Listen to this. It's a comedy the blind wing. He's Brad Evans and Steve Steve. Who is it Brad Evans? It's not again. Happy days here again. Turning with the private Steve Zuckawani. Evan, what the fuck? He's an attacking Brad Evans. It's really so weird. The party has started. Hey, what's up everyone. Welcome to another edition of The Sounders FC Pod-Cast. The Sounders coming off a win in midweek against Phoenix Rising in the US Open Cup with team advancing.
Till the next round what are placed Sacramento that game will be July, July 9. I think it's the confirmation we have for that game. And the Sounders in MLS Action tomorrow at a time of this recording are way to send Lewis a team that sits just above Seattle in the table. So it's a massive massive game from that perspective. But the Sounders did also play last week. Obviously had a big win against Portland, which was a massive win.
And then you know I think with the defeat at Salt Lake right after then the draw against Van Coover. So one of the things that the team has kind of struggled with all season is momentum. Right. You would get a win and have been able to stack together two free wins. I think it was two or three years ago where there was like three sets of three game wins that can midweek.
I think that 27 points, upper points came from just those three weeks of the season where we played Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, three different times. One, all of them and had 54 points and 20. I think it was that right. So stacking wins at MS is very important. So, but I want to kind of pick your brain a little bit on that. Obviously the winning Portland was huge. Bell to pull up a winning at the Salt Lake and then tied against Van Coover.
Is it just that it's just a much harder league to win consistently now, especially on the road or is the steam still searching for that all the loose consistency. And I will say earlier this season, but what we're not far from the halfway stage. Yeah, I think it's I think it's a combination of both. I think you know, I'd have to go back. I think it was 2021 maybe that the we had talked about that. I mean, it feels like just yesterday, but it was quite a while ago where they did pick up.
And I'm not sure any other team has ever done that really. But you'd have to go back and look at who was the midweek opponent. Was it home? Was it away? Were they at the top of the table? Were they not? And we just we've just faced, you know, a Salt Lake team that's been off and flying at the start of the season. The first, you know, third of this season. So I mean, it was always going to be a difficult task. But then when we talk about these results, it's a game of inches at the end of the day.
We all know that. And you look at that Salt Lake game. Roostnet gets a chance inside the box. He could take another touch and almost pass it in the back of the net. The soft ski has one, you know, one on one and smashes it right at the goalkeeper. So these little tiny moments change the result of every single game. And if you don't finish your chances and you're going to play a top team, you're going to be in trouble.
And now the sounders went down to Dallas, you know, about a month ago, didn't play a top team, didn't finish their chances, but still came out with a nil, nil draw. And those are the biggest variances right now for the sounders. It's the inability to beat the teams that you should. And also the inability to get results, you know, away from home. And you can't make the playoffs without getting results, you know, at least half the games on the road, you need to get points from.
And you don't, you're only going to find yourself at, you know, 1.2 points per game. And we all know that that's not good enough to get into the playoffs. I think the sounders sit at what a point per game right now. And it's just, it's not going to get you there. So you look at, you know, that result and then you come home against Vancouver. And I thought it was the best first half of soccer, you know, that I've seen in a long time from the sounders and off they went running.
They looked, they looked like they wanted to press. They knew it was a rivalry game. They knew that there were points to be had. Vancouver was coming off a string a couple of bad results. And you thought that the sounders were going to come away with that one. And then it's just these mental mistakes that keep biting the sounders this season, whether it's, you know, silly red cards or fouls in the wrong spot of the field.
And I expected from young players, but from veteran players like that, it just drives me nuts. And no reason to foul. We talked about this with new who a million times is the attackers facing away from goal and you're going in and you're fouling and then the free Kips comes from that. And then you're stepping up on a guy that shooting from outside the 18 and you go to ground. Yeah. And it's just these silly silly mistakes. And I know that he has a, you know, a thing for the theatrical.
And that was another one where you come flying in. And if you make the tackle, you look like a hero in the crowd, the crowd applause. But then if you don't, you got to find a happy medium. You got to find a happy medium. And the sounders walk away with that one disappointed fans disappointed and that's just the name of the game sometimes.
And so the sounders now find themselves chasing. I mean, they're going to they have a lot of work to do. Luckily last week, I think all the results pretty much went the sounders way. So they got a bit lucky. I mean, Vancouver's only on 19 points. They do have a game in hand on the sounders, but they'd have to get that result. It looks like they will against a Miami team that's going now without any of their stars to Vancouver this weekend with a massive crowd expect Vancouver to win.
So the sounders have to be careful right now, especially going into what is a six point game now again with another one. You know, we've had six point game with Dallas. We've had with Portland. We've had with Vancouver. Is it even more so? Yeah, of course. Yeah, with the game and we all we're at the point in the season where we're starting to look at all that stuff now we're coming up on the halfway point.
And sounders have to be careful that they don't get left too far behind in this one and really end up having to chase at the end of the season. You know, but then you look up and down it's like Austin in you know, Salt Lake Minnesota Austin if anybody had them in the top three in the West to pick the seat no chance no one ever thought that except maybe their fan base, but probably not even Austin's fan base.
So it's a bit it's a bit interesting and my biggest thing is can they be consistent for the rest of the season those guys that haven't been in that position before because I think they've been healthy those guys at the top. If they pick up one or two injuries, I'm not sure that they have anyone on the bench that can come and step in. But then the sounders come in and we all know now what is that Keeley 27 and one at now at Starfire. So we have to keep asking the question is why why are we not.
No extra time last game. Yeah, why are we not playing all of our games at Starfire. But you know what well done and and are you at the point in the season where you throw everything into the open cup now. Yeah, we'll know by July will know by July 9th. Yeah, if that's the case. I'm going to put you in a hot seat and Keeley you can chime in as well and you can pick which hot seat even Schmetz hot seat or Craig Web was hot seat and I'm talking about gold.
You need gold in the league and I'm looking at that still for me to be concerned with the sound is nothing grow less seven and I think Jordan's next with two right so it's like you're not getting golds in in the way you should. In this team are the goals there and we're just not getting them or is help going to have to come from outside because you're looking at who if the golds are there.
And they're coming from because you know you could be on teams where maybe you don't have 20 goals for a guy but everyone gets seven eight five six guys getting six seven eight gold you know and then you can find ways to win but it looks like we're all probably getting anywhere from 12 to 15 50 stays fit. And then I've put Jordan six and then where you know is Rosnacher goals for our is Christian in front of gold being good to share JP does.
I struck see where do the goals come from are we creating enough chances are we just creating a I would kill in teams and just missing and that final piece or whatever it is a tough one for me where can I see this team going on a run. Is it going to be a bunch of one new wins depend depend depend on defensive group or can we eke out a few three now here two now four to like where we stop putting goals on the board is it in the group what has helped have to come from outside.
I think help has to come from the outside at this point I think if you look at the spine of this team I mean we really saw this past weekend the same lineup from you know four years ago right almost looks like a 2020 team and so I think with the injection Pedro should get some significant minutes although they're being really cautious with him maybe he sees 30 minutes this next weekend.
I think Christian will actually just move back a line and I think he's going to have to sit with JP and at some point the sounders are going to have to play more offensive and I think he provides that in that role as more of a true number eight and let gelpolo just sit and then push Pedro de la Vega wide get
Bruce Nack and Jordan I mean if you asked any other team they take any of those players on their squad and now it's just why are they not work jelling together to put the ball in the back of the net there's something missing and if you ask Schmetz I think off the record he would say yeah I would love a true number 10 I would love a true number nine so that's Schmetz is the coach of this team I don't think he's necessarily the guy that's going to be like I need this player this exact player because I'm going to play this exact way.
I think the way that our team works is the coach might have a say the GM might have a say the ownership has a say and then where's the budget at and being very concise with their signings I don't think you're going to see the sounders make a huge splash this summer like in years past and you're not going to see another I don't think another oboe family another marquee guy come into this team I think they're trying and attempting to be a bit more methodical about what this team looks like in the next you know three or four years as well.
But then I know that the fans have got to be sitting there like well we want a reason to come to the stadium we want a reason to you know see someone that's you know special why we have 35,000 at a game why why are we not being entertained yeah. So it's what comes first the chicken or the egg is it signing a marquee player or is it getting this group of guys to finally get healthy and a consistent lineup which we haven't even seen all year.
It feels like we haven't seen a consistent lineup since JP did his ACL and the conquer kept champions league yeah. Yeah but I'm inclined to agree with you I think I just don't see and again I think the advantage we do have here is very good defensively still yeah absolutely.
He's not just open up the sounders and just create about chances and put two or three on the team no so you can get by the by winning close games but yeah yeah just looking at it with the guy that can just go and get your goal right you're not playing that well when you just need that goal in that moment and the way
MLS is now you have the very obviously I take my army aside because that's like self-explanatory you have guys there who did it in the highest levels but so late you know around goes being on fire you know LFC last year really rolled back up Dennis one got a lot because they can just find goals when they need to in
Columbus with future so I think that's what I'm looking that's been rolled in years past he maybe isn't quite that player and I can still get you a few gold but maybe not in that way right you're going back to lines okay is you getting the service that he we usually
like to get you know I don't think so yeah we see what Pedro adds completely but I just don't see where a bunch of goals comes here and you're going to have to make a run is played 14 games so almost the halfway stage we're like we're getting there and you can't leave it too late and think the runs coming the runs coming the run's going to have to come at some point I maybe I don't think this club is built on sneaking into the playoffs you want to have a good regular
be momentum yeah you don't want to be a team that just oh we made it as a last possible seed you really don't want that so there's a bit of struggles then so we've that said say the help doesn't come right a budget's not there there's no big transfer coming this summer I think the names are obvious but who then has to have I can just
do it for a second half of the year I mean you're all in constant mind because he's done it in this league and do it from hopefully that goal you got will kick start him for confidence wise just it can just be a streak sometimes as a player and I think Albert still want to see a bit more in my opinion
especially with who I know he is that is fantastic football of course but Nicole's gone you have to be even more than man in your own way you've got to be the man and then we'll see what Pedro gives us I think those three are really as especially on the offensive side have to be the ones to try and carry the team forward I wouldn't quite put Christian there because I think he still adds so much in different ways and I think he's starting to run into
the best one I think it's come a while I'm not sure how he's lay off last year's didn't practice them but he wasn't quite himself better this year and I think down in Portland you began to find himself a little bit more and he's beginning to look a bit more like Christian at the engine the guy so I think so but Albert Jordan for sure and then Pedro is the
X factor as you always think if not helps come in those that's has to have really big second off the year I was as much as yeah there's no no one is questioning the sounders defense that's not for the past three or four years that been lights out right every almost every single
category and so it has to rely on the front four that's it the creativity is not going to come from anyone in that line it's not going to come from either of the pivots it has to come from the front four who's ever on the pitch and I think they're
feeling that pressure as they should right we're at the point in the season where this is a group of guys that is used to put in the ball in the back of the net and the sounders have only given up 17 goals which is you know in the west you've got Houston has
given up 13 but they sit in eighth place they've only scored 12 goals yeah the stout defensively can't put the ball in the back of the net you sit in eighth place and then you look at you know Vancouver leaking 15 14 14 Salt Lake Minnesota but they're all
scoring buckets of goals they have plus 13 plus seven and the sounders still sit on a minus one with only 16 goals scored so there's your answer right there pretty simple and if you go down that line one one and four at home that's not you're not going to make the playoffs
yeah you can't you you have to win at home in this league you have to because playing away from home is so difficult and and so that begs the question what are these front four feeling right now if if I'm on the pitch and I'm I'm a right midfielder you're a left
midfielder and you're not putting the ball in the back of the net and we lose one nothing we tie one one you're never going to go into the locker room and say anything in the press about the team's defense and getting them more involved no your team is to defend in this system right new whose job is not to get for we know we can't credible right Alex Alex yes but I think for some reason our tactics have changed he was most effective in a
three five two or five in the back whatever the sounders ran you know two three years ago and so yeah it's up it's up to the front four like that those are the guys that make the most money on the field anyways on any single team and that's the way they have to shoulder that responsibility I don't I don't care if you're miserable then ask for a trade go somewhere else to ignite your career go ahead and go like no one's no one's keeping you here but if
you're not happy with it then just if you think there's a spark some still to be left still some fire in the tank go go to another team and the sounders will try and hopefully bring in someone new that has a bit of fire but I I really think that Pedro's flame will ignite this team in hopefully some some way some sort of creativity whatever it is they need something and obviously beginning tomorrow I mean so approach wise you know I think it's
must win sure I mean I wouldn't be nice you don't lose I think you just have to make sure you don't lose tomorrow you have Salt Lake at home in midweek a chance to get one back on them that becomes a massive massive game of course and then I think you're after Salt Lake it's on the road to Kansas which is never easy also so it's a pretty tough stretch coming up but what we expect in terms of approach for tomorrow then because
you've seen the sounders play in years part I don't think it does as much anymore which makes we'll go to into quality of free or back five it doesn't but more defensive we're going to absorb or play on the counter and I think some of our best football on the road this year was the Philadelphia game where it will feel at the very best and all but it was kind of a nod to sounders in past years on the Schmett where you go away from home you
say look we're not going to be super ball dominant we're going to just defend really well when we can get out we are going to get out and it really asks a lot of questions of that union team and I'm curious if we'll see that type of approach tomorrow when the team takes the pitch to the instant Lewis because I think it does play to the team strength especially away from home as well and then you have a guy like Raoul who at any
moment you're showing him fully confined you a goal unless you're going to get out on the run it is Christian get on the run I think it plays a lot well to this team strength and they obviously seem like an absorbed pressure as well but at the same time St. Louis isn't exactly letting the league up as it's in the last season as well so is it a game where you say not we're better than them we're going to go on
stamp off for a team we're going to play our way for unquote and win so a bit of that but what would you expect to see is the up the roach from the game tomorrow yeah you know I struggle with this one because I do think
St. Louis is dangerous I mean they put they went into Kansas City and you know ported on them with physicality and that road mentality but they haven't been great this season this one's a bit of a toss up for me and I think the sounders have an opportunity here to go in and yes sit more defensive
don't give anything up but similar to the Philly game let's keep our front two or three high and allow them to create the game because I don't think defensively that they have too much in St. Louis obviously an attack they've proven that they can put the ball in the back of the net you know last year especially they're still struggling a bit to get on on the right foot but I think with the sounders it's just a tactical approach again in being cautious because you you don't come out of this one
with a tie at least and you're behind the eight ball like we talked about with St. Louis having a game in hand and there's always a you know risk that you you feel like it's going to be one of those games where
everyone's feeling good and I honestly I have no answer for you if I'm if I'm playing I'm saying we're going to play the same way we do at home just like we did last week against Vancouver and try to get our playing style to be consistent I don't think mixing what is the 24 sounders playing style
what is it well look at what I saw on you know against Vancouver was was a high press team and Vancouver didn't actually sit back they actually push forward thinking that they could catch the sounders on attack so I think going away from home that actually suits the sounders to play the same
way keep guys high don't just sit back like teams do when they come usually to Lumen and you'll get opportunities it's just about making the most out of those opportunities so how the sounders are playing right now if Christian sits in there and Obed starts out wide right is is pressing St. Louis to play at home I think you have to force them into playing because if you sit back in St. Louis for I don't know what is
it going to be 90 degrees in St. Louis tomorrow is it's going to be 82 but I'm sure the humidity is through the roof and so it's going to be hot right and so yes you can high press in certain moments but you saw it against Philly you saw it against Vancouver in the first half the
movement of the ball the movement off the ball if the commitment is there the guys can pick up a result and that's a great question who are the sounders of 2024 we don't know because we haven't seen a consistent lineup for more than two maybe two games in a row yeah yeah that's been tough
so how's your morale my morale is you know go with the flow in Pedro de la Vega we trust I think he's gonna want to run man he looks really exciting he literally looks like a Tasmanian devil out there and he's an attacking player so like listen I'm not going to hinge all of my hopes on one
guy I think we have so much talent on this team but I'm looking forward to that yeah and I think he's got his what 15 minutes or so I think it was going to be a last week I mean yeah I expect to see him depends how is I know it's going to be extra cautious but it's factor someone can come in and actually you know we've seen glimpses and look the guy can play with I remember having a conversation with Andy Rose about him and
said not like he can play like you're liking you're liking a lot and we want to see him out there so I think he can be a key but the sound is start a very big week because I think at the end of this week we'll be at plate 17 I think you have a very clear idea of sort of where we're going to go and if you don't pick up the results in this free game week coming up here it doesn't look good it doesn't look
good at all so I think for the sound is I think I'm not going to must win I don't think we're talking about must win yet if you're the sound is the next three games is St. Louis away sort of like at home hands us away always a tough game as well so in those three games of four points six points anything in that regional game you may mean business otherwise that group ahead of you starts to kind of pull away and then the doubt
into the group as well so yeah I mean if you're looking at future future matches I mean if if the guys can pick up some points right in St. Louis and then come home to Salt Lake pick up some more points put in another good performance because Salt Lake doesn't beat the sounders at home very rarely do the sounders not loose to Salt Lake at home historically go to sporting that's going to be a tough game in June they'll be
as well then you come home at Houston okay but then you come home June 22nd it's home against Dallas not a very good team home against Chicago not a good team home against New England not a very good team and then if you can pick up points there too I think we're seeing in a different soon tune by the end of June that's what it starts tomorrow night against St. Louis yeah yeah we're going on with your boy Caleb Porter in New England by the way
yeah you talk to him like what is going on? We had a couple chats but I've no idea honestly they have no idea like I I thought they'd be better they haven't been to be honest with you I know that's your team you know you know I don't know that's your husband's team yeah to this Fing day
yeah I don't know they've been really poor they've been really really it's been a weird the middle season has been a really, it's not about the gays and hourly whether East or West, but I mean the East does look good though, the East does look good, I would say with Miami looks very good, Columbus is always good, what New Zealand has done a Cincinnati, unbelievable, New York seems to be back a little bit, so there are some good teams there that say that I need
defense, but my goodness, it's been a horrible start to the season. I know a lot of people in this part of the region are pretty happy to see him strugging like that, but yeah, it's not being good at all, so what it sound is, send Lewis tomorrow, Peeley, what's the broadcast info? Yes, we're on 93.3 kgR FM Steve Zachwani back on the call with Danny Jackson, he will also be on pre-happened post, thank you in advance Steve for stepping in and doing the whole game for us.
Yeah, I'm excited, I'm excited to get back into it, yeah, if I throw the big, how was atmosphere on Wednesday, I thought it was a... It was bomb, I needed to do one, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, shout out to shout out to we had someone make their radio debut, you was open cup, Mr. Kellen Roe was on pre-happened post. Oh, nice, nice. And he will now be joining the rest of the season for a handful of games with us. Oh, nice, that's amazing. Awesome, awesome. He texted me the next
day, he was like, I'm buzzing, put me in as many as you want. Yeah, that's a good pick up, yeah, that's a good pick up, yeah, cuttings great. Love that. All right, so sounders, or which is sent Lewis tomorrow, we're not saying must win yet, but definitely a game kind of for to lose, go pick up something and then get some momentum and then Wednesday back in Washington to play again, so late, and we'll be back of course to recap one of that. Brad, when is the tournament start that you're playing?
Yeah, so June 5th is the first game, I'm in Phoenix right now for the next two weeks. I played last night in a 99 and just kind of down here doing some pick up and mix discorreude is down here also, he's also on the team. So actually, it's weird, his parents went to ASU and so they kind of settled here for part time and so he's down here too. So train together and then just trying to stay injury free and get used to the heat, acclimate and then off we go
to the to the tournament. So I'll have my microphone with me, we have a game on that Thursday, but it's not until like eight o'clock at night or something. So we'll do a check in while we're there in the next couple weeks. So it should be a good time. Who's the biggest name? Is that Guero? Would you say is the biggest name? Yeah, a Guero. Yeah, not not. He's there too. Yeah, it's going to be cool. And Byron Munich has a team there this year, which is going to be
which is going to be cool. So check out sneaky Fox. I mean, David David.com, Chris Wandelowski's coming, Mick Sasha, questions on our team, Justin, I have a really good team. We got Jamel Cox, we got Nick Pereira, Chris Toe from all from the Tacoma Stars, a couple of beach soccer players too. Yeah, so it's a cool team. It'll be fun. Dreaming is it on ESPN plus or peacock or do you know? Yeah, I think it's ESPN plus. Yeah. What a guy's whoa with the ESPN guy with sleeves, Pat, Pat, um, McAfee.
Yeah, McAfee. I like that guy. Yeah, it's going to be cool. Amazing stuff. Forever, we'll keep track on that, but as always, comment, like, subscribe, wave, get your podcasts, we'll be back next week. This has been a Sounded FC podcast, presented by Toyota.