This into this... He's Brad Evans. Steve. Steve! Who is it? Brad Evans! He's not again! Happy days are here again. Bernie with a private Steve! Zachillani! What the fuck! He's an attacking Brad Evans! He's so weird. The party has started. It's really so weird. The party has started. Hey, what's up everyone. Welcome to another edition of the Sounders FC Podcast presented by Toyota. And it's the big one. It's decision day. The sounders, they don't get much bigger than this on decision day.
It is playing the Portland Timbers, the Eternal Rival right here at Lumenfield. And for the sounders, what's that stake? It's really just trying to hold onto third place. You always want to end as high as you can. And so the team can only end as low as fourth as high as fourth. It's something you probably couldn't have predicted back in like April and early May. But amazing to run around. Obviously, you know, from what I'm hearing, that we've not beat the Timbers at home in a very long time.
So you want to get that as well. You want to keep the momentum going. So there is lots of stake. But beyond that, for the sounders, really, I think the key is going to be just being in the best form possible. Heading into the playoffs, was going to come fake and fast. And as of now, if it was the end right now, the sounders would be playing Colorado Rapids, we would just played.
So, and I mean, depending on what happens with victory, Portland beat the sounders, they can still jump up a couple of places. There's, yeah, we'll see. We won't know anything until a few days after the game anyway. But let's start there, Brad. Just in general, I always said for me, this was the one game. You didn't need any motivation. You don't need a coach to give you any big speech. You don't need the fans to remind you what it's about.
I think when the schedule comes out in January, whatever it is, it's probably the first one. You still circle just to know when you're playing the timbers. And with that, not beating them at home for so long, that has to mean something as well. It has to. Yeah, of course, I think when we all, you know, back in February, whenever the schedule is released, you look at certain games. We've talked about this in the past, but it's always the Portland match, right? First, it's a Portland match.
And then if you're playing, when you're playing Houston, Kansas City, and Dallas, those are the only ones that you really care about. Just to make sure that you're not playing those summer months against Houston, Kansas City, or Dallas, because those are usually a really, really tough one. And then obviously you start with the Portland matches.
And then to see you kind of look along the schedule and you're like, wait, you get to the end of the season, you've never played them to close out a season. And then you look and you see decision day is against Portland. That is pretty cool. And I think that we've been, we've talked about this one. I'm sure that the club has circled this one, the fans, and to be able to play against your rival at home in the final game of the season, like that is massive.
And you know that Portland's doing the same thing. Those players are like, oh, wow, we got to go to Seattle on the final game of the season. There could be no bigger rivalry in MLS. This is the marquee matchup for this final decision day. I know that there's probably some other games that mean a bit more about teams that are going to get into the playoffs and what the seating is exactly. But we know that the sound is finished third or fourth.
And there's been no better team than the sounders since I think May or June. In terms of points picked up, they've eclipsed every single other team in supportershield winner in Miami. The sounders have had more points in that time. And I actually had my indoor game last night saw a chance. He was watching his son play. Yeah. He was like, yeah, just the fans from the beginning were like doom and gloom. It's like everyone just calm down a little bit.
And this was just another testament to say, yes, you can be upset as fans. We have super high expectations. We have more expectations for this team to start off better than they did this year. This was the worst start. Let's remind everyone the worst start in sounders history through the first nine or ten games of the season. And so I think it was fair to assume that this team wasn't going to get it done. But credit to schmets credit to the guys.
It's so hard to see the form of Jordan, the form of Albert. Colching has to play some element into it. He took big decisions. We've hardly seen Raoul. We've hardly seen Leo True. He's put in Ruffrock. He's definitely played as well. But that's not a normal run to be the very best team in MLS in the last 15, 16, 17 games. Including the team like Miami as well. Can we pinpoint one thing or is it just a combination of all these things coming together?
Because for me, sounders are obviously high expectations of very good team. But you look around MLS. There's some other very good teams as well. Columbus and LFC and those seem sort of outplayed them. It's unbelievable for me. The job Schmets has done is I can't even begin to pinpoint just how incredible of a second off of the season they've had. Well, I don't think you can really pinpoint one thing. I think it was a combination of red cards. You can't win games with 10 players on the field.
And you also can't build consistency with a group that had what was it? Seven red cards in the first. What? 12, 15 games of the season. And so you can't build a consistent lineup. Guys can't get used to playing with each other unless you're all on the field for the same amount of time. Yes, you can train, but it's one thing to play in games. We've all been around players who train really good, but then they come to the game and they can't combine with players how they want to.
And you even look at a guy like De La Vega. I'm sure in training he's probably lights out, but you have to build those relationships in games. And that's why preseason is actually so important. And we often say, preseason is a time to chill, but you do get four or five six games together to really build how you want to go into a season. And start that season well. And the sounders probably did, right? They probably felt good in preseason.
And they had a couple good results, although Jordan wasn't putting the ball in the back of the net at that time. So yes, we can look at Jordan. We can look at Raoul leaving the lineup. You look at the addition of, yeah, an Albert coming in as a tenant and really performing really well. So yeah, I think there's a lot of things. The bottom line is it's Portland decision day. The sounders are on a hell of a run. And that's where we're at right now. Jordan's been lights out.
Albert's had a career season like a resurgence. And go to almost call it like a comeback season of sorts. He won't win, come back player of the year for, he doesn't deserve to win that, but it's, it's almost a revelation and a, like a new Albert. And that's what we've wanted for him for the past like four or five years, because we talked about his last season in Salt Lake. These were the numbers that he was, he was producing. Right.
And now he's back to that form and he's got to be feeling confident. The sounders got to be feeling confident. And to play Portland on the final day, they're open up the 300 section for the fans. Like it's going to be a spectacle. It's going to be a hell of a game and to close out the season like that. I just can't believe we're already here.
Do you, do you think and I don't, but do you think because there, there's always something to play for, but because the, both teams are going to be in the playoffs. They were short of that. Sounders, you know, it's going to be further for Portland. I think they're nine place right now at the table. They can get, they can get as high as eight, which doesn't really do much for them. Maybe seven, if I don't know the tie breaker, then the Minnesota.
But, um, do you think that takes away anything from it? The fact that it's decision day, but you're both sort of a short already. You maybe have one eye on the playoffs. If you're in the 70th minute, maybe you're thinking about, do I take it? Oh, because it's Portland, you just treat this like, no, we're going for the front of the 90 minutes. No matter what happens. You're, I mean, you think Schmetz is saying, hey, let's lay off the gas here.
Keeley, when was the last time the sounders beat Portland at home? May 2017. That's crazy. May 2017, which is, which is wild. It's your talking May of 2017, 18, 1920, 20 to the seven years since the sounders have beaten Portland at home. If that's not motivation enough on the final day to send your fans off with their, you know, carnations at the end of this game, send them home happy. You also want to be playing your best going into the playoffs. Yep.
Right. And last year the sounders, you know, were okay getting into the playoffs, but I don't think as confident as they are now, that's for sure. Yeah. Yeah. I think there's something about the final game of the season that just has a little bit more umph. And to do it at home, it's a bit like a season opener at home, right? It just has a little bit of a special, a special meaning. And this is going to be a really, really, really fun one. And I'm excited to see.
I'm just excited to be at the stadium to be honest. It is one that, yeah, you kind of, there's a different feel in the week. I'm sure I've not been down to training, but you train a bit different when you know it's going to be Portland and stuff. There's been a bit of a break, but the last time out, the sounders were on the road. It didn't be colorado. We haven't touched on that. It was a goal from Albert. And my, you know, looking back on that game, you know, you hate to, it felt comfortable.
And the rapid, you know, there are teams that had such a great turnaround, you know, Chris Armistrow, you know, a lot of credit. They're home record. I remember Danny Jackson mentioned on the air. He's been really good at home. But I don't remember staff making any big saves. It felt very comfortable. I sort of think the sounders were at their very best and still kind of within themselves. And just want a bit, a bit comfortable. So when you take the Houston win van Koovelwin colorado win.
I mean, those are playoff teams. Clean sheets and all of them. Like nine points a week. Like, it's almost too good. It's how we peaking too early. Almost it's almost too good. No, no, I don't think so. I think when you're playing, you want to feel confident. And, and how else do you want to get into the playoffs? Yeah. I don't, I think this team has had enough. Because, because some, I think what you're saying is sometimes you want to feel that loss.
And what it feels like to lose and get it out of the way before you get into the playoffs. Right? I think that this team has gone through enough this season and faced enough adversity and losses to know that that still stings. Right? It still stings to lose a game. And they know what that feels like. It's a group of veterans. And they just don't want to lose. And it looked routine in van Koovel calling that game. It looked routine in in Colorado as well.
And I think that those are two teams that, you know, van Koovel lost to L.A.F.C. this past weekend as well. And they're kind of limping into the playoffs. Yeah. You don't want to be in that position. Yeah. You don't want to be in like a, oh boy, here's, here's kind of a little bit of a panic button. The coach from van Koovel is at two yellow cards on the bench, the past two games. You don't want that. You want to feel confident going into the playoffs.
And that's where the sounders are at right now. I don't think there's a case of this team being overconfident. I think that they're just saying we're playing how we should be playing, getting results, shutouts. Yeah, Mar is playing out of his mind. I think he's been fantastic. I was only going to get into that. If you were, I don't know exactly what they are. I know he's to do like team awards. I know that the end of the year, play of the year. Let's start with a big one.
I mean, we would even be MVP. I feel like for the years past, it's being teamed. Cut. You can go Jordan. You can go Albert. I think you go Albert this year. I think without Albert. Yeah. There's no, you know, because I think it's been five or six assists. On set pieces at least. Yeah. Whether that's a second assist or first assist. It might even be more than that actually. Ten of them. Without that, this team isn't where they are right now. Right. And so credit credit to Albert.
He's got to be the MVP this year. Jordan's had a, you know, a fantastic season obviously scoring goals. But that's the expectation of a striker is to score goals. Not necessarily me that you're the most valuable player on the team. So it. I mean, maybe Paul were author. No, I'm just kidding. He's been good. Yeah. And I'm not the big stats guy. I don't think number's total for story. I didn't realize that Albert had seven assists anyway. But he's he's been. But he's he's doing his job.
That's not an MVP. He's just doing his job. Yeah. Like that's and that's a credit to him getting called up. He got his first cap against the US. Yeah. I got was really, really cool to see. It's a great. I mean, it's a great job. It's a great job. It's a great job. It's a great job. It's a great job. It's a great job. And he's just happened. And I was pretty impressed. Like that was really, really cool to see. And you can see that he could be a. A piece for them in the future. He's going to be.
It continues to play how he's going to play. And, you know, Chance actually last night said that Paul Rothrock is reminding him a bit of Lamar. Right. And how Lamar kind of came on the scene. There were no expectations. But all of a sudden, it's five to seven goals a season. And you know, now if you and I told Chance this last night, I was like, okay, I understand that. But Lamar did it for four or five, six years. And that's why he had, you know, eight to ten year career in the league.
Paul has to do it for the next three years. He can't be expecting a new contract right now. And I think he still needs to do it next year. And then the sounders will say, okay, here's a good contract. He's not going to break the bank, I don't think. But I think there might be a team or two or three in this league that'll say he could be a piece for us in the future. And that's just a credit to, you know, pure hard work and. And he's made Jackson. That's what Jackson is just got a country.
He's been good two years plus at this point. So yeah, I think that's a great. This is, I hate this question, but they always ask it. And we always ask it as well. Because I don't ever remember being a player and thinking this. It didn't matter. Like preference in terms of if you play it doesn't matter, right?
Whether it's going to be a crowd or you might play, you know, Minnesota, it depends where you know, be a third or fourth, you're not thinking of going into the game, thinking like who you might play. The most important thing is you have home field advantage. Now that is so big. Yeah. In this three game playoff, if I had to play two away from home and only one at home, I would, that's really, really tough. That is really, really tough.
And so the sounders have set themselves up through hard work and just pure dedication to give them self an opportunity. And now it's up to them to take the opportunity. And you know, they got the new facility. We said no excuses. Now they have home field advantage. There's no excuse now to at least advance out of this next round and then see kind of where they, where they sit. And if they'll have a home game in the next round, which would be huge once again.
So yeah, yeah, just a great opportunity for the sounders, sounders fans. And there's been a lot of chatter from fans this year for sure and from us as well. But we're in a great position now and that's sports. Yeah. And then line up stays the same as to. I thought Pedro was good against the road. And you can see him when he got subbed a little bit frustrated. I like that. I think he's probably at a point where like I'm sick of this data, this 65 minute capy of him. He just let me play.
I want to keep playing. I think he's got a game. He got some dangerous crosses in. He looks pretty good. So I don't know that you changed. Obviously, the him or Georgie is the one question, but Pedro maybe even has the nod right now. Maybe. Yeah, Pedro should start. Yeah. I think for a guy like that, if you can get him hot and confident going into the playoffs, he's a, he's an X factor. Georgia, Georgia is an X factor too, but he's still, you know, she mentioned.
I think you will give you more of the bench than Pedro. Yeah. Georgia can come in and change a game. Yeah. Yeah. I think he's not going to be in that position. I think he's going to be at home. Yeah. Pedro needs to be there. I think real quick on Portland, last time we were down there, I mean, they were missing a few players. I mean, they have an MVP kind of a vendor, but he's he's genuinely like, you know, I think it goes, would you give it to Messi? MVP? I don't know.
I just have a hard time with someone that's played, you know, I understand his stats, but I'm trying to think like in the NBA, they play 82 games. Yeah. So Braun, you know, playing 41 of those, yeah, just over half. Do you think in any other sport, a player playing half the games is going to win MVP? I don't think so, but the reason why I think him is because when he came last year, they were, they just one support showed like that's insane.
And it's because that's why I think, yeah, it's like he's that level of impact. I think it, I think it's like 18 games, 18 goals, 18 assists, something crazy like that. But they also won, they won the supporter shield without him. They are half the time. A lot of games about him playing. That's true. That's true. Right. And they were really good without him. Yeah. I like. Evander. I think he has a great shout for how what he's done. I mean, I'm looking at his name.
Isn't it's not always numbers, but I mean, he has 15 goals, 18 assists. I mean, bet. I mean, then it begs the question like, Wando, Wando won MVP for scoring the most goals. Yeah. Right. And Landon usually won the MVP for scoring the most goals. That's why it's named after him. But he was also, you know, on a really, really good team. And he was healthy for the majority of the season. Yeah. I mean, if we're looking at, you know, a pure goal score, right?
I think Ben Teke has scored a ton of goals this season. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. On a team that is not good, by the way. See, that's that's that mouth. The fact that Portland's night. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And my name are Ben Teke. What's your name? Van Teke. Yeah, Stradiculous. 23, on a Not-Great team. Yeah. And, and, and how how do you not throw him in there for saying, he is the most valuable player for his for his team, for sure. And without him, DC would be probably sitting bottom.
Yeah. No. That's just great. Yeah. Getting nice. Yeah. He have the tough one. So that one is yeah, but okay. So, yeah, Oh. I think that's your ownustedes. He's just causing message. I don't think they're going to go against that. I think Linda will vote and give it to him. Crazy thing is Messi's not even in the top four of any category. Is he not? No. If you and goals put a game, he would be. Well, probably goals per game.
Sure, but the matter of the fact is he's not even a leader in it's been tech a Bhuwanga Hernandez Suarez. And then assist is a Costa Evander gold and Lodd. Right. Key pastes, a Costa Wagner Carlos Hill, Espanosa, shots, Bhuwanga, Arango, Kucho, shots on target, Bhuwanga, Peck, like he's not even, you know, in the top four. I get it. You know, I get it's good. It's good. He'll win it because he's messy.
He's the best matter of the fact is if I'm Ben Teque, I'm saying, no, yeah, you got what, what can I do? Yeah. Yeah. What do you do need me to get 20 assists also as a striker? That's a great show. Yes. So we'll see. Are there any. I don't know what would be. Are there any sound is in with a shout of any of season awards? No. If I'm here, Yama, I mean, yeah, best 11, I think, you know, Bruce Nack might have a shot at best 11. Yama might have a shot.
I mean, Steph and Fry, I mean, who else is leading in shout outs this year? Yeah. The shut out category. I think Alba's for a shout, but this has been a good year for midfielders though. Right. There have been some good ones. Yeah. So it might be tough. I think Alba. This is an op with the old one, but Jordan is up for humanitarian and the year award. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. There you go. Then he might, yeah, then he might, yeah, then he's out for it. Oh, that's a tough one.
Yes. A poll in the book and out, a vendor, etc. Blossom thing on them. They've been so successful. And I'm not surprised. Actually, I am, but not this whole not being, I mean, a lot of time. They've been so successful over the years coming to the Lumenfield, absorbing and then getting out in transition. And if that's one area, the sound is distruggling, even in this great run, we saw it against LFC. That was a team.
That was really well where a team that is clinical and can get out and just get one or two chances and punish you. Obviously, we're going to do that. The teamers do have match winners on their side as well. Is that the kind of game you'd expect or are we looking at more of a just a free fall? Just just just heavily about just like punch for punch. Punch for punch, go at it like yeah, wave. What sort of game?
The actual, because no, there's so much around it, but the actual game on a pitch still has to take place. Yeah, I think it's going to be just to shoot out. Why not? I don't think the sounders have to play defensively, nothing to lose. Portland, nothing to lose, everything to gain. I think you're going to see both teams go for it. And like you said, the sounders, Portland, to me, Portland's always played this way.
They've always played that counter attacking style where they just go, go, go, go, go. They've figured out players and pieces through Valerii and now Evander to play that. Then the end of the game, the two in Sebastian Blanco. Sebastian Blanco as well. So I see, yeah, no reason why this one can't be a three-three game. I hope it has a ton of goals. And I think it's going to be a back and forth game with a lot of chances.
And it's going to be about who puts a ball in the back to the net and who doesn't. Yeah, no, this is an exciting one. What do you have, Brokost? Yep, Abel TVM on the season pass. He crossed again in Marissa Duh. We'll be coming back for this one. Yeah, he hasn't really done a lot of sounders matches recently, but on the most important one of the regular season. 9.50 KGR AM. You guys are both on the call. Danny Jack from the Cell Ledka, Jackson Phelps and Diego Aureo has going to call in.
He's covering some more elsewhere. He's going to call in for pre-match at some point. We're also going to interview Roger Lebec because he is the element of the match being honored. Obviously, perfect. And added motivation for this one. If we win, we win Cascadia Cup. If we take it back to Portland, Portland wins. Cascadia Cup. So do know. That means a lot to the fans, of course, even. Yeah, so there's something that states.
It's exciting. So sounders, Portland Timbers this weekend, I think a lot of you are going to be there. It's going to feel like, it's going to feel like a playoff game. At Miss FeeWise without question, it's going to feel that way. And we'll see what it's doing. So, real quick, I'm just on the goalkeeper stats. 28 games, 28 started, 26 goals against. Now, when I sort it by goals against, she is, let me see here.
Sorry, the list is long if I go goals against with guys that have actually played games. It's not even close. You've got Zach McMath played 22 games with 27 against. Shulti's had a good season with Columbus 27 games, but he's led in 29, so three more than Steph. Yeah. I mean, anyone that's played a significant amount of minutes, Steph by far has the least goals against. I mean, the sounders as a team have the least goals against the league. It's crazy. And so that's a good job for best 11.
Why not? Why wouldn't you be? I don't know why that is. Yeah, he always does, but he's been consistent by the way. I just, I'm looking at you talking teams San Jose, considering 75 goals. That's 75. That stays with the company. The sound is only giving up 54 goals. So, and I mean, plus 60 out. So I would say I just don't, he's always overlooked for some reason, Steph and Fred. And he should be, and he's one of the best goal. You think of the legends in MS goalkeeping. He's there.
Number two, clean sheets all time. Yeah. He's with the Nick Ramandos for me and those guys that you talk about, he's there. So hopefully, I think Yama maybe has a shout. Yeah, he's, he's, he's come on strong. Don't know if he's holding it with great, but that'll be an out. But I think has a shout. But I mean, even, I mean, Laurie's 39 goals against 32 games. Yes, a couple more games, but still over 10 goals more against then.
You know, if you're talking about big name players like a, you know, a World Cup winner that probably would get the shout who knows or shulty. But he's got to be out there. No, I want to step, yeah, I'm on a Steph train for that. I think so. Yeah, I think I'm, yeah, so we're going to, yeah, we'll be, we'll be, we'll be on a Steph train. But we will see everyone at the game obviously. If you're not there, then you'll be on Apple TV.
And then we won't know anything with playoffs like until a couple days after. Yeah, nothing gets decided in terms of like exactly where the games are and that. But we just, we know what in it and we know we have two more games at least. Or is it, is it, is it, you play free for short? It's not the best. Okay. So two more games at least. And what, what I love about that is the whole, no extra time. Just going straight to penalties. Like, you have, you have to come out and play, man.
You have to go. Yeah, I love that. I love that. That, at least I like that from the free. Oh, Roger LeVec. Yeah. Legend of the match. Actually, I saw Roger like a month or so ago. And yeah, I saw, so yeah, he's crazy. I've not seen him. But he, he, he, he might want to be biggest legends. Yeah, the crowd's going to go nuts for Roger. Yeah, the project is like one of the biggest legends. Yeah, it's something exciting to see him. It's fitting as well. Obviously, let me chose this game for him.
Yeah. For the fans, hate him. You know, self-fans. So it would be great to see you. So side days should be a great game. She everyone day. Hopefully we get the free points as well. But regardless of it, we'll be back next week. And it will be playoffs into playoffs mode. We'll be back there. Folks in on self mode. So as always, comment, like, subscribe, wherever you get the podcast. And we appreciate everyone tuning in. And it sounds like FSC podcast presented by Victoria.