What's up everyone, welcome to another episode of the Sounders FC Pod-Cast presented by Toyota. The Sounders were a quick turnaround as they get ready to lock horns with the Vancouver White Caps, a cascade arrival. But not before, a really good weekend, actually. Not just what happened at Lumenfield, but results all seem to just go the Sounders way. It was like it was just
the, you know, without even having to kick a ball, the playoffs were guaranteed. But the team still came out and put in a really good performance, I felt, you know, the first 15 minutes aside when Beno and Steve kind of were just digesting possession. I thought the Sounders for a lot of it looked maybe as dynamic as they have looked offensively at least, you know, rough rock was good for time, the LeVega got a bit more involved,
worse than that, and so it was a big win. The team obviously in the playoffs, it's all about seeding now. And I think one thing for me, Brad, that really stood out was, was Houston is a player of team. So that's the kind of team you're going to see now. This wasn't just an odd, they're missing some guys. Let's give them, let's be honest about
that. But you're going to see that kind of team in the playoffs. And the only black mark for me, the only was that when the Sounders won top, did they make it, did not make it too nail. And I think it made for, even though Houston ever took advantage and Stefan Friar was in tested, it made for kind of a nervy last 10 minutes when it didn't have to be. And I think if you're talking about playing LFC or even the Galaxy at this point,
and it's only one more, those teams will find a way to score. I think. Yeah, not even that though. If you think about it, if, if, if I'm Houston and I'm in fourth place, Sounders are in fifth and I go and lose only one nothing away from home and then I get two home games back in Houston, you got to figure that they fancy their chance. So yes, at the end of the day, if you want to advance in these playoffs, you can't just
win games. I mean, you can't win games, one nothing, but at home, you got to really do the business when the chances are given to you. Yeah, Rothrock again, showing why he's on the pitch and why he deserves to be playing right now. And that's really, really fun to watch. And I thought Houston is a really good side. I mean, there's no doubt out they're good and they're missing, you know, two players as well. And probably their best
player overall and hector Herrera and controlling the tempo of a game. And, you know, but the Sounders at home did well and it's just so tight right now, the, the, the standings. I couldn't believe the L.A.C. went after winning open cup all the way to Cincinnati to win that game with a mix lineup two to one. So they find themselves at 52. If they come out of there with a tie, the Sounders were sitting tied for third place instead of, you know, fourth
fifth. And it's just the way that things are shaken out. So it is a huge one coming up here against Vancouver. Were you happy with the way that, you know, the Sounders lined up one thing that I want to ask you about was the subs in this game for versus the San Jose game and how that dictated the ending and finish of the game. I think that's what it was. I think San Jose, you saw Brian Schman said, you know, do what you typically do.
You kind of, you got the lead. You take off a couple of talisman, you know, Russ Nacke or whoever. I was surprised. Daniel and I were under air. And those last couple changes when a 10-seater came on. And I forget who else came over 10-seater, but I couldn't believe all that Vagas went off. Because I was like, you're going to need running. You're going to need defending and just, you know, add the tensio. Yes. But just club the middle. For
some to go, why do we're winning everything in the air? You couldn't go through you. You were going to wide, Yamar, Jackson, Steph. Those guys had everything in the air. And he kept Jordan and Albert on who had no legs last 10 minutes. They couldn't run. But what end up saving, I think the Sounders and I think she met Sury Prouds. His, George was fantastic. He was really good. He just came on and did all the running. He's so brave.
So pin Brad Smith back, make him defend. That was the key. Without George coming on, I'm like, Schmetsch, you've got to get Jordan and Albert off and just get fresh legs on there. And, you know, I end up working out. Okay. I think it's tough to read some time through these substitutions because, you know, actually, it's meant to briefly. So, you know, have a typical match day custom way. I go down on the bench, you're in warm ups. I spent
about 50 minutes with Schmets. We'll just talk about everything, usually not even that game. So kind of, I like to get the overall picture of the team, the mood, sort of his thinking. And it's the first time really that I've talked to him. And I don't think he knew he's Wednesday, line up at all. Normally, Schmetsch kind of plans it out. You know, this guy's going to play today. That guy will play on Wednesday. He has an idea. He seemed to really just say,
look, what are you going to get free today? And then we're going to reevaluate tomorrow. Look at all the data and then we'll pick a team for Wednesday. And then we'll do Saturday, just one at a time. He didn't kind of plan out the week. So I think, yeah, I think he just wanted not to repeat the mistake with San Jose. And like, you know, if I take off the album, they don't have any goals on the pitch. Like that was it. But I was surprised.
That all but especially came off because he can run all day. I thought you could have added Josh anyway. But the subs of good read came on. He was good. George, he was good. My 40 subs he did make ended up working out. Okay. Anyway, I mean, this is a different looking sounders team in years past. We've had, you know, the veteran guys coming off the bench and the three subs that he made are, you know, under 21 years old. Yeah. Yeah. You know,
which is, which is good. I think at the end of the day, if you're going to push guys and get them in a playoff position and playoff already, I think it's a good thing that these young guys are stepping in. Are you worried, though, that there isn't a veteran sort of thing because it is one thing. You know, I think that's one of the things that maybe hurt us in
our very early years where we were good. We were young. And so when you came to those crunch moments, a little moment of experience, you know, it was year one knocked out with the brand Chingold, for example, year two, it was, you know, the galaxy with tons of work cut plays, experiences, stuff. And so we could compete. I think regular season, we could put up a good show, but playoffs are one in moments. And you know, maybe one game for
the summers in moments in playoffs. So that a mustovsky, a rude Diaz, even out at Leo Tsu. These guys are not around at all. The team's getting it done. But if you're away to LFC, you know, tight game, you have to find a goal. Georgie coming on in a home game, regular season, you're winning kind of just do what you need to do is one thing. Asking Georgie to come on and be a match winner is not the same as asking Raoul to come on and be as
a match winner. Right. Or a Kai Kamara. Kai Kamara. Gareth Bale for LFC that, you know, the score of the game when he go and then leaves. They watch Miami on the weekend and they did not play well at all. But I knew they wouldn't lose because they just took one moment and Messi got the board aside that I'm in dribbling aside. I'm going to score. And he can do that every single gaming. If not him, so ours would do it. Yeah. Galaxy teams
have a front four who're going to find goals. Yeah. It doesn't come from, it doesn't come from young players often. No. No. No. And if Jordan is a scoring, this will mean Danny talked about. I don't know where the goals come from. Right. It's a little different. Houston, the goals have been coming from everywhere. Right. You know, and then Vancouver's going to provide their challenges as well. I think they have their talisman, right? And
Brian White and what he's been able to do. So it becomes a bit more predictable with Vancouver. But they still kind of spread the wealth a little bit more than the founders do. And luckily Paul Rothrock got on the end of one at Jordan had, you know, two or three good chances, right? And this one now won one really good one in the beginning. The sliding that hits the post. Yeah. Yeah. It was a good. And then, you know, at the end of the game, he gets
looked off by Pedro de la Vega, right? You'd think that Pedro slips that ball in. Maybe it's the shape of Jordan's run, whatever it may be. But it's like they're close up there to figuring it out. And I think you're right. When it comes to playoff time, a lot of these guys don't have really any experience in big, big games. So, but I don't think, I don't
think Georgie fears anything. If you put him on an exhibition against Real Madrid, he's going to play the same as if he was playing against, you know, my high school boys team. He's brilliant. And I went down to the pitch. It was fan appreciation night. And, you know, Georgie came up to me and I just gave him a big smile and just seen his face. This guy loves to play, man. He just was like, I'm so happy. You know, put his foot on the ball and just wait for the defender to come to me. I want
to roast your ass. Yeah. We spoke in French a little bit there, Georgie. I just said to him, I'm like, I love what I'm seeing. Keep going. But he just, he just loves to play. He just has a blast when he's out there. I'm his brave. He's been good every time he's come on. From his legs. I don't like tree trunks. Yeah. It was a tank. But the reason I asked that, Brad, it's because obviously we played, you know, as teammates for five years, but I would
say, and I could be wrong. I think the best sound is team overall was that 2014 team. And the reason why was because of the depth you guys with my new or so deep. I mean, just even names like Kenny Cooper, Chad Barrett, Le Mane, Goal, Marco Papa, who wouldn't guarantee to start every week. But they'll they'll get your gold. Clint, over. Tint over there. But if that off, you could get a lot to fall back on. Yeah. Easy. You would fall back on any of those guys. And they're
going to get two or three. Well, get you through the mark and get you double. We just propagate. So that's my only fifth Jordan's goal is to drive up in playoffs. There's I don't even know who else is going to say, Albutt, maybe, but he's more of a facilitator. That's my only concern. Into the postseason. I see. True shout. Yeah. I mean, if you look at that LA galaxy team that beat us in 2014, goals could come from any of the, you know, frontside, but they're also coming from
Janino and Sarvus as well as number six. They were all bullscore and threats. Landen, but if you're not there, Janino will get goals. So yeah, of course, it's like. Yeah, I even the earlier galaxy teams, and some butter was landing on the van, it was back in me was they always had people like three or four. I think that's the best teams in the league. Portland as well. Yeah. Portland's got it right now. They have it. So,
and the sound is always had it, which is why I say that to say this. I felt the end of the first half. It looked more like a branch miss offensive group, but it was like off the ball running. The Levega got in at one point. I think you beat the goalkeeper, but it was clear off the line. Like watching him make a run off the ball and out, but finding him in a rough rock making a run. And it just looked that was what Schmitz attacks looked like. Niko's on the left, and then this
guy's over here. Like it wasn't stagnant. And we started to see glimpses of that again. And I thought it was fantastic. Four parts must have won. We'll see. It's going to be I still think Schmitz has said we're going to see the best of Pedro until next year. And it was supposed to go 75 only goes what 60? 63 or something. And so it looked like his legs were gone a bit because the it wasn't even his legs. It was the decision making. And that's when the tiredness fatigue starts
to come into play is just you're making the wrong uncharacteristic decision. Yeah. Vancouver's on 47 points. So I mean, 150 points. I feel like we're so doom on gloom around here, north for sometimes. And we actually have no good season, man. We're on 50 points. 114 games, almost half the games. I mean, conceited only 34. I mean, plus 12 for the lack of goals. Like this is not a bad season. And realistically, second place is up for grabs. Yeah. Realistically. So with that in
mind, Vancouver and you have come. Let's say it was doom and gloom. It was the worst start in sounders history. Was it the first nine games? Okay. That was really was though. Yes. I feel like we start badly every year. Like the first year started working here. It was 2018. And it was like, this is the worst start that the zone. It's only getting it only getting worse. So let's hope next year isn't a every bloody year. We start slow. But no.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I think Brad for this week, you be Vancouver, you be Colorado. They've seen your hands. I mean, second place is not out of reach. It's not out of reach.
LFC can slip up. Third place for sure. And this is just guaranteed home games and that nature. So with that in mind, the Vancouver game, what we can't talk about, no rotation or getting guys to get to their very best, but you're going to expect at least for 60 minutes a strongest team, right? He's going to go ahead and just play a bunch of kids for both teams. Yeah. Both teams have to go. I mean, they came off the result. Yeah. No one brought it home against Portland. I don't
yeah. I don't remember another time where you've played your rival back to back. They're playing Portland and then they have us, you know, three three days later at home. That was a hard fought game against against the timbers. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The founders have to throw. They'll start the same exact lineup that we did. Unless someone's picked up something and then Georgie, I think Georgie comes on and on that
field at BC place, it plays really big and that provides the space. It really does play big. And it's a fast field. I think that Georgie can have a good time playing up there. Yeah. The games are up there. They're not cagey. They're open games there. Yeah. Yeah. They'll fancy themselves. But I think I feel like you're almost in playoff cadence. Well, you're just now looking. We're going to be playing game every three days anyway. Let's do
that. And then you do get that big break before the crazy decision day against Portland, which who knows going to be a stake in like, I mean, I kind of imagine like, could we have stayed between those two luck and bonds. But I agree with you. The one thing about L.A.F.C. is they play St. Louis at in L.A. They play at sporting. They play at Vancouver and then home
again, San Jose. So three of the four teams, non-playoff teams that are kind of just probably going through the motions at that point with only one or two games left. So they're not giving up second place, basically. Yeah. They can lock up second place in the next basically seven days. One thing that we should talk about is the club world cup. Yeah. I saw you on the pitch also to game announcement. Yeah. I told the people,
because I think the announcement may not everyone's even aware of it. But yeah. Yeah. I mean, the sounders are now obviously we knew that the sounders are going to be a hosting city, but we'll be hosting every game the sounders play will be here in the group stage. I mean, this is so it's going to be madness. I'm not asking for more than that. So you got 2025 club world cup all here and then you got 2026 world cup here six games. It's it's going to be epic. Huge. Yeah.
What an advantage. Yeah. Hosting those games, which means something against top teams, but you're at home. I mean, that is massive. Yeah. We've never seen that before. Pack out the place, man. That's that you've I don't know what campaign you're having place, but you got to do something and go hard and just get that building. Overdo the home field advantage because you advance in that. I mean, that is the pinnacle.
That is really for clubs. Yeah. This is the champions of the champions for the champions all over the world. So the top teams and you get to I mean, never could have guessed that. Lumin field will be hosting home games. You guarantee that. I've seen it for the sounders. I think it's huge. And just for the place in, we're getting this sort of appetizer right before we get the world cup in 2026. This next two, two and a half years in this region is is it's unbelievable.
The level of football we're going to be getting. So yeah, that announcement was made. You're right. And that's in you know, about the dates announced. It was just like I just still say next spring 2025. I think it's next June, right? It's going to be some tournament. Okay. It'll be a summer tournament. Okay. Yeah. Great. That's going to be wild. It's going to be so cool. I like yeah. What else has to be said? I think it's great. Now we see which teams even maybe train up here. We based up using
the training ground or I mean, it's a dry run for the world cup. So it'll be right Seattle. You maybe V Mac, UW and Sounders facility. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, great. A word on Christian road. I think he matched Ozi alone as well for appearances. And this is I think total appearance. Total across all competitions for Sounders. He now has 339 tied with Ozi. He fries number one. And then below them is actually Brad with 253. Yeah. So I'll say this.
Christian can still play five more years. So he's going to smash whatever record. But Stefan. Yeah. He's definitely hasn't been like 40 games like a season pretty much. Christian can play five more years. And the thing about Christian is you know when you look at like Lampards numbers and he's like, oh, he's played 700 games in his career back in Christians realistically a guy that might be able to get close to five 600 games. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
The profiler concussion, which can't help. It doesn't get injured with test care of his body. Doesn't as the time goes on, he'll have to less and less be the man and just be a serviceable piece. And he can do that. He can be, hey, need you at right back. Hey, need you to come inside and be a six while you know, Jay Pisa. And he's done a great job. So I just think he can be able to buy a game. You'll always play. Yeah. I mean, he has a hundred to 100 more games in him easily.
So yeah. And he's gone, hey, again, it's it's always hard to know when you draft a kid, you know, how good they're going to be. And he came into a right situation. Yeah. Good vets around him that you can kind of he could learn. He didn't have to be the man from day one. He learned from some really good players we had here. And yeah, and he made it his own. And I think this year, I think his games changed not as dynamic. Maybe as he once was arriving in a box of scoring
goals. I don't know what his numbers are, but I think he's just still a steady steady player. Congratulations to him. And yeah, Christian's gonna he's gonna smash every record. Yeah. And there's so many more games as well. Competition's in so I think I think you will. So Brad, two games this week. Got the three points on the first one. So three games would be good. And four points from the next two be good. Or is it kind of like, no, we can try and
we'll. I think four I think four points will be good looking back after it. It depends on how those games shake out. If you can pick up three points in Vancouver and then you got to go on the road within seven days. That is a tough run. Yeah. Because that wait, is Colorado game this weekend or the following weekend? This weekend. Yeah, Saturday. Yikes. And there we get a nice two week break Yeah. So that's gonna be that's gonna be tough. Three three big games in a week expecting to
pick up results. Two of those away from home. So yes, I'd say four four points are are in order and definitely doable. Yeah. Because Colorado have ambition for these second places. Yeah, but they got they got smashed this past weekend. Three nothing, right? Yeah, it's surprising. So at at Minnesota to a week. So to side. So but it's at Colorado. And they've been really good at home I think and that that's gonna be that's gonna be a tough one. But you just don't think about the
next game ahead of you're the founders. You just I think she's thinking it's a rivalry game. We've got to throw everything we we have into it. I got to win this game. We're going to win this game three, you know, and get three points. And then we figure out what we do in Colorado if we mix the lineup knowing that we have a break coming up or do we just put the pedal to the metal? That's
a I think it'll mix a lineup in Colorado. Yeah, I think that's what yeah, you get free van cuva try to win that one and then just kind of come up for air often just see what you have and just okay. And then maybe then no, I'm a soft ski, you know, I don't know quite how far Leo treeways or Roul is. I mean, they weren't even involved on the bench. So we just don't know.
But it still is didn't have as and people like that. So you still have bodies there. Now, as you can put in, but I just feel as you go towards the playoffs, your top end plays have to be performing and you need depth. You need to find goals from three, four areas. And Schmetz has three more dress rehearsals to finally figure out his team. I've never seen him arrive at the end of September and not know his best 11. I haven't seen it and I don't think he knows it. He has an idea,
but no, there's JP getting to the best 11 at this point. I don't know. I think so, but I think it depends on your opponent because Christian over's been great. Yeah, yeah, Christian. I wrote a little bit in this Houston game. Uncharacteristic trying to do a little bit too much. Yeah, but when he does play simple, he's as no doubt that that can be his position to lock down. So, so that's the sound. It's okay. Killy any broadcast info. Yeah, we're on 950 for both matches.
Wednesday and Saturday traveling to Vancouver. So we'll be on site for Vancouver. Apple TV, MLS season pass talent for Wednesday. It's going to be Danny and Brad in for in match. And then on Saturday, Colorado, it will be Danny Jackson, Steve Zach will line back. So you get to hear both of our guys. Is it Pete Kellen? Pete and Kellen in Vancouver. And then Chance Ryan James Riley on Saturday. Oh, nice.
Who I believe both played or at least both have connections to Colorado. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, really cool. Really, really cool. By the way, did either of you guys talk to Romana at all because he was honored on Saturday. He looks like he was having a lot of fun. He was dancing on a stage. So he's crazy. He dude lives in Yakima. He's in yak because there's a really good club down there called Santos, like green as a academy basically like Sosa or something like that. And it's one of those guys
well. And I think Romana was doing some work with him. Yeah, he's running that one. Yeah, I don't sleep on Washington as a soccer destination. Yeah, Sosa did a great job. They played good for we were in Pasco yesterday opening up field 25 20. You should have seen some of these kids. They were nasty. No, they were so good. Yeah, I've lost some games up. They're going to coach and it's like just they just don't. Same high school games will go out there. Yeah, so Romani said, I think Romani did
some stuff for the stars as well. We paid Indo. Yeah, he played. I paid a little Indo to come a star. So it just crazy to see how many people I've stayed in the area. Really, really, really brilliant to see that. But anyway, we'll be back at probably not this week, right? Kili this week maybe. We'll figure it out. I'm going to be out of the country until the 15th. So we'll figure it out. We're doing fun stuff. Okay, but at least we got this sound as van Cruyver and then it'll be sound
as Colorado. And then after this, it's that big build up two weeks. So at decision day against Portland, which is just crazy with a lot to play for on the line, that that's going to be something else. That should be a crazy atmosphere. But before then business takes take care of. We'll be back at some point, but good luck to the lives. Good luck to everyone traveling up there. Sound is against van Cruyver this Wednesday. As always, this has been the Sound as FC podcast presented by Toyota.
We'll be back soon.