This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounder supporters. They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest. Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounders legend.
Now I get to do voice reads for the Sounder at Heart podcast network. Welcome back to another episode of Nos Adientes. Joining me today on the podcast is someone I'm really excited to have on. First time we've had him on. Sasha question, you probably know him from Apple TVs, MLS studio, or you might know him from his 13 seasons playing in MLS. He had 44 goals, 99 assists. He played for Chivas USA, the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, and LA Galaxy.
But I've really enjoyed especially watching him make the transition into the studio and becoming one of the really entertaining and insightful voices covering this league. Welcome to the show Shasha and thank you for doing this. I know you're on vacation and I don't take it lightly that you're making time. No, I appreciate it anytime. Yeah, surprising. This is my first appearance on the podcast. I've been making my rounds over the past.
couple of years uh but excited to talk founders in la galaxy yeah well anytime you want to get back on we're we're happy to have you thanks man but uh Yeah. So anyway, you know, you will start with this. You played for three of the teams that are still alive in the playoffs. So I assume
that means that you're going to be rooting for the Sounders just because of fairness, right? Yeah, exactly. Listen, I don't have a dog in the fight in any of these ones. I think all... are really good stories when you look at the four clubs that are left uh seattle you know possible to get back to their first final in a few years obviously galaxy It's been 10 years since they've been to an MLS Cup and they've obviously been the most successful team in MLS history.
uh and then you got the two teams in the east orlando obviously never been to an mls cup red bull one of the few originals left that have not won an mls cup so Uh, and then I feel like I'm like the good luck Chuck, you know, as soon as I leave your club a few years later, you're in the final four. So yeah, it's going to be exciting weekend. Yeah, so you are currently, or you are at heart, you're a Southern California guy. You came up through the youth.
ranks there you played there uh at two different times uh you live there now who in your mind who's currently winning the battle for hearts and minds between the galaxy and lafc it at least seems like the mood has started to change a little bit this year well i think what we see from the la galaxy this year
Uh, it's just that everybody's excited about the club again and that the fans have something to believe in as they should, they they've been the most entertaining team in the league this year. So when you show up to that stadium, uh, I think you.
One, you're entertained too. You get to see beautiful attacking soccer and three, they're winning, which is the most important thing. So, uh, they're ticking all the boxes right now. However, LAFC in the past seven years, since they've arrived in MLS, they have been the most.
successful team over the past seven years. That's, that's for sure. And that's on and off the field. Uh, they've done a very good job of branding a lot of times around Southern California. You see people just wearing that black and gold LAFC hat. which has become a bit of a style icon thing in Los Angeles. So it's been a great battle now this year to see the LA Galaxy kind of back where they belong in the upper echelons of Major League Soccer.
Yeah, I was down there last weekend for the game and I was blown away, frankly, at especially once you get to the stadium. I mean, everybody is wearing black and gold. It's not, you know. You go to a lot of games. I mean, even if you go to Sounders games, obviously you see a fair amount of rave green, but it's not like everybody is wearing it. Almost everyone walking into that stadium was wearing black and gold. And just demographically, it is so diverse. It looks exactly like how you imagine.
an mls game should look you have these supporters loud supporters in one end and you have uh you just have a variety of different kinds of people at the game
I thought they did a really good job of like, I took a walk around the concourse, they did a really good job of activating it. There's, you know, concessions and, and pro shops everywhere like basically every 20 feet i i haven't been able to get out to dignity health sports park uh ever i was hoping to get down there this weekend it does not look like that's going to happen as you may have heard
This is a very busy travel weekend. So we ended up being a little out of my budget, I think, to get down there. Also, obviously, I have stuff to do otherwise. But anyway, what is the atmosphere like at... at galaxy games it's these you know i saw the minnesota game on tv and it seemed like the it is as boisterous as ever Yeah, listen, I think the Galaxy fans feel that they're back, which I think they are. If you just look at their home record this year, right, I think they played now.
18 games or 19 games in major league soccer they've got three draws and the rest of them are wins you know their one home loss quote unquote this year was the game at the rose bowl so when you show up to that stadium it is loud again it is packed
know i think a lot of the fans are trying to wear white to create this you know white out event in there that i think looks really cool they're loud they're excited they're behind their team and like i mentioned earlier they play beautiful attacking soccer so that's always fun to cheer for
And you have to give some credit, not some, a lot of credit to the fans because they were the ones that changed things around in this club. You know what it was about a year and a half, two years ago when they walked out and they demanded changes from the club. And you had a couple of changes in the front office. And then they went out and they spent $20 million on two very good wingers this offseason who have added a clear new dynamic to this team.
So it just seems like there's a ton of excitement around the galaxy. The stadium is a place that it seemed like it was 10 years ago in the days of Landon Donovan and David Beckham and Robbie Keane when... When most teams stepped into that stadium, they were hoping for a draw, but knowing they were probably going to lose. And so that's what it seems like it is again right now for the Galaxy.
And I don't know, how would you articulate someone who was there during sort of the the end of the previous era or towards the end of the previous era? How different is the mood around the team right now? And it is as simple as.
this change in leadership in the front office? Well, I think it's make it even more simpler than that is that winning, winning cures a lot of things and winning makes everybody happy. So That's kind of the first thing, but then you have to backtrack and just say, yeah, like, listen, Will Kuntz has done a good job, I think, of just creating a little bit more structure in that club.
And I know it very well because my brother, Gordon, works right under Will Kuntz and helps manage the salary cap and things like that. I know what's going on in that club. I've been around it. It did not have a family feel before. I'm not sure it has the total family feel now, but it's in a much better place than it was a few years ago.
just i think with better lines of communication between the club and the fans and the club and the players and then you can see it on the field obviously the players are happy they enjoy what they're doing right now and the club just seems like it's in a much better place So this team is, like you said, it's a ton of fun to watch. They've already scored 15 goals in the first five games. I guess there are two goals shy of tying three games. First three games.
Three games. They've scored at least four in every game, right? Yes, they've scored four, five, and six. And the MLS playoff record for goals in a postseason is 17, which was set by Toronto. uh they've done it in three games listen their attack has been amazing gabrielle peck and ricky pooch are the two players that that get the most plotted but when you have day on jovelich who's a killer in the box and joseph faintel who's got great movement off the ball
And now you add in Marco Reus when you're playing against a team that's sitting in a low block. They've been pretty fun to watch and pretty entertaining. Well, let's get into that a little bit. Ricky Puj is sort of the player who, it feels like he's getting a lot of the credit for this.
change but he also was you know he was here last year when they weren't quite or the last couple years when they weren't quite as dynamic is it as simple as adding spending 20 million dollars on wingers and and sort of the collective just raising or is there something that they're doing tactically that is really different? No, I don't think tactically things have changed. I played under Greg Vanney and it looked the same to me.
It's just when he sets up his team and you're setting up in a 4-3-3 and you're in ball possession and you're trying to get into the half spaces. wingers are so important. You have to have wingers in that system who either run behind and make good runs and can finish off plays or, or wingers that can dribble past players. Right. And so
Uh, when we look back on the years, when I was there, we didn't have those wingers. Now you spend, you know, about 20 million on Gabrielle tech, who's the newcomer of the year. One of the best wingers in the league, Joseph paint bill, obviously, you know, a 10 goal and assist type guy. That creates a world of difference because before, I think last season, teams were able to just hone in on Ricky Pooch and try to take him out of the game.
And there wasn't space for him to operate because no players were running in behind. There was no threat in behind. There was no threat from the wingers. And so now you add in these wingers and because they're so good. They, they allow Ricky pooch more space to operate. And then listen in a playoff game against Minnesota, he's getting 161 touches. That's absurd. He's able to just control and dictate the entire game. And he's been one of the best in the league this year.
yeah it's it's unreal i think he i saw somewhere today that he had 144 passes which is yeah has to be up there with like an mls record i don't know it's hard for me to like you don't hear about 100 pass games that often let alone you know, 44% more than that. He's getting minimum 100 touches every single game because he just has the energy to buzz about and get on the ball and he's brave and he's fearless. He's really a special player to watch.
But on the other side, they do have some holes defensively. Against Minnesota, they gave up two goals. did sometimes they were, they were allowing chances, I guess is a way of putting it. That's been a, that's, and it's sort of been a thing, maybe not so much in the playoffs, but during the year. Where can they be exploited? What are their weaknesses that if you're game planning against them that you're looking to exploit?
Well, I think Seattle specifically, you're looking for turnovers in the midfield. You're looking for when... when ricky foots drops the basically when the galaxy is in possession and they start to spread themselves a bit if you can turn them over in the midfield then it's one or two passes then you have a quick counter attack going that's that's number one
which is what Seattle tried to do against LAFC, and they did it well. They stifled them, and they were able a few times to try to get on the break. And then the second one is set pieces. If I'm Seattle, I'm looking at set pieces, corner kicks as an opportunity to score every single time. john mccarthy the goalkeeper he's had a pretty good season but he's not spectacular and so i think those are the two ways when galaxy is in possession
Uh, turnover first pass forward. Can you start breaking lines and start going to goal? That's how Minnesota scored their first goal was, you know, picking a ball off of Ricky pooch, 35 yards from his own goal and two passes forward, right back to the Ebola and he finishes it.
And then set pieces. I think the Galaxy got better at set piece defending as the season went on. At the beginning of the season, it was a really difficult spot for them, but they got better. But it's still a part where I think Seattle can exploit with those big center backs coming in the box. Thank you for listening to the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network, which now includes Nos Anietes, Lobbing Scorchers, and the Cooler Guild.
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Just visit sounderatheart.com and click the subscribe button in the top right corner. Thanks for listening. Yeah, the centers scored two goals off set pieces in the League's Cup meeting. They won that game 3-1. In fact, I think you can argue the Sounders outplayed the Galaxy in all three of their meetings this year.
You know, the first one, but they all had sort of caveats attached to them. The first one, the Galaxy, I think, and I think the Galaxy were missing a couple of players in at least a couple of those games. But, you know, the first one was played in a pretty torrential downpour. Galaxy got an early goal and then sort of held on from there. The second one was 0-0 at Lumen Field, but it was pretty much, it was a pretty Sounders heavy.
Uh, chance wise in that game. And then of course there was this through one leagues cup game. Is there much though to take away from those games or is there much even to take away from, you know, Greg Banny is just 10, I think it's 10 or four. 10-3 against Brian Schmetzer. I mean, are these things that we should be looking at, like the historic records, even going from a few months ago?
You know, not really. I think at this point in the season, both teams are at different places than they were back in August when they played in the league's cup. I think Seattle was really rounding into form. Then that kind of started their good form in the second half of the season.
But Seattle, I've always said, is a team that's built for the playoffs because they don't make mistakes. They don't usually shoot themselves in the foot. And they're so solid defensively, which is just always a recipe for success. in the postseason. So you've got, you know, what is probably what the best defense in the league against the best attack in the league at this point. So
what's going to bend, what's going to break is going to be the question, but I don't think you need to look back on those games that, you know, the league's cup one. I mean, Seattle was up to zero within seven minutes, right? I'll raise that pieces.
Uh, yeah. Like you had said that the first one, Gabrielle Peck scores in like the fourth or fifth minute of that game. So early, early goals always change things. That's for sure. I expect this one to be a little bit more cagey. And so, you know, Greg Vanney has played Brian Schmetzer more than any other coach during his.
his mls career or he has faced him more times than anyone else during his coaching career that includes three mls cup meetings uh and brian schmetzer has actually gotten gotten the best of them for the most part uh is You obviously played for Greg Vanney. Does he, I don't know, does he approach the Sounders or facing Brian Schmetzer any differently than any other team? Like, is there this sort of bogey team?
atmosphere around it? Or is that something that doesn't really get into the locker room? I don't think that got into the locker room. But but greg uh always seems to try to come up with a little tinker of a game plan you know just depending on how the other team usually sets up tactically so It will be interesting to see how the Galaxy come out. I don't think much changes for the Galaxy, to be honest, whether Seattle plays in a back five or a back four.
But I will be interested to see how Seattle lines up practically and just how healthy they are for this game because I know they've got a couple of injuries. And if, you know, knew who is back, do they go back to a back four or does he play in a back five again? That will be interesting to see, but I do expect Seattle to play a little bit lower and on the counter attack, but I don't think that.
that Greg Vanney is thinking or overthinking things against Brian Schmetzer. I do think Schmetzer is a very smart coach who always kind of comes up with a good game plan, especially in the playoff and get his players to stick to that game plan. Well, let's get into the Sounders side of this a little bit. You know, against Minnesota, they seem to try to sit deep and...
And, you know, they had five in the back and that's sort of been how they've been playing. It didn't work out too well for them, obviously. If you were Brian Schmetzer, how do you go about balancing the knowledge that this is a team that is... very explosive and can, you know, beat you up pretty badly if you let them. But at the same time, you have to keep them honest. Yeah, listen, I think it's the same game plan as when you played LAFC.
But then this time you have to expect that Galaxy will have even more possession than LAFC did in that conference semifinal matchup. You don't want to give space. to pack and paint still to run into, in my opinion, or space for them to pick up the ball and start driving at your back line with a lot of momentum. When you see how Peck scored his first goal and how he scored his second goal.
it's just too much space and that's where lafc uh looks first place they want danny buonga to get the ball with time and space and uh lots of space to run into and seattle never gave him that so they really limited him in that match I think they have to have that same game plan against Gabrielle Peck and Joseph Paintsville specifically. And offensively, you would think that the Sounders are going to look to get Jordan into space, either whether he's on the wing or starting up top.
From what you've seen of him this year, has he shown you as a pundit that he is a number nine? Or do you still think there's an open question as to his best position? you know, how the Sounders sort of build around him? I still think the Sounders at their best. not this season right now he is the best number nine on the team but the founders at their best in my opinion would be with jordan morris back on the left wing and a real
good number nine up front like Rui Diaz was years ago. I think Rui Diaz is past his prime. And so in the moment, Jordan Morris is playing well as the nine, but he's not ruthless enough for me. to be a starting number nine weekend and week out. Now, listen, he's done his job. He scored goals. He's put it in the back of the net. I think against LAFC.
Aaron long had him in his pocket for 120 minutes. Uh, and on one set piece, he got his chance and he absolutely buried it. And that was a really fantastic strikers goal. So maybe he's making me eat my words. but I do think he's best when he's coming in off the left and having more space to run into. Well, and this is a game where the Sounders are potentially without, they're definitely without Paul Rothrock. They're potentially without Yamar, Nuhu.
Even Reed Baker Whiting, who started as a left wing back last game. If you're game planning for, if you're approaching this game, are you tempted to bring Rui Diaz back in and move? Morris out to the wing just because of all these absences or is there some other approach that you would like to like I guess it's maybe between Jao Paulo and Raul Ruiz Diaz as who you're going to bring into the lineup
Yeah, probably not bringing Rui Diaz in as a starting player. I think I'd keep Jordan Morris up front for now. I think Yamar is the biggest miss if he can't play. I think Nathan came in and did well against the Galaxy, but from what I remember about playing against him in the San Jose days, there's a clear drop-off between Yamar and Nathan.
The biggest question marks will be back there. I think whether you bring Jao Paulo in that, you know, that just adds to the team, to the organization. I think Obed Vargas against LAFC was fantastic. He's been one of the best young players in the league this year. you always know what you're going to get out of Christian Roldan and Alex Roldan for that matter. So I think I would try to keep the midfield solid.
keep it the same way it's been. You got to get Rusnak on the ball in between the lines and you got to get Jordan Morris on the run behind that back line because that's where the Galaxy can be exposed. And so in sort of, if I'm projecting out what you're suggesting, you wouldn't mind seeing Christian probably moved out to the right and let Obed and JP man the center of the midfield. Yes, yes, because I think that that makes sense for...
what's happening with, with Seattle right now. I think, uh, just the sheer running you get out of Christian rolled on and you know, he's shown the propensity to score goals against the galaxy in the past, especially on counterattacks in that stadium. Um, and he He has the engine and the motor. I know he didn't score a lot this year, but he still can be really lethal in the counterattack just by his volume of running. Yeah, and I've been pretty impressed by his move to the...
Number six, I was not, I was for a long time someone who thought that that move did not make, that was not the best use of his talents, but it has worked. pretty well this year when they moved him back there but i i am starting to think you're right about the if you're balancing your needs in this game Moving him onto the right is probably the best option that you have and bringing JP in rather than Rui Diaz. But that's the biggest one that I'm curious to see what they end up doing there.
And then I guess on the other side, do you think what's your projection in terms of is Marco Roy, is this a game that Marco Roy gets a start or is this something where they go to a more two way sort of look there? Yeah, I think that the biggest question is whether Marco Roy starts or Mark Delgado starts. Delgado gives you more balance, a little bit more defensive structure, more running defensively.
Uh, but I think, I think Greg Vanney will lean towards starting Marco Royce again, just to add that, you know, other number 10 slash eight to play in between the line, especially because I think. the galaxy will have more possession and that just kind of adds another number into the attack so I'm eagerly awaiting to find out the starting lineup on Saturday night, just to see how I think both teams will line up. But my gut tells me Marco Roy starts.
And so my understanding is this is going to be a little bit different of a game for you. You're going to be on the, on the sideline. I guess that's something you did last week against for the Hudson river Derby as well. Yes, I will be on the sideline, just doing some pregame hits with the studio crew back for the MLS pregame show for both games.
uh and then you know yeah grabbing interviews and talking to coaches and and it's always fun being on the sideline for these games because you get to see the action up close And, you know, being in the studio every weekend, you start to miss the atmosphere of a game and the crowd and all that. So I'm really looking forward to this one because I think it's really going to be a fantastic game on Saturday night. So I'm going to just ask you this.
You made some predictions for this last game. You went one for four on those predictions. It was a hard one to predict. I'm not trying to light you up. But what was the thing that most surprised you, I guess, from last round? are the, you know, we have two matchups that on paper, I think, well, I don't know, maybe they're not as, as, as lopsided as, as I'm suggesting, but what, what are you expecting out of this round collectively? And what was the biggest surprise you had from last round?
I think the biggest surprise was that Atlanta laid an egg. I think they had so much momentum. And listen, we have to remember they were the nine seed, so they are what they are. But I think we all got caught up in the hype, or at least I got caught up in the hype of how well they played against Miami. I thought Orlando was very good. They controlled the game in its entirety. Atlanta never really threatened. So it's good to see Orlando win because they were the better team for sure.
Going into this round, I expect two really tight games. I don't expect high scoring in either of them. If I had to give an edge, I'd give an edge to the Galaxy just because they've played at home so unbelievably well this season. but in a very, very tight one. And then in the Eastern conference final, I think the Red Bulls have some mojo right now, but I do think Orlando is the better team. They defend the better. They control the game better.
Look, Red Bull scored two kind of opportunistic goals against New York City, and then New York City kind of battered them with kind of chance after chance and just never really took their chances. I do think Orlando will take their chances a little bit better and I'll pick them to win in the East also. Well, I appreciate you taking the time here, Sasha. It's been really a pleasure talking to you again.
I would urge everyone to check out the studio bits of MLS season pass if for no other reason than Sasha and Bradley Wright Phillips or... have some good banter and it's and it's a good it's a good watch so uh thanks for doing this sasha it's really appreciated yeah no problem yeah come join us uh mls countdown mls 360 i mean obviously not anymore uh but next season
We have a great time in the studio. Like you said, we have great banter and just we all enjoy watching the games together and try to bring it to life. Thanks for having me. Yeah. And hopefully we see you out in Seattle in a week or so. All right. Good luck to the Sounders. It's going to be a good one. All right. We'll talk to you later. Thanks. All right. This is No Serientes. And yeah, we'll catch you next time.