of what we saw this last weekend. You know,
we made the trip up to Vancouver, our entire broadcast
team did, and you know I made the really really
poor plan of setting it up where we had the
game in Vancouver at Busy Place that kicked off at
(01:07):
six pm. My wife who made the trip with me.
We all we drove back a late Sunday night, and
then I had a tooth filling appointment at the dentist
on Monday morning at eight am. And boy, I tell
you why I made this joke earlier, and I'll make
it again. Having my tooth filling at the dentist was
probably less painful than watching the three nothing Sounders loss
(01:31):
at Vancouver on Sunday night. That was rough, and there's
really no way of going about it. If you listen
to our postgame show myself and Pete Fewing, we didn't
try to put too much lipstick on the pig. We
had to give credit where it was due Vancouver, you know,
with their backups and then backs up against the wall
sort of with all the injuries and illnesses and international duty.
(01:53):
They were ub against it and they used that, and
yesper their head coach, clearly used it to fuel their
team to have a good performance. But really you can
give credit, but I mean, I don't know, I'm kind
of just minimizing what is I think the top line,
which is that the Sounders didn't play well. They came
out very flat, They did not play well on the
(02:14):
offensive end. Sixty sixty five percent possession in the first half,
but zero shots on target. That is not good enough.
And you can refer to a couple moments where there
were chances. I mean the second minute. Ryan Kent had
his best moment of the game. In the second minute,
he gets around a guy on the left side and
he pops a little cross over it. It hits a
(02:36):
Vancouver defender and poss back to the foot of Alex Roldan,
who has the chance to volley it. That's the second
minute that could go into the back of the net
and it's one nothing seattle instantly, but Alex Roldan mishits
it and it goes wide, and you know, such as life.
So it's one of those things where there's a couple
of moments you can point to and say if that.
But at the end of the day, I think you
(02:57):
look at the whole picture from you know, a few
steps away, and you can just overwhelmingly come to the
thought of it was not good enough on a lot
of levels. Defensively, not good enough. We saw obviously the
two red cards to knew Who in the fifty first
minute that was absolutely dog soo, which is denial of
an obvious goal scoring opportunity, and that is a fair
(03:21):
red card. Absolutely. Jonathan Bell's a few minutes later, in
the fifty fifth minutes, not as sure about that. It
was so accidental, barely clipped the guy, but you know
letter of the law. I think he did touch him
and it is accidental, but nonetheless he's last man. Thus
it's also dogso denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity
(03:41):
and it's a red card. And thus what we end
up with is the Sounders finishing with nine men. Weirdly,
they played better. I think with nine men on the field.
You had Kalani Colzerienze come on, Paul Rothrock come on
in a quadruple change in the sixtieth minute. Not sure
you know what was for those guys, but clearly they
(04:02):
came on knowing they were two men down. They played
with a fire. I loved what I saw at a
Coloni and Paul, and I just wish the rest of
the team played like Colonie and Paul did for the first,
you know, fifty minutes of that game, because the first
half was just so disappointing on the offensive end. Now,
I mentioned we started off by talking about the word
(04:23):
flat and I should you also promote what's coming up
on the show tonight because there's gonna be a lot
of different things with the Club World Cup starting on Sunday.
So we're gonna have a special Club World Cup correspondent.
That's gonna be Nico Moreno of Sounder, Aheart and Sports
Polso he will be joining us here in just about
twenty minutes or so to talk about the Club World
(04:44):
Cup beginning of obviously the player pay situation, what we
know about that, because that is a certain frustration. I'm
gonna reference back to that in a moment. Ari lillionoill
Major League Soccer dot Com in the podcast Lobbing Scorches.
He will join us as well to talk about the
Vancouver game. We were sitting next to each other in
BC Place watching that game, just shaking our heads. And
(05:07):
you know, I know that he's been getting a lot
of content him and Noah who is up there as well,
watching the game at BC Place, and they certainly have
had a lot of content for Lobbying Scorches this week
coming out of that Sunday game, the three nothing loss.
But we'll talk to Ari later on, but you know,
I think overall going back to it mentioned the word flat.
The Sounders came out flat in that first half, I think.
(05:28):
And other than that kind of second minute thing, there
was a couple moments in the thirtieth minute where there
was a chance for Pedro and Christian, but overall the
majority of it, they're holding onto the ball and there's
no purpose with their possession. And you know, I, I'm
just kind of thinking out loud, and you're you're gonna
hear I think a really good question coming up from
Jeremiah O'shanna Sounder at Heart, because we're gonna be hearing
(05:50):
from Brian Schmitzer at his postgame press conference. We don't
normally do this, but this time I specifically want to
play some audio here in the first segment of the
show tonight from the host game press conference from Brian Schmitzer,
where Jeremiah I think perfectly asked him about the focus
of players coming into this Vancouver game while they were
also dealing with the player pay situation from the Club
(06:12):
World Cup. And I was thinking of it out loud
as I was watching the game with Ari and Noah
and you know the guys, as we were just kind
of watching in the press box at BC Place. I
was wondering if the focus was there for this game.
I was wondering if everybody's heads were in the moment
playing this game and listen. You know, if there's there's
no player listening, but if there was, I get it.
(06:34):
You're gonna probably take that as a criticism as an
attack that you weren't fully in on this game. But
I think the as Brian Schmitzer also says, and you're
gonna hear from it, they've opened themselves up to this
question being asked. They've made the statement, and clearly it's
been on the mind. A couple hours before kickoff of
the white Caps game, there was a unified team Instagram
(06:56):
post that all related to the club World Cup pay situation,
and every player on the team sent out the same
Instagram post. So they're very much clearly thinking about these things,
actively thinking about these things on game days hours before kickoff.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Of a MLS match.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Clearly, it's a distraction, and they said that Christian World
Don Stephen Fry last week said it is a distraction,
And I think that we are seeing that manifests itself,
especially in the first forty five minutes where it came
out flat. That's clear, but it's a fair question, I
think to every one of those players of was the
(07:36):
focus fully there for the Vancouver white Caps game? And
listen if players, you know, you can feel like that's
an attack, and maybe it is. But I would say
that the question has has to be asked, is was
the focus there? Because the three nothing loss where yes,
you go down to two men and then you give
up two goals, but also on top of that, it's
(07:57):
just everything else involved with that. The easy that Vancouver
scored at the end of the first half, it's just
uncharacteristic defensive mistakes by the Sounders and that's got to stop.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It's just it's terrible to watch.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And we've seen it now against Minnesota, we saw it
against Vancouver. We can't have that for what was one
of the best defenses in the league over the last
few years. And I know they're hurt, but still it's
just the scheme and the player quality. It's it's not
there to make these consistent mistakes that they've made over
these last two games. So yeah, I think the question
is there, and it was a very very good question
(08:30):
from Jeremioshan in this clip. You're also gonna hear from
Jada Evans, who I think also asks a good question
about the embarrassment level, you know, and on that quickly
before we hear the audio. The second half ended right
at ninety zero zero. You know, it's insulting, and you
know it's embarrassing when the referee doesn't even allow added time.
(08:52):
I think the ated time was supposed to be five
or six minutes, and the head ref just said, no,
that's it. Listen, this is three nothing. Seattle's down two men.
Why do we need to play five or six minutes?
That is so insulting and embarrassing to have a referee
say you have no chance to even have a hope
of a comeback. I'm calling it. We don't even need
to play the extra time. That's terrible. Oh my gosh.
(09:14):
I just I laughed because when I was in the stadium,
because it was just so much pain in that moment.
And you know, so, I think Jada's question about the
embarrassment is very fair. This piece of audio you're gonna
hear now from Brian Schmenzer postgame starts with Brian responding
to a question from Jeremiah about the mentality his mentality
the mentality of the team. Some thoughts here after the
(09:36):
Sounders loss here from head coach Brian Schmitzer.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
So, how am I feeling, Well, obviously we have a
dejected bunch of players, you know, the mental state of
the team. Obviously that's a that's a you know, shot
to the chin. They're gonna be fine. But I tried
to tell them after the game was you can look
(10:00):
at The easy thing to do is you know, you
can to look at new who you can look at
Jonathan Bell and the Red Guards as the reason why
we lost the game. But that's the easy thing to do.
I think it's more, you know, the you know, offensive
struggles in the first half to create clear scoring chances.
(10:27):
I mean, the ball that comes across Ryan Ken start
off first ten minutes very good, staying out wide, you know,
Alex Bali's have ball in. We went, we go up
one nothing within the first ten minutes. You know, the
game changes. So it's the attacking struggles that you know
that that are causing some of the concern that I have.
(10:49):
If you're asking me how I'm feeling, what I would
do differently is I did not think that Vancouver was
going to play at five at the backs. So I
probably would have switched Masaski in there. I think that
would have been a better option. Uh So that's on me.
I'm the one that makes the decisions on who starts
(11:11):
and how the team plays. They all take responsibility for this.
I can tell you that I will reflect on, you know,
the guys that you know started the game, and then
some of the guys that came into the game and
measure who deserves to start for you know, the next
(11:31):
game against Vodaphoka. So we're going to regroup and we're
going to try and figure out a way how to
be competitive in the next three games and then hopefully
there'll be reinforcements coming up and I'll get back to
you know. What I told him in the locker room was,
you know, San Diego was a very It was a
(11:53):
low point, and Diego was a low point because that
that that game they didn't put the effort in. So
I a little bit more upset about that game. This
game we didn't play well, but the effort even down
two guys, the effort that Paul Rothrock put in there,
that Kilani put in there, those guys kept after a
JP came on Masoski came on. At least they continued
(12:17):
to fight, so I was a little bit more about
upset about Sandie. So we went on a little bit
of a run after that that low point. So we're
gonna try and do the same.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Does this one feel embarrassing considering the fact of you know,
them being down and just some of the errors that
were made in this.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Match, Well, embarrassed is an interesting choice of words, interesting adjective.
I can feel embarrassed because I've been a member of
this club for a long time and I hate losing.
The players need to feel how they feel. They have
to reflect, They have to understand that, you know, their
(12:57):
performances wasn't good. So I'll answer that, yes, I didn't
like the outcome of the game. I'm embarrassed because I
need to do a better job to make sure the
team is prepared to play. We talked about this being
a trap game, We talked about it at nauseum being
a trap game, and yet somehow we fell into that.
(13:21):
So again, if you're asking me my assessment in the game,
it's the general team defending along with the not a
lot of good attacking movements, rather than again to the
two Reds that caused this game to get out of hand. Look,
we were the best defensive team in the league last year,
(13:44):
and you know we've been giving up goals left and right,
so that's got to stop.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
Do you feel that the whole situation with the Club
World Cup Prize school has had any sort of effect
on the players focused and whatnot.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Well, they've opened the door for that conversation. Last few
results haven't been great, but you know, I've had conversations
with the players. I thought that they had, you know,
put it to bed, but you know, obviously the results
open that it opens that door. They you know, they've
(14:24):
opened themselves up. In fairness to them, they haven't quit.
But also in fairness to you guys or the fans,
the fans that the twenty five hundred people that came
to the game tonight, they can certainly question that. But
you know, as far as I'm concerned, our messaging has
been Okay, you guys made a statement, but you know what,
(14:48):
we've got a pushbacks this because life isn't always easy
and you're not always going to get what you want,
and so at some point there has to be a
final we come to whatever negotiations are going on, and
then we as a club and the players as a
group just have.
Speaker 5 (15:09):
To move forward.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Was Brian Schenzer, the Sounders head coach, And you know, yeah,
I fully agree with everything he just said. The players
have brought that question on themselves. Was the focus there?
I asked it a few minutes ago, and I think
it's a fair thing to ask as we look forward
to Sunday's game against Bodo Fogo. Is the focus there?
Or is the focus on getting paid? And listen, listen.
(15:33):
I think we went over it on last week's show.
If you missed that, go listen to last week's show.
I talked about this whole Club World Cup pay situation,
why it doesn't make sense, why the players have a
very good point in their fight for more money and
to be paid as they should for these Club World
Cup games. So go listen to that if you missed it.
But ultimately it is a distraction and we are seeing
(15:55):
that distraction takeover. And I think we saw the distraction
in their focus in my opinion, certainly to distraction just
be at distraction in what was a three to nothing
loss at Vancouver, so frustrating up there at BC Place,
but it is the Club World Cup starting on Sunday.
We'll continue talking about that whole situation, but also talk
(16:16):
about overall the game. It's Bodafogo at Luminfield, one of
the top teams in South America. We also have Athletical Madrid.
We also have PSG. What amazing soccer clubs are coming
to our stadium.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
The question is how will the Sounders do against these teams.
Nico Moreno is going to be our Club World Cup correspondent.
He's with Sounder, a Heart and Sports polso he will
join us next year to talk about the Club World
Cup on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders FC,
Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Welcome back Sounder's Weekly.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jackson Feltzer, thank you for joining us here on this
Wednesday evening. First segment there heard from Brian Schmitzer, your
Sounders head coach. He obviously very frustrated and disappointed after
the Sounders three nothing lost to Vancouver, but Club World
Cup ahead and so much involved with that story. We
(17:15):
here on Sounders Weekly. I don't know if we've hired him.
I might have to just go buy him a couple
of lunches here over the next few weeks.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
But it's our very good friend.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
He's gonna be our Club World Cup correspondent, gonna make
it all official. Club World Cup correspondent. Nico Moreno of
Sounder Heart and Sports Polso. Nico, good to have you
on the show, my friend.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
How are you hey?
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Jackson Man with that introduction, and I'm gonna have to
hire you by I ever read no my vows man.
That sounds amazing, Man, I really enjoy that. But I
appreciate you giving me a title here. Always a pleasure
to be on on kJ ARK. No better radio station
in the entire Pacific Northwest when it comes to Sounders Information.
Thanks to you of course.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Oh well, and thanks to you for coming on as well,
and obviously Ari Lillianwall coming on in a little bit.
I know you guys do the Monday morning stuff together
here on Lobbing Scorchers as well on his YouTube, so
I love having both of you guys here on the show. Nico,
our Club World Cup correspondent. We'll talk some Club World
Cup in a minute, Nico, but really quick, because I
(18:20):
wanted to get your two cents on something I just
spent the first segment of the show on.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So I opened up the show.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
By sort of going off of I think a really
really good question by Jeremiah Oshan in the postgame press
conference with Brian Spencer. He asked Brian if he thought
the focus was there from players considering all the club
World Cup pay situation stuff. You know, they've obviously called
it a distraction and Nico for me, I watched that
(18:47):
Vancouver game and I saw a team in the first
half that was flat. And I did question in that
first segment there if they were able to fully focus
and if they were fully focused on that game against
Vanvancouver this last Sunday evening. Is that a fair question?
And what did you see from the Sounders there in
that three nothing loss.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
I think it's more than for a question. I think
he was reflected in a team that performance was bleak.
I mean, there was no tempo, there was a lack
of simple decision making. It seemed like a team that
I have not seen all season long. That's why this
morning I went and said that it was the most
(19:30):
embarrassing loss of the season, and obviously said that another show,
I'm bringing it up here for you, because I'm going
to own up to that and I'm might get a
little heat on that. But whenever you go into Vancouver
and a team has nine players, seven of those who
were starters that are not available seat needed to get
out there, control the tempo, be the protagonist and win
(19:53):
that game without a doubt, and that did not happen.
Now to your point and the entirety of the question,
I think it's a human emotion that happens to anyone
that whenever there is something that isn't quite dead, that
there's something wrong in our lives, regardless of what it is,
we are just not at our best. There is a distraction.
There is those moments, those lapses of understanding of the
(20:14):
game that I think this players have felt with the distractions,
with everything that happened with Adrian Hanhauer, simply just the
dynamics in the club, all of that can affect you.
And I feel like that was reflected on the field
on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
No, I that's good to hear, and I think we're
on the same page there, and I think it's a
very very important point to say that it's so human,
it is so human for there and We talked about
the cause for the players getting paid properly on the
show last week as well. That all reference and you know,
this is a thing about hating on players. It's a
thing where it's just a human reaction to be able to,
(20:52):
you know, not fully focus on something when you're so
much thinking about your livelihood and so much thinking about
other things going on in your life, like the player
pay situation with the Club World Cup. Nico our Club
World Cup correspondent here from Sounder at Heart and sports
polso you know follow him on Twitter at l Rolo
and W and Nico. Let's just transition right onto that
(21:13):
before we talk about the games coming up Bota Foco
coming up on Sunday night at lumin at seven o'clock,
before we get into the actual play. Where are we
at with the player play situation? The last thing I
saw was that we are quite divided between the league
and the players Association and you know, each other, seeing
their insulted offers and whatnot. It seems like this thing
(21:35):
is far from getting fixed.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Yeah. Look, basically the that show last Friday, MLS send
up proposal to the MLS Players Association that they refuted.
They did not go with what they sent, which was
a twenty percent potential twenty percent of an add on
when it came to performance bonuses on top of the
(22:00):
one million dollars that we're already getting, but it just
was not enough. And as much as we have been
going through all of these things and the clause on
the CBA, I think that the Players Union has a
very good precedent when he came to the bonification and
the performances that were given to MLS teams that were
(22:25):
going into a new formatted CONCA capt Champions League. As
you know, it was no longer cl that was CCC,
and with amplifying that tournament, those bonuses were also added
when he came to that overall price and MLS even
after that CBA was signed with that exc same clause.
If Vancouver Whitecaps would have had beat Cuzzo, they would
(22:48):
have gotten about two and a half million dollars. So
I think, Look, I'm no hard respector, but I think
president has a really good way of breaking contracts and
therefore I really do think that Thisssociation as well as
the players are in every right to be upset and
to want to get more. But I do hope that
it gets resolved.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
I hope it gets resolved too. I love the Suits reference.
I know my mom is listening, definitely, just absolutely pumping
our fist at the Suits reference.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Nico Moreno's with US Sports Polso Sounder at Heart our
club World Cup correspondent here on Sounders Weekly, here for
these next few weeks, and yeah, we're at the position
now where we just hope it gets fixed.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Nico.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I don't think it would come to anything about the
players sitting out or anything like that. I know some
people have thrown that out on social media. I don't
think it would would possibly come to that, But I
do wonder, you know, in a situation where nothing is
resolved by Sunday night at seven pm, what does happen
in that situation? You know, how do the Sounders play
in that kind of a situation. Clearly it'll continue to
(23:50):
be a distraction, So, you know, I just kind of
wonder where we're at it sound at seven pm on
Sunday if nothing happens, still, it's weird.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
It is weird. And look, I don't know about in Miami.
I've heard that la f C. It's very supportive to
the cause to your question. Everything that I've heard from
different sourcing does tell me that the team, the players,
they're willing to go as far as not playing this game.
(24:24):
As much as that shocking, and as much as that
that feels so extreme, I think that they've already done
so much. They feel like they're in the lid. And
I do believe that it's very true, and I'm with
them that they have a right to want a fair
share of what everybody else is getting. What they're the talent,
(24:45):
they're the ones that are putting their bodies on the line.
I mean, look, if any could, if anybody could be
a city of the Seattle Sanders. I mean, the only
reason why they're in here is because a couple of
those guys left it on the field to win the CCL,
the first team to ever do it in MLF. I mean, look,
there's still an ACL from Joe Pablo album and field
(25:05):
that he left there when the Seattle Saunders want this thing.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
He's never been the same player since he had that.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
It's never been the same, right, I mean, you're talking
about every everything that seventh Frid been putting his body
on the line. Giberg Andred played that entire tournament with
more ages than Steve mcnahbon. I mean, the guy was
literally hurting so much every single game and he was
still out there like a robot. So he missed some games,
(25:32):
of course, but he was there for the important ones.
So all of that just really gets me going because
I feel like they have put so much on the
line that older one is a bigger piece of the cake.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
To reiterate you, you've you've had from sources that the
players may be going as far to sit out there
is there is a your senses, there's a willingness.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Well that's very interesting and we will see what happens.
Is we're just a few days away from the Club
World Cups charting on Sunday at seven pm against Bota Fogo. Now,
Nico Bota Fogo. What do you and we in general
the soccer world know about this team? That is, of
course one of the best teams in South America. They
(26:14):
earned this tournament their entry into this tournament, unlike Miami
should say. But they are such a quality, quality team
and I think for Sounder fans it's the question of
this might be the most winnable game of these three
Club World Cup games in the group stage.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
How winnable realistically is this for the.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Sounders if they're you know, if they are playing, I
guess I should qualify that now.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Yeah, Look, honestly, I wish that if the Sounders were
at their very best with the very best players, my
percentage or at least the chances that I would give
the Sounders to be all at higher because this fog
is not the Botto folk with one couple of erectadors
a year ago, or maybe various specific Genior Santo no
longer there, Tago Matas no longer there. They're currently sixth
(27:04):
in El Barsi Laidao. They're actually struggling a little bit
in the group stage of couple lit another. You've got
to be frank, they haven't look as sharp. They are
a very good team, Don't get me wrong. I'm just
saying that compared to that team from a year ago,
this is a different squad and they're just not as
good as they want work. But they're extremely talented team. Like,
that's what I want to make sure that I don't
(27:25):
tell anybody anything that's wrong with when it comes. Arthur
is a fantastic attacker for this team. Ingod J sus
is a big striker that is an aerial thread every
single time. Savarrino, do you know him. I mean, he's
an MLS experienced player that has been incredible for what
a photo. He's creative, he's gold dangerous Gregory former Scatto
(27:48):
Saunders target at one point. He is part of that team.
He is that disruptor in the middle of the field.
So all to say that, look, this is a team
that is possession based. They run a four to four
to two or a four two three to one. They
like to get white in spaces. They do a lot
of overloads with their fullbacks, and as you would expect
a Brazil anything to do, every single player in the
(28:09):
field can be chopped to drip everybody's good one one
v one situation. So this is the very good team.
The seat is gonna have to be careful with because
once again, the Seattle Sunders can be playing this game
with a lot of their best defenders without their top striker.
So the situation just doesn't look very good for the
home team.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I mean, yeah, you put it like that, but I
think it's still all that said. Would you this would
is clearly I think it's not even debatable. The most
winnable game or these most I guess the pointable game
if that's a word out of the three. So I mean, really,
if we're talking about the you know, the Sounders dream
situation here, the dream situation is that you were able
(28:52):
to figure out the player pay situation. The players are
suddenly motivated, they're on top of it, they're rare and
to go. They get a win against bot A fil
they get a figure out a way to get a
you know, draw against Athletico Madrid. They have four points,
and that's that's like the perfect of the perfect of
the perfect world. But Nico, let's talk about the reality.
Let's talk about the real world for a moment. Here,
(29:14):
what is the real world situation for what you think
is gonna go down starting with Sunday and then we
can go to the rest of the tournament from there.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Look, I'm gonna call a thirty percent chance the Shadow
gets a result against a result meaning it could be
a draw, you know, drives of the result, especially in
this group stage situation, and depending on that, maybe Shadow
can built off of that. But beyond that point, you know,
you look at the form become adric team that is
(29:44):
so poised, so good, you got Cokee, you got all
these players that are you know, stellar players, all black
on goal, I mean coach by Simeone with this cemale
and a stamp of they're in every game, They're gonna
beat you to every ball. It just it's a difficult pathway.
And then you end up with PSG the champions. I
don't got to say more than they beat in a
(30:06):
land five zero, one of the best teams in Europe,
one of the is just something that is just hard
to do. So I would think that there's still a chance.
I'm not gonna I'm not gonna sit here and tell
you Jackson, there is zero chance, because there is soccer.
I SA Saudi Arabia beat Argentina, the world champions, just
the past World Cup with all of the stars in
(30:27):
the Argentine side, with nobody giving them any sort of possibility,
and they did it. Why not the Sounders get a
result still a goal bunker in I don't know how
it happens, but anything could happen in soccer, and that's
the beauty of the game. So I'm gonna say, I
don't know, fifteen chance that they get a resold against
Athletico and then maybe I'll lessen it to ten percent
(30:49):
against PSG.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
How about that, Listen, chance of getting a result against
PSG is probably more than I think any other person
will give them around the city. So I will take
that and I will go to bed smiling with that number.
Nico Moreno's with us from Sounder Heart and Sports Polso.
He's our club World Cup correspondent.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Nico. Before we break, just.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
You know, just in general, like with all the player
pay stuff going on, has that hampered your excitement for
this overall? I mean the excitement of having the best
team on planet Earth PSG or Athletico Madrid, a giant
in Boto Fogo from South America? Has everything else going
on off the field lessened your excitement for this tournament
(31:34):
at all?
Speaker 5 (31:35):
You look, he really has. I'm not gonna show away
from it. I wish that over the last week, every
single show that I've done in South America and here
will be focused on how excited people are about this
tournament and how good and motivated and incentivized the Sounder
players were. But instead of talking about protest and I'm
talking about Adrian Hannou were in the team, and I'm
(31:58):
talking about a a team and league that every team
is getting a million dollars for a tie and two
million dollars for a win, but what they offered the
players is two hundred thousand dollars for a tie four
hundred thousand dollars for a win. It just seems like
there's just no motivation from the clubs and the league
(32:19):
to just incentivize the player so the entertainment is better.
And that has completely killed my mood.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Wow blunt, I mean, I love the honesty man. That's
why we have you on because you're so and byo
you mentioned the handover thing. All props to you and
Jeremiah Oshan at sounder R for your great reporting last
week to cherish our friendship. So deeply, thank you for
coming on the show and being our club World Cup correspondent.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
I appreciate the time this week.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
We'll have you on again next week, where hopefully we're
talking about a result against Bota Fogo and hopefully we're
talking about a player pay situation resolved, and hopefully we're
talking about excitement towards Athletico Madrid ahead.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Hey man, thank you so much. Hopefully you have on.
I get passionate. I'm a bit blunt, but you know,
I'll always appreciate you guys encouraging and wanting to amplify
that through KJR SO. I appreciate it. Thank you so much,
Love you guys, love the audience. I'll see you guys
next week.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Awesome stuff there from Nico Moreno, Sounder at Hart and
Sports Polso, one of the great reporters on the sport
of soccer. I would say in this country, we'll get
a break here in Sounders Weekly. We'll talk about the
Sounders lost to Vancouver. I'll ask Ari Lillionwall if my
take on this player's focus is fair or not. We'll
talk about the Club World Cup ahead and get some
overall thoughts on Major League Soccer entering this break for
(33:37):
the Club World Cup that's next year on Sounders Weekly
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders
fc cll's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly. Jackson felt good to be with
you here on this Wednesday night. Thanks to Nico Moreno
of Sounder, Hart and Sportspolso for joining us. He's our
Club World Cup correspondent. Every Monday morning, Nico joins our
next guest. He goes on the Lobbing Scorches YouTube page.
(34:12):
You can subscribe to lobbing Scorches. You get notified whenever
Lobbing Scorches goes live on Monday mornings and Thursday nights.
That is hosted by our next guest, Ari Lillian Wall,
who also was a writer and editor from Major League
Soccer dot com.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
Ari.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
How you doing, buddy?
Speaker 6 (34:29):
I'm doing well, Jackson, how are you?
Speaker 2 (34:31):
I'm all right, Ari, I said earlier in the show.
I'll say it again here. We both made the drive
back from BC Place on Sunday night. I made the
really stupid call of having a dentist appointment to have
a tooth filling on Monday morning at eight am. So
that was fun. Actually, you know, the toothfilling was a
lot more fun than watching the three nothing lost. But
(34:51):
at least it was me, you and Noah sitting next
to each other for that game. Let's just start there, man.
We all watched it. Well, were kind of just like,
oh my god. But yeah, here for our listeners, what
are your two cents on the three nothing lost to
the white Caps.
Speaker 6 (35:08):
I mean, yeah, the result is disappointing enough, because that
was a game that you go into with what everyone
thought was a pretty big advantage, with Vancouver coming off
a really emotional loss in CONCA CAF Champions Cup, and
then also with a lot of their players getting sick
on the way back and having ten guys gone with
international duty. It was getting talked about in a way
(35:31):
where the scales were really tilted towards Seattle in the matchup.
So then for you to take the result but then
also shoot yourself from the foot with not one but
two red cards, you kind of eliminate whatever chance that
you had when you get one red card, let alone
two in three minutes.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
I don't think I got your take on the second
red card. I think the first was fair on new
but John Bell's red card fair foul on that one.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
I mean, it's tough because I don't think that he
is trying to make contact with the guy there. But
I do think there's something to be said for just
situational awareness in that in that scenario, when the ball
is coming in the angles you're taking, the positioning that
you have is you got to have the awareness to
not put yourself into a situation where that does happen.
I think you could argue, so it's I sympathize with
(36:23):
him on that. I don't think that he tried to
do it, but it's also you could argue that he
needs to be more aware in that situation as well.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Yeah, it's well played.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Ari Lellione was our guest MLS Soccer dot Com and
the podcast Lobbing Scorches also subscribe to their YouTube Lobbing
Scorches there with Ari and Noah. All right, Ari, it's
Club World Cup time. We just spent a lot of
time with Nico Moreno talking about the Club World Cup
and where things stand right now with the league and
with the union, and how we're kind of just hoping
(36:51):
that this thing gets figured out by the time Sunday
rolls around. For you, you know, entering this tournament, you know,
covering and seeing the entire league. I do want to
ask you about the expectations for these three MLS clubs
in this thing. We'll start with the Sounders in this
group of death where you're gonna see Boda Fogo, Athletico
Madrid and PSG in one, two three over the next
(37:13):
couple of weeks. You know, what should the expectations of
a sounder fan be Maybe it comes with points, maybe
it comes with just how they look on the field.
What are your thoughts on what expectations should be set at.
Speaker 6 (37:27):
I mean, I think you have by far the most
difficult group out of any of the three MLS teams,
probably the most difficult group period. So for me, I mean,
I'm thinking of it less in terms of what the
result is and more just I think competing with dignity
is what you want to see. Don't do anything that
embarrasses yourself or sets the league back like ten years,
(37:50):
which you know, I don't really think there's honestly much
that could happen that would have those effects, considering just
the status of these clubs that they're playing. More than
the status, just the golf and spending. It puts you
up against it just inherently. So like I said, I
think the expectation should be to just put on a
good showing, compete with dignity, and then let the result
(38:13):
be what it may. I mean, if when you're talking
about PSG, the odds, just the odds of any club
coming on top in that scenario are are long enough odds,
let alone for an MLS club that is has a
tiny fraction of the roster spending.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
Yeah exactly, We're talking about the best team on Earth
in that and you know Boda Fogo, Nico is still
talking about their quality and you know Savarino and you
know a big forward who's you know, big bodied guy
who's so good on the air, and I hear, you know, okay,
well Boda Fogo has a great aerial striker against a
team the Sounders that is decimated at center back. Right now,
that's that's not the most comforting thing to hear, but
(38:50):
you know, overall are is. Then we turn the attention
to l AFC, a team that just got into the
club club. I mean, you think about that game, the
playing game they had against America and Los Angeles where
literally winning that game ari won them as a club.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Was it?
Speaker 2 (39:05):
So you know, nine point five to five million dollars,
what a massive payday from one single victory that they
didn't even think was going to be on the table
six months ago. But you know, LAFC, injuring this tournament,
the way they entered this tournament, where are they at
mentally and where where should their fans be thinking? You know,
how far this LAFC team might be able to meet
potentially get out of their group.
Speaker 6 (39:28):
I think LAFC and Inner Miami both still have pretty
difficult groups, if not as difficult as a Seattle's group.
But when I look at it, I think LAFC probably well,
I don't know, because I still think Inner Miami and
Messi and the Barca boys they can they can take
any result and I wouldn't be surprised. But LAFC, if
(39:50):
you look at their group, they have Flamengo, who's a
very good Brazilian side, but I don't think considered quite
of the quality of Botafogo. They have a Tunisian side that.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
I've never heard of that may or may not be good.
Speaker 6 (40:01):
But that's a game that feels like they could maybe
get a result in. And then you have Chelsea, who
you know, they have a track record of choking in
big games. But I mean, in all seriousness, that's that's
a very difficult matchup for LAFC. But I don't think
it's unthinkable that they take results in either of those
other two games. So that's that's one where I look
(40:22):
at it and I feel like there's not a It's
not the craziest proposition to think they could make it out.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Yeah, no, they would have to obviously be battling Plamego
and that would be kind of the question of do
they end up getting a result there? And you know,
gold differential is going to play such an interesting part
in you know, not only that group, but also in
the Sounders group. You know, how much does PSG have
to win by in that final match day of the group.
How much do they have to beat Seattle by to
get first in the group. So that's going to be
(40:49):
one of those, you know, gold differential questions. You mentioned
Miami there, and I think that is going to be
what a lot of you know, general soccer fans around
not only here but around the nation are going to
be saying, is, well, they have the best player on
Earth MESSI they should get out of the group stage.
Should Miami get out of their group stage?
Speaker 6 (41:08):
I think their group is sneakily more difficult than people
have been talking about. They open up the whole thing
on Saturday against a La Lee, which sounderstands know well
from the last time Seattle played in the Club World Cup, and.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
They proved to be a very good side.
Speaker 6 (41:22):
That was a hard fought, competitive game that Seattle had
and they came out just short. But they're a very
fast and athletic team to my memory, which is the
type of team that a team of old guys like
Inner Miami might struggle with. So I don't think it's
a guarantee that they're going to be a la lee
like some people seem to. And then you look at
Porto in the Portuguese side that they're going to be playing.
(41:44):
That's a very good, storied, reputable side, and Paul Marris you.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Can see the same from Brazil.
Speaker 6 (41:50):
So I'll be I'm interested to see how this goes
for Inner Miami because they have arguably the most stax
MLS roster of all time, certainly the most stacked that
I've seen in recent years. But they haven't been in
great form all season. They were actually in a pretty
poor run of form. Very recently last few games they've
started to look more like themselves again.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
And when Messi and.
Speaker 6 (42:13):
The Barca boys are firing at their peak level, I mean,
they're very hard to stop for any team, even these
teams in their group. But at the same time, with
like the kind of downturn we've seen from them at times.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
This year, if they get grouped.
Speaker 6 (42:25):
I don't think that would be the most shocking thing
to me, not as shocking as it might be.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
For as some people have been saying, well, for all
three of these teams and for all the players on
all three teams, they've already hit the cap of money
that they will make for this entire tournament. So, as
Stephan Fry said, where's the incentive And we'll see how
much you know, the fight is there to win? And
for those you know, all three teams, and what does
(42:50):
that fight like and does this thing get solved by Sunday?
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Lots of questions.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
We will see what it looks like out at Lumenfield
on Sunday for the Sounders against Boto Fogo.
Speaker 3 (43:00):
I'll see you there.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
Should be very very fun as FIFA takes over Seattle
for the first of these two fun years here with
the Club World Cup and then the World Cup next year.
I will see you on Sunday, my friend. Have a
very good rest of your week.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Don get it.
Speaker 6 (43:14):
Thanks Jackie.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
Good stuff there.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
From Ari Lillianwall major League Soccer dot Com, where he
is a writer and editor. Also hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers.
You can subscribe to their YouTube page, lobbing scorches there
on YouTube. Couple quick notes before we give you some
broadcast details. First, Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence,
Swedish official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra
(43:38):
is ninety five calories and two point six grams of carbs.
It's only worth it if you enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
Okay. So for the.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Sounders broadcasts coming up for the Club World Cup, that
is going to be a stream on the SOUNDERSFC dot
com website. Again, that will be a stream SOUNDERSFC dot com.
Not gonna be on radio anywhere. Nine to fifty ninety
three point three No radio broadcast for Club World Cup
games blame FIFA, and ultimately it will show up as
(44:08):
a stream on SOUNDERSFC dot com. We're gonna have the
normal thirty minute pregame, thirty minute post game, so six
thirty SOUNDERSFC dot com. We'll have the stream for Sounders
versus Bodafogo in the Club World Cup and other Club
World Cup games moving forward.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
But for the.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
Sounders next MLS match, that's gonna be Austin FC. It's
gonna be at Luminfield against Austin FC. That's gonna be
on June twenty eighth. It'll be a seven to thirty
kickoff Providence, Swedish prematch show seven o'clock. People, you can
watch the match MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
Listen right here.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM l RAY
thirteen sixty in Spanish. That match will be sponsored by Starbucks.
But again, that is the next MLS match June twenty
eighth is what I just gave you broadcast details about
against Austin. That will be on rare radio. The next
three Club World Cup games will not be on radio.
(45:04):
That makes sense. Again, Austin is on the twenty eighth.
That's the next MLS game that will be here on radio.
That will be Providence sweds premat show of seven o'clock
on June twenty eighth. But the Club World Cup games
only available via stream on SOUNDERSFC dot com normal thirty
minute pre post. We'll have all this stuff there Sunday
(45:26):
six point thirty for Sounders and Boto Fogo.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Okay, that'll do it for us.
Speaker 2 (45:30):
Thanks to all of our guests tonight, thanks to Ari,
thanks to Nico. Good to hear from Brian Schmitzer, Let's
move past this Vancouver game. I think we're all ready
to move past that. We're all ready to focus on
hopefully a fun atmosphere for the Club World Cup. Look
forward to seeing everybody out there at Luminfield. Have a
very good rest of your week. Everybody, We'll talk to
you on Sunday and Fox Sports Radio is coming up next.
Coming to you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders
Weekly with your host Jackson Feldts.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, good evening everybody, Jackson Felts Here Sounders Weekly talking
all things Sounders Soccer for the next hour here on
ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Busy Show tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It's not exactly the most pleasant show here we're doing,
but we ought to talk some Sounder soccer and everything
going on with the club here for the next hour
here on KJR is The Sounders are beginning the Club
World Cup this coming weekend Botafogo in Town on Sunday evening.
Of course, the Sounders will of course then play Atletico
Madrid and PSG after that next Thursday and in the
(00:45):
following Monday. So it's Club World Cup time for the Sounders.
But they're a bit limping into the Club World Cup
because of what we saw this last weekend. You know,
we made the trip up to Vancouver, our entire broadcast
team did, and you know I made the really really
poor plan of setting it up where we had the
game in Vancouver at Busy Place that kicked off at
(01:07):
six pm. My wife who made the trip with me.
We all we drove back a late Sunday night, and
then I had a tooth filling appointment at the dentist
on Monday morning at eight am. And boy, I tell
you why I made this joke earlier, and I'll make
it again. Having my tooth filling at the dentist was
probably less painful than watching the three nothing Sounders loss
(01:31):
at Vancouver on Sunday night. That was rough, and there's
really no way of going about it. If you listen
to our postgame show myself and Pete Fewing, we didn't
try to put too much lipstick on the pig. We
had to give credit where it was due Vancouver, you know,
with their backups and then backs up against the wall
sort of with all the injuries and illnesses and international duty.
(01:53):
They were ub against it and they used that, and
yesper their head coach, clearly used it to fuel their
team to have a good performance. But really you can
give credit, but I mean, I don't know, I'm kind
of just minimizing what is I think the top line,
which is that the Sounders didn't play well. They came
out very flat, They did not play well on the
(02:14):
offensive end. Sixty sixty five percent possession in the first half,
but zero shots on target. That is not good enough.
And you can refer to a couple moments where there
were chances. I mean the second minute. Ryan Kent had
his best moment of the game. In the second minute,
he gets around a guy on the left side and
he pops a little cross over it. It hits a
(02:36):
Vancouver defender and poss back to the foot of Alex Roldan,
who has the chance to volley it. That's the second
minute that could go into the back of the net
and it's one nothing seattle instantly, but Alex Roldan mishits
it and it goes wide, and you know, such as life.
So it's one of those things where there's a couple
of moments you can point to and say if that.
But at the end of the day, I think you
(02:57):
look at the whole picture from you know, a few
steps away, and you can just overwhelmingly come to the
thought of it was not good enough on a lot
of levels. Defensively, not good enough. We saw obviously the
two red cards to knew Who in the fifty first
minute that was absolutely dog soo, which is denial of
an obvious goal scoring opportunity, and that is a fair
(03:21):
red card. Absolutely. Jonathan Bell's a few minutes later, in
the fifty fifth minutes, not as sure about that. It
was so accidental, barely clipped the guy, but you know
letter of the law. I think he did touch him
and it is accidental, but nonetheless he's last man. Thus
it's also dogso denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity
(03:41):
and it's a red card. And thus what we end
up with is the Sounders finishing with nine men. Weirdly,
they played better. I think with nine men on the field.
You had Kalani Colzerienze come on, Paul Rothrock come on
in a quadruple change in the sixtieth minute. Not sure
you know what was for those guys, but clearly they
(04:02):
came on knowing they were two men down. They played
with a fire. I loved what I saw at a
Coloni and Paul, and I just wish the rest of
the team played like Colonie and Paul did for the first,
you know, fifty minutes of that game, because the first
half was just so disappointing on the offensive end. Now,
I mentioned we started off by talking about the word
(04:23):
flat and I should you also promote what's coming up
on the show tonight because there's gonna be a lot
of different things with the Club World Cup starting on Sunday.
So we're gonna have a special Club World Cup correspondent.
That's gonna be Nico Moreno of Sounder, Aheart and Sports
Polso he will be joining us here in just about
twenty minutes or so to talk about the Club World
(04:44):
Cup beginning of obviously the player pay situation, what we
know about that, because that is a certain frustration. I'm
gonna reference back to that in a moment. Ari lillionoill
Major League Soccer dot Com in the podcast Lobbing Scorches.
He will join us as well to talk about the
Vancouver game. We were sitting next to each other in
BC Place watching that game, just shaking our heads. And
(05:07):
you know, I know that he's been getting a lot
of content him and Noah who is up there as well,
watching the game at BC Place, and they certainly have
had a lot of content for Lobbying Scorches this week
coming out of that Sunday game, the three nothing loss.
But we'll talk to Ari later on, but you know,
I think overall going back to it mentioned the word flat.
The Sounders came out flat in that first half, I think.
(05:28):
And other than that kind of second minute thing, there
was a couple moments in the thirtieth minute where there
was a chance for Pedro and Christian, but overall the
majority of it, they're holding onto the ball and there's
no purpose with their possession. And you know, I, I'm
just kind of thinking out loud, and you're you're gonna
hear I think a really good question coming up from
Jeremiah O'shanna Sounder at Heart, because we're gonna be hearing
(05:50):
from Brian Schmitzer at his postgame press conference. We don't
normally do this, but this time I specifically want to
play some audio here in the first segment of the
show tonight from the host game press conference from Brian Schmitzer,
where Jeremiah I think perfectly asked him about the focus
of players coming into this Vancouver game while they were
also dealing with the player pay situation from the Club
(06:12):
World Cup. And I was thinking of it out loud
as I was watching the game with Ari and Noah
and you know the guys, as we were just kind
of watching in the press box at BC Place. I
was wondering if the focus was there for this game.
I was wondering if everybody's heads were in the moment
playing this game and listen. You know, if there's there's
no player listening, but if there was, I get it.
(06:34):
You're gonna probably take that as a criticism as an
attack that you weren't fully in on this game. But
I think the as Brian Schmitzer also says, and you're
gonna hear from it, they've opened themselves up to this
question being asked. They've made the statement, and clearly it's
been on the mind. A couple hours before kickoff of
the white Caps game, there was a unified team Instagram
(06:56):
post that all related to the club World Cup pay situation,
and every player on the team sent out the same
Instagram post. So they're very much clearly thinking about these things,
actively thinking about these things on game days hours before kickoff.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Of a MLS match.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Clearly, it's a distraction, and they said that Christian World
Don Stephen Fry last week said it is a distraction,
And I think that we are seeing that manifests itself,
especially in the first forty five minutes where it came
out flat. That's clear, but it's a fair question, I
think to every one of those players of was the
(07:36):
focus fully there for the Vancouver white Caps game? And
listen if players, you know, you can feel like that's
an attack, and maybe it is. But I would say
that the question has has to be asked, is was
the focus there? Because the three nothing loss where yes,
you go down to two men and then you give
up two goals, but also on top of that, it's
(07:57):
just everything else involved with that. The easy that Vancouver
scored at the end of the first half, it's just
uncharacteristic defensive mistakes by the Sounders and that's got to stop.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It's just it's terrible to watch.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And we've seen it now against Minnesota, we saw it
against Vancouver. We can't have that for what was one
of the best defenses in the league over the last
few years. And I know they're hurt, but still it's
just the scheme and the player quality. It's it's not
there to make these consistent mistakes that they've made over
these last two games. So yeah, I think the question
is there, and it was a very very good question
(08:30):
from Jeremioshan in this clip. You're also gonna hear from
Jada Evans, who I think also asks a good question
about the embarrassment level, you know, and on that quickly
before we hear the audio. The second half ended right
at ninety zero zero. You know, it's insulting, and you
know it's embarrassing when the referee doesn't even allow added time.
(08:52):
I think the ated time was supposed to be five
or six minutes, and the head ref just said, no,
that's it. Listen, this is three nothing. Seattle's down two men.
Why do we need to play five or six minutes?
That is so insulting and embarrassing to have a referee
say you have no chance to even have a hope
of a comeback. I'm calling it. We don't even need
to play the extra time. That's terrible. Oh my gosh.
(09:14):
I just I laughed because when I was in the stadium,
because it was just so much pain in that moment.
And you know, so, I think Jada's question about the
embarrassment is very fair. This piece of audio you're gonna
hear now from Brian Schmenzer postgame starts with Brian responding
to a question from Jeremiah about the mentality his mentality
the mentality of the team. Some thoughts here after the
(09:36):
Sounders loss here from head coach Brian Schmitzer.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
So, how am I feeling, Well, obviously we have a
dejected bunch of players, you know, the mental state of
the team. Obviously that's a that's a you know, shot
to the chin. They're gonna be fine. But I tried
to tell them after the game was you can look
(10:00):
at The easy thing to do is you know, you
can to look at new who you can look at
Jonathan Bell and the Red Guards as the reason why
we lost the game. But that's the easy thing to do.
I think it's more, you know, the you know, offensive
struggles in the first half to create clear scoring chances.
(10:27):
I mean, the ball that comes across Ryan Ken start
off first ten minutes very good, staying out wide, you know,
Alex Bali's have ball in. We went, we go up
one nothing within the first ten minutes. You know, the
game changes. So it's the attacking struggles that you know
that that are causing some of the concern that I have.
(10:49):
If you're asking me how I'm feeling, what I would
do differently is I did not think that Vancouver was
going to play at five at the backs. So I
probably would have switched Masaski in there. I think that
would have been a better option. Uh So that's on me.
I'm the one that makes the decisions on who starts
(11:11):
and how the team plays. They all take responsibility for this.
I can tell you that I will reflect on, you know,
the guys that you know started the game, and then
some of the guys that came into the game and
measure who deserves to start for you know, the next
(11:31):
game against Vodaphoka. So we're going to regroup and we're
going to try and figure out a way how to
be competitive in the next three games and then hopefully
there'll be reinforcements coming up and I'll get back to
you know. What I told him in the locker room was,
you know, San Diego was a very It was a
(11:53):
low point, and Diego was a low point because that
that that game they didn't put the effort in. So
I a little bit more upset about that game. This
game we didn't play well, but the effort even down
two guys, the effort that Paul Rothrock put in there,
that Kilani put in there, those guys kept after a
JP came on Masoski came on. At least they continued
(12:17):
to fight, so I was a little bit more about
upset about Sandie. So we went on a little bit
of a run after that that low point. So we're
gonna try and do the same.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Does this one feel embarrassing considering the fact of you know,
them being down and just some of the errors that
were made in this.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Match, Well, embarrassed is an interesting choice of words, interesting adjective.
I can feel embarrassed because I've been a member of
this club for a long time and I hate losing.
The players need to feel how they feel. They have
to reflect, They have to understand that, you know, their
(12:57):
performances wasn't good. So I'll answer that, yes, I didn't
like the outcome of the game. I'm embarrassed because I
need to do a better job to make sure the
team is prepared to play. We talked about this being
a trap game, We talked about it at nauseum being
a trap game, and yet somehow we fell into that.
(13:21):
So again, if you're asking me my assessment in the game,
it's the general team defending along with the not a
lot of good attacking movements, rather than again to the
two Reds that caused this game to get out of hand. Look,
we were the best defensive team in the league last year,
(13:44):
and you know we've been giving up goals left and right,
so that's got to stop.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
Do you feel that the whole situation with the Club
World Cup Prize school has had any sort of effect
on the players focused and whatnot.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Well, they've opened the door for that conversation. Last few
results haven't been great, but you know, I've had conversations
with the players. I thought that they had, you know,
put it to bed, but you know, obviously the results
open that it opens that door. They you know, they've
(14:24):
opened themselves up. In fairness to them, they haven't quit.
But also in fairness to you guys or the fans,
the fans that the twenty five hundred people that came
to the game tonight, they can certainly question that. But
you know, as far as I'm concerned, our messaging has
been Okay, you guys made a statement, but you know what,
(14:48):
we've got a pushbacks this because life isn't always easy
and you're not always going to get what you want,
and so at some point there has to be a
final we come to whatever negotiations are going on, and
then we as a club and the players as a
group just have.
Speaker 5 (15:09):
To move forward.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Was Brian Schenzer, the Sounders head coach, And you know, yeah,
I fully agree with everything he just said. The players
have brought that question on themselves. Was the focus there?
I asked it a few minutes ago, and I think
it's a fair thing to ask as we look forward
to Sunday's game against Bodo Fogo. Is the focus there?
Or is the focus on getting paid? And listen, listen.
(15:33):
I think we went over it on last week's show.
If you missed that, go listen to last week's show.
I talked about this whole Club World Cup pay situation,
why it doesn't make sense, why the players have a
very good point in their fight for more money and
to be paid as they should for these Club World
Cup games. So go listen to that if you missed it.
But ultimately it is a distraction and we are seeing
(15:55):
that distraction takeover. And I think we saw the distraction
in their focus in my opinion, certainly to distraction just
be at distraction in what was a three to nothing
loss at Vancouver, so frustrating up there at BC Place,
but it is the Club World Cup starting on Sunday.
We'll continue talking about that whole situation, but also talk
(16:16):
about overall the game. It's Bodafogo at Luminfield, one of
the top teams in South America. We also have Athletical Madrid.
We also have PSG. What amazing soccer clubs are coming
to our stadium.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
The question is how will the Sounders do against these teams.
Nico Moreno is going to be our Club World Cup correspondent.
He's with Sounder, a Heart and Sports polso he will
join us next year to talk about the Club World
Cup on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders FC,
Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Welcome back Sounder's Weekly.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jackson Feltzer, thank you for joining us here on this
Wednesday evening. First segment there heard from Brian Schmitzer, your
Sounders head coach. He obviously very frustrated and disappointed after
the Sounders three nothing lost to Vancouver, but Club World
Cup ahead and so much involved with that story. We
(17:15):
here on Sounders Weekly. I don't know if we've hired him.
I might have to just go buy him a couple
of lunches here over the next few weeks.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
But it's our very good friend.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
He's gonna be our Club World Cup correspondent, gonna make
it all official. Club World Cup correspondent. Nico Moreno of
Sounder Heart and Sports Polso. Nico, good to have you
on the show, my friend.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
How are you hey?
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Jackson Man with that introduction, and I'm gonna have to
hire you by I ever read no my vows man.
That sounds amazing, Man, I really enjoy that. But I
appreciate you giving me a title here. Always a pleasure
to be on on kJ ARK. No better radio station
in the entire Pacific Northwest when it comes to Sounders Information.
Thanks to you of course.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Oh well, and thanks to you for coming on as well,
and obviously Ari Lillianwall coming on in a little bit.
I know you guys do the Monday morning stuff together
here on Lobbing Scorchers as well on his YouTube, so
I love having both of you guys here on the show. Nico,
our Club World Cup correspondent. We'll talk some Club World
Cup in a minute, Nico, but really quick, because I
(18:20):
wanted to get your two cents on something I just
spent the first segment of the show on.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So I opened up the show.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
By sort of going off of I think a really
really good question by Jeremiah Oshan in the postgame press
conference with Brian Spencer. He asked Brian if he thought
the focus was there from players considering all the club
World Cup pay situation stuff. You know, they've obviously called
it a distraction and Nico for me, I watched that
(18:47):
Vancouver game and I saw a team in the first
half that was flat. And I did question in that
first segment there if they were able to fully focus
and if they were fully focused on that game against
Vanvancouver this last Sunday evening. Is that a fair question?
And what did you see from the Sounders there in
that three nothing loss.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
I think it's more than for a question. I think
he was reflected in a team that performance was bleak.
I mean, there was no tempo, there was a lack
of simple decision making. It seemed like a team that
I have not seen all season long. That's why this
morning I went and said that it was the most
(19:30):
embarrassing loss of the season, and obviously said that another show,
I'm bringing it up here for you, because I'm going
to own up to that and I'm might get a
little heat on that. But whenever you go into Vancouver
and a team has nine players, seven of those who
were starters that are not available seat needed to get
out there, control the tempo, be the protagonist and win
(19:53):
that game without a doubt, and that did not happen.
Now to your point and the entirety of the question,
I think it's a human emotion that happens to anyone
that whenever there is something that isn't quite dead, that
there's something wrong in our lives, regardless of what it is,
we are just not at our best. There is a distraction.
There is those moments, those lapses of understanding of the
(20:14):
game that I think this players have felt with the distractions,
with everything that happened with Adrian Hanhauer, simply just the
dynamics in the club, all of that can affect you.
And I feel like that was reflected on the field
on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
No, I that's good to hear, and I think we're
on the same page there, and I think it's a
very very important point to say that it's so human,
it is so human for there and We talked about
the cause for the players getting paid properly on the
show last week as well. That all reference and you know,
this is a thing about hating on players. It's a
thing where it's just a human reaction to be able to,
(20:52):
you know, not fully focus on something when you're so
much thinking about your livelihood and so much thinking about
other things going on in your life, like the player
pay situation with the Club World Cup. Nico our Club
World Cup correspondent here from Sounder at Heart and sports
polso you know follow him on Twitter at l Rolo
and W and Nico. Let's just transition right onto that
(21:13):
before we talk about the games coming up Bota Foco
coming up on Sunday night at lumin at seven o'clock,
before we get into the actual play. Where are we
at with the player play situation? The last thing I
saw was that we are quite divided between the league
and the players Association and you know, each other, seeing
their insulted offers and whatnot. It seems like this thing
(21:35):
is far from getting fixed.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Yeah. Look, basically the that show last Friday, MLS send
up proposal to the MLS Players Association that they refuted.
They did not go with what they sent, which was
a twenty percent potential twenty percent of an add on
when it came to performance bonuses on top of the
(22:00):
one million dollars that we're already getting, but it just
was not enough. And as much as we have been
going through all of these things and the clause on
the CBA, I think that the Players Union has a
very good precedent when he came to the bonification and
the performances that were given to MLS teams that were
(22:25):
going into a new formatted CONCA capt Champions League. As
you know, it was no longer cl that was CCC,
and with amplifying that tournament, those bonuses were also added
when he came to that overall price and MLS even
after that CBA was signed with that exc same clause.
If Vancouver Whitecaps would have had beat Cuzzo, they would
(22:48):
have gotten about two and a half million dollars. So
I think, Look, I'm no hard respector, but I think
president has a really good way of breaking contracts and
therefore I really do think that Thisssociation as well as
the players are in every right to be upset and
to want to get more. But I do hope that
it gets resolved.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
I hope it gets resolved too. I love the Suits reference.
I know my mom is listening, definitely, just absolutely pumping
our fist at the Suits reference.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Nico Moreno's with US Sports Polso Sounder at Heart our
club World Cup correspondent here on Sounders Weekly, here for
these next few weeks, and yeah, we're at the position
now where we just hope it gets fixed.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Nico.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I don't think it would come to anything about the
players sitting out or anything like that. I know some
people have thrown that out on social media. I don't
think it would would possibly come to that, But I
do wonder, you know, in a situation where nothing is
resolved by Sunday night at seven pm, what does happen
in that situation? You know, how do the Sounders play
in that kind of a situation. Clearly it'll continue to
(23:50):
be a distraction, So, you know, I just kind of
wonder where we're at it sound at seven pm on
Sunday if nothing happens, still, it's weird.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
It is weird. And look, I don't know about in Miami.
I've heard that la f C. It's very supportive to
the cause to your question. Everything that I've heard from
different sourcing does tell me that the team, the players,
they're willing to go as far as not playing this game.
(24:24):
As much as that shocking, and as much as that
that feels so extreme, I think that they've already done
so much. They feel like they're in the lid. And
I do believe that it's very true, and I'm with
them that they have a right to want a fair
share of what everybody else is getting. What they're the talent,
(24:45):
they're the ones that are putting their bodies on the line.
I mean, look, if any could, if anybody could be
a city of the Seattle Sanders. I mean, the only
reason why they're in here is because a couple of
those guys left it on the field to win the CCL,
the first team to ever do it in MLF. I mean, look,
there's still an ACL from Joe Pablo album and field
(25:05):
that he left there when the Seattle Saunders want this thing.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
He's never been the same player since he had that.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
It's never been the same, right, I mean, you're talking
about every everything that seventh Frid been putting his body
on the line. Giberg Andred played that entire tournament with
more ages than Steve mcnahbon. I mean, the guy was
literally hurting so much every single game and he was
still out there like a robot. So he missed some games,
(25:32):
of course, but he was there for the important ones.
So all of that just really gets me going because
I feel like they have put so much on the
line that older one is a bigger piece of the cake.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
To reiterate you, you've you've had from sources that the
players may be going as far to sit out there
is there is a your senses, there's a willingness.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Well that's very interesting and we will see what happens.
Is we're just a few days away from the Club
World Cups charting on Sunday at seven pm against Bota Fogo. Now,
Nico Bota Fogo. What do you and we in general
the soccer world know about this team? That is, of
course one of the best teams in South America. They
(26:14):
earned this tournament their entry into this tournament, unlike Miami
should say. But they are such a quality, quality team
and I think for Sounder fans it's the question of
this might be the most winnable game of these three
Club World Cup games in the group stage.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
How winnable realistically is this for the.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Sounders if they're you know, if they are playing, I
guess I should qualify that now.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Yeah, Look, honestly, I wish that if the Sounders were
at their very best with the very best players, my
percentage or at least the chances that I would give
the Sounders to be all at higher because this fog
is not the Botto folk with one couple of erectadors
a year ago, or maybe various specific Genior Santo no
longer there, Tago Matas no longer there. They're currently sixth
(27:04):
in El Barsi Laidao. They're actually struggling a little bit
in the group stage of couple lit another. You've got
to be frank, they haven't look as sharp. They are
a very good team, Don't get me wrong. I'm just
saying that compared to that team from a year ago,
this is a different squad and they're just not as
good as they want work. But they're extremely talented team. Like,
that's what I want to make sure that I don't
(27:25):
tell anybody anything that's wrong with when it comes. Arthur
is a fantastic attacker for this team. Ingod J sus
is a big striker that is an aerial thread every
single time. Savarrino, do you know him. I mean, he's
an MLS experienced player that has been incredible for what
a photo. He's creative, he's gold dangerous Gregory former Scatto
(27:48):
Saunders target at one point. He is part of that team.
He is that disruptor in the middle of the field.
So all to say that, look, this is a team
that is possession based. They run a four to four
to two or a four two three to one. They
like to get white in spaces. They do a lot
of overloads with their fullbacks, and as you would expect
a Brazil anything to do, every single player in the
(28:09):
field can be chopped to drip everybody's good one one
v one situation. So this is the very good team.
The seat is gonna have to be careful with because
once again, the Seattle Sunders can be playing this game
with a lot of their best defenders without their top striker.
So the situation just doesn't look very good for the
home team.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I mean, yeah, you put it like that, but I
think it's still all that said. Would you this would
is clearly I think it's not even debatable. The most
winnable game or these most I guess the pointable game
if that's a word out of the three. So I mean, really,
if we're talking about the you know, the Sounders dream
situation here, the dream situation is that you were able
(28:52):
to figure out the player pay situation. The players are
suddenly motivated, they're on top of it, they're rare and
to go. They get a win against bot A fil
they get a figure out a way to get a
you know, draw against Athletico Madrid. They have four points,
and that's that's like the perfect of the perfect of
the perfect world. But Nico, let's talk about the reality.
Let's talk about the real world for a moment. Here,
(29:14):
what is the real world situation for what you think
is gonna go down starting with Sunday and then we
can go to the rest of the tournament from there.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Look, I'm gonna call a thirty percent chance the Shadow
gets a result against a result meaning it could be
a draw, you know, drives of the result, especially in
this group stage situation, and depending on that, maybe Shadow
can built off of that. But beyond that point, you know,
you look at the form become adric team that is
(29:44):
so poised, so good, you got Cokee, you got all
these players that are you know, stellar players, all black
on goal, I mean coach by Simeone with this cemale
and a stamp of they're in every game, They're gonna
beat you to every ball. It just it's a difficult pathway.
And then you end up with PSG the champions. I
don't got to say more than they beat in a
(30:06):
land five zero, one of the best teams in Europe,
one of the is just something that is just hard
to do. So I would think that there's still a chance.
I'm not gonna I'm not gonna sit here and tell
you Jackson, there is zero chance, because there is soccer.
I SA Saudi Arabia beat Argentina, the world champions, just
the past World Cup with all of the stars in
(30:27):
the Argentine side, with nobody giving them any sort of possibility,
and they did it. Why not the Sounders get a
result still a goal bunker in I don't know how
it happens, but anything could happen in soccer, and that's
the beauty of the game. So I'm gonna say, I
don't know, fifteen chance that they get a resold against
Athletico and then maybe I'll lessen it to ten percent
(30:49):
against PSG.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
How about that, Listen, chance of getting a result against
PSG is probably more than I think any other person
will give them around the city. So I will take
that and I will go to bed smiling with that number.
Nico Moreno's with us from Sounder Heart and Sports Polso.
He's our club World Cup correspondent.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Nico. Before we break, just.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
You know, just in general, like with all the player
pay stuff going on, has that hampered your excitement for
this overall? I mean the excitement of having the best
team on planet Earth PSG or Athletico Madrid, a giant
in Boto Fogo from South America? Has everything else going
on off the field lessened your excitement for this tournament
(31:34):
at all?
Speaker 5 (31:35):
You look, he really has. I'm not gonna show away
from it. I wish that over the last week, every
single show that I've done in South America and here
will be focused on how excited people are about this
tournament and how good and motivated and incentivized the Sounder
players were. But instead of talking about protest and I'm
talking about Adrian Hannou were in the team, and I'm
(31:58):
talking about a a team and league that every team
is getting a million dollars for a tie and two
million dollars for a win, but what they offered the
players is two hundred thousand dollars for a tie four
hundred thousand dollars for a win. It just seems like
there's just no motivation from the clubs and the league
(32:19):
to just incentivize the player so the entertainment is better.
And that has completely killed my mood.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Wow blunt, I mean, I love the honesty man. That's
why we have you on because you're so and byo
you mentioned the handover thing. All props to you and
Jeremiah Oshan at sounder R for your great reporting last
week to cherish our friendship. So deeply, thank you for
coming on the show and being our club World Cup correspondent.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
I appreciate the time this week.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
We'll have you on again next week, where hopefully we're
talking about a result against Bota Fogo and hopefully we're
talking about a player pay situation resolved, and hopefully we're
talking about excitement towards Athletico Madrid ahead.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Hey man, thank you so much. Hopefully you have on.
I get passionate. I'm a bit blunt, but you know,
I'll always appreciate you guys encouraging and wanting to amplify
that through KJR SO. I appreciate it. Thank you so much,
Love you guys, love the audience. I'll see you guys
next week.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
Awesome stuff there from Nico Moreno, Sounder at Hart and
Sports Polso, one of the great reporters on the sport
of soccer. I would say in this country, we'll get
a break here in Sounders Weekly. We'll talk about the
Sounders lost to Vancouver. I'll ask Ari Lillionwall if my
take on this player's focus is fair or not. We'll
talk about the Club World Cup ahead and get some
overall thoughts on Major League Soccer entering this break for
(33:37):
the Club World Cup that's next year on Sounders Weekly
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders
fc cll's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly. Jackson felt good to be with
you here on this Wednesday night. Thanks to Nico Moreno
of Sounder, Hart and Sportspolso for joining us. He's our
Club World Cup correspondent. Every Monday morning, Nico joins our
next guest. He goes on the Lobbing Scorches YouTube page.
(34:12):
You can subscribe to lobbing Scorches. You get notified whenever
Lobbing Scorches goes live on Monday mornings and Thursday nights.
That is hosted by our next guest, Ari Lillian Wall,
who also was a writer and editor from Major League
Soccer dot com.
Speaker 5 (34:26):
Ari.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
How you doing, buddy?
Speaker 6 (34:29):
I'm doing well, Jackson, how are you?
Speaker 2 (34:31):
I'm all right, Ari, I said earlier in the show.
I'll say it again here. We both made the drive
back from BC Place on Sunday night. I made the
really stupid call of having a dentist appointment to have
a tooth filling on Monday morning at eight am. So
that was fun. Actually, you know, the toothfilling was a
lot more fun than watching the three nothing lost. But
(34:51):
at least it was me, you and Noah sitting next
to each other for that game. Let's just start there, man.
We all watched it. Well, were kind of just like,
oh my god. But yeah, here for our listeners, what
are your two cents on the three nothing lost to
the white Caps.
Speaker 6 (35:08):
I mean, yeah, the result is disappointing enough, because that
was a game that you go into with what everyone
thought was a pretty big advantage, with Vancouver coming off
a really emotional loss in CONCA CAF Champions Cup, and
then also with a lot of their players getting sick
on the way back and having ten guys gone with
international duty. It was getting talked about in a way
(35:31):
where the scales were really tilted towards Seattle in the matchup.
So then for you to take the result but then
also shoot yourself from the foot with not one but
two red cards, you kind of eliminate whatever chance that
you had when you get one red card, let alone
two in three minutes.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
I don't think I got your take on the second
red card. I think the first was fair on new
but John Bell's red card fair foul on that one.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
I mean, it's tough because I don't think that he
is trying to make contact with the guy there. But
I do think there's something to be said for just
situational awareness in that in that scenario, when the ball
is coming in the angles you're taking, the positioning that
you have is you got to have the awareness to
not put yourself into a situation where that does happen.
I think you could argue, so it's I sympathize with
(36:23):
him on that. I don't think that he tried to
do it, but it's also you could argue that he
needs to be more aware in that situation as well.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Yeah, it's well played.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Ari Lellione was our guest MLS Soccer dot Com and
the podcast Lobbing Scorches also subscribe to their YouTube Lobbing
Scorches there with Ari and Noah. All right, Ari, it's
Club World Cup time. We just spent a lot of
time with Nico Moreno talking about the Club World Cup
and where things stand right now with the league and
with the union, and how we're kind of just hoping
(36:51):
that this thing gets figured out by the time Sunday
rolls around. For you, you know, entering this tournament, you know,
covering and seeing the entire league. I do want to
ask you about the expectations for these three MLS clubs
in this thing. We'll start with the Sounders in this
group of death where you're gonna see Boda Fogo, Athletico
Madrid and PSG in one, two three over the next
(37:13):
couple of weeks. You know, what should the expectations of
a sounder fan be Maybe it comes with points, maybe
it comes with just how they look on the field.
What are your thoughts on what expectations should be set at.
Speaker 6 (37:27):
I mean, I think you have by far the most
difficult group out of any of the three MLS teams,
probably the most difficult group period. So for me, I mean,
I'm thinking of it less in terms of what the
result is and more just I think competing with dignity
is what you want to see. Don't do anything that
embarrasses yourself or sets the league back like ten years,
(37:50):
which you know, I don't really think there's honestly much
that could happen that would have those effects, considering just
the status of these clubs that they're playing. More than
the status, just the golf and spending. It puts you
up against it just inherently. So like I said, I
think the expectation should be to just put on a
good showing, compete with dignity, and then let the result
(38:13):
be what it may. I mean, if when you're talking
about PSG, the odds, just the odds of any club
coming on top in that scenario are are long enough odds,
let alone for an MLS club that is has a
tiny fraction of the roster spending.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
Yeah exactly, We're talking about the best team on Earth
in that and you know Boda Fogo, Nico is still
talking about their quality and you know Savarino and you
know a big forward who's you know, big bodied guy
who's so good on the air, and I hear, you know, okay,
well Boda Fogo has a great aerial striker against a
team the Sounders that is decimated at center back. Right now,
that's that's not the most comforting thing to hear, but
(38:50):
you know, overall are is. Then we turn the attention
to l AFC, a team that just got into the
club club. I mean, you think about that game, the
playing game they had against America and Los Angeles where
literally winning that game ari won them as a club.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Was it?
Speaker 2 (39:05):
So you know, nine point five to five million dollars,
what a massive payday from one single victory that they
didn't even think was going to be on the table
six months ago. But you know, LAFC, injuring this tournament,
the way they entered this tournament, where are they at
mentally and where where should their fans be thinking? You know,
how far this LAFC team might be able to meet
potentially get out of their group.
Speaker 6 (39:28):
I think LAFC and Inner Miami both still have pretty
difficult groups, if not as difficult as a Seattle's group.
But when I look at it, I think LAFC probably well,
I don't know, because I still think Inner Miami and
Messi and the Barca boys they can they can take
any result and I wouldn't be surprised. But LAFC, if
(39:50):
you look at their group, they have Flamengo, who's a
very good Brazilian side, but I don't think considered quite
of the quality of Botafogo. They have a Tunisian side that.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
I've never heard of that may or may not be good.
Speaker 6 (40:01):
But that's a game that feels like they could maybe
get a result in. And then you have Chelsea, who
you know, they have a track record of choking in
big games. But I mean, in all seriousness, that's that's
a very difficult matchup for LAFC. But I don't think
it's unthinkable that they take results in either of those
other two games. So that's that's one where I look
(40:22):
at it and I feel like there's not a It's
not the craziest proposition to think they could make it out.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
Yeah, no, they would have to obviously be battling Plamego
and that would be kind of the question of do
they end up getting a result there? And you know,
gold differential is going to play such an interesting part
in you know, not only that group, but also in
the Sounders group. You know, how much does PSG have
to win by in that final match day of the group.
How much do they have to beat Seattle by to
get first in the group. So that's going to be
(40:49):
one of those, you know, gold differential questions. You mentioned
Miami there, and I think that is going to be
what a lot of you know, general soccer fans around
not only here but around the nation are going to
be saying, is, well, they have the best player on
Earth MESSI they should get out of the group stage.
Should Miami get out of their group stage?
Speaker 6 (41:08):
I think their group is sneakily more difficult than people
have been talking about. They open up the whole thing
on Saturday against a La Lee, which sounderstands know well
from the last time Seattle played in the Club World Cup, and.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
They proved to be a very good side.
Speaker 6 (41:22):
That was a hard fought, competitive game that Seattle had
and they came out just short. But they're a very
fast and athletic team to my memory, which is the
type of team that a team of old guys like
Inner Miami might struggle with. So I don't think it's
a guarantee that they're going to be a la lee
like some people seem to. And then you look at
Porto in the Portuguese side that they're going to be playing.
(41:44):
That's a very good, storied, reputable side, and Paul Marris you.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Can see the same from Brazil.
Speaker 6 (41:50):
So I'll be I'm interested to see how this goes
for Inner Miami because they have arguably the most stax
MLS roster of all time, certainly the most stacked that
I've seen in recent years. But they haven't been in
great form all season. They were actually in a pretty
poor run of form. Very recently last few games they've
started to look more like themselves again.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
And when Messi and.
Speaker 6 (42:13):
The Barca boys are firing at their peak level, I mean,
they're very hard to stop for any team, even these
teams in their group. But at the same time, with
like the kind of downturn we've seen from them at times.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
This year, if they get grouped.
Speaker 6 (42:25):
I don't think that would be the most shocking thing
to me, not as shocking as it might be.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
For as some people have been saying, well, for all
three of these teams and for all the players on
all three teams, they've already hit the cap of money
that they will make for this entire tournament. So, as
Stephan Fry said, where's the incentive And we'll see how
much you know, the fight is there to win? And
for those you know, all three teams, and what does
(42:50):
that fight like and does this thing get solved by Sunday?
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Lots of questions.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
We will see what it looks like out at Lumenfield
on Sunday for the Sounders against Boto Fogo.
Speaker 3 (43:00):
I'll see you there.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
Should be very very fun as FIFA takes over Seattle
for the first of these two fun years here with
the Club World Cup and then the World Cup next year.
I will see you on Sunday, my friend. Have a
very good rest of your week.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Don get it.
Speaker 6 (43:14):
Thanks Jackie.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
Good stuff there.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
From Ari Lillianwall major League Soccer dot Com, where he
is a writer and editor. Also hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers.
You can subscribe to their YouTube page, lobbing scorches there
on YouTube. Couple quick notes before we give you some
broadcast details. First, Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence,
Swedish official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra
(43:38):
is ninety five calories and two point six grams of carbs.
It's only worth it if you enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
Okay. So for the.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Sounders broadcasts coming up for the Club World Cup, that
is going to be a stream on the SOUNDERSFC dot
com website. Again, that will be a stream SOUNDERSFC dot com.
Not gonna be on radio anywhere. Nine to fifty ninety
three point three No radio broadcast for Club World Cup
games blame FIFA, and ultimately it will show up as
(44:08):
a stream on SOUNDERSFC dot com. We're gonna have the
normal thirty minute pregame, thirty minute post game, so six
thirty SOUNDERSFC dot com. We'll have the stream for Sounders
versus Bodafogo in the Club World Cup and other Club
World Cup games moving forward.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
But for the.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
Sounders next MLS match, that's gonna be Austin FC. It's
gonna be at Luminfield against Austin FC. That's gonna be
on June twenty eighth. It'll be a seven to thirty
kickoff Providence, Swedish prematch show seven o'clock. People, you can
watch the match MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
Listen right here.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM l RAY
thirteen sixty in Spanish. That match will be sponsored by Starbucks.
But again, that is the next MLS match June twenty
eighth is what I just gave you broadcast details about
against Austin. That will be on rare radio. The next
three Club World Cup games will not be on radio.
(45:04):
That makes sense. Again, Austin is on the twenty eighth.
That's the next MLS game that will be here on radio.
That will be Providence sweds premat show of seven o'clock
on June twenty eighth. But the Club World Cup games
only available via stream on SOUNDERSFC dot com normal thirty
minute pre post. We'll have all this stuff there Sunday
(45:26):
six point thirty for Sounders and Boto Fogo.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Okay, that'll do it for us.
Speaker 2 (45:30):
Thanks to all of our guests tonight, thanks to Ari,
thanks to Nico. Good to hear from Brian Schmitzer, Let's
move past this Vancouver game. I think we're all ready
to move past that. We're all ready to focus on
hopefully a fun atmosphere for the Club World Cup. Look
forward to seeing everybody out there at Luminfield. Have a
very good rest of your week. Everybody, We'll talk to
you on Sunday and Fox Sports Radio is coming up next.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.