Hey, what's up everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Sounders FC Pod-Cast presented by Toyota and we're in the middle of the playoffs right now. And the Sounders squeezed out a win against Houston Dynamo in game 1. We're now waiting for game 2 which will be in Houston and the Sounders have a chance to close out the series there. We do remember last year the Sounders did end up going three games with FC Dallas and won able to close that one out.
But, go ahead and done. It took an electro-done penalty kick in the shootout for the Sounders to get it done but a win is a win. Brad, you ended up covering the majority of that game. Well, first you were honored as the legend of the match. Let's give you that. Yeah, that was pretty cool. And then you did the game there. So in just your view, you know, how you feel about the team's performance was it one of those things where this is the playoffs, nothing's going to come easy.
And at the end of the day, you know, Houston's not a bad team. I don't think at all. And you were able to get done up one now. Yeah, I think, you know, you kind of walked, we watched the first half and there wasn't too much in the way of the Sounders really testing that Houston backline and specifically Steve Clark. I don't think either keeper had much to do on the night. I think both teams are stout defensive, right? Sounders are 36 goals against Houston only with 39.
So you knew that it was always going to be a battle and the way that Houston sets up, they knew that they didn't want to give anything away on set pieces and they've got a big team as well. And if you have Ben Olson as a coach, it's probably the most similar to Schmetz that you're going to find in terms of, you know, a positive attitude, motivating guys.
You know, he's a player of yesterday or also, like Schmetz was when it comes to the dog days of, you know, early MLS or USL days, like these guys that were built to battle and that, you can see how that translates to their teams, even in the DC United days with Ben Olson, you know, early on, that was a tough, tough team to play.
And he's proven it in Houston, right? They want to open cup last year and it's a good team at the end of the day. And I think that, you know, they had the highest also the highest percentage rate in MLS year in terms of possession as well.
So they do, they play the same way they do at home as they do away from. They're not going to just sit back. And so I thought that that would provide the sounders a bit more opportunities going forward, but, you know, it really just broke down with with Pedro, I talked to him after the game and, you know, I just said, hey, the quality is there. You just, you can be pissed off right now, but the only thing you can do right now is use it as motivation.
Otherwise, that mindset, you're going to get caught in a downward spiral. And I'm telling you, I told him, you have the hit factor. You can do this. It's just now you have to take what just happened and use it this next week as motivation to progress to the next level.
Yeah. Yeah. But is that what makes it worse though, because I think, you know, being, I've always said this, I can go to scout a game or watch a game and I can see a good player have a bad game and still tell you, no, that's a good play.
He's had an off and then you can see a bad player play pretty well and be like, no, he's not it. And Pedro, you can see the good. He has qualities that others don't have. He tries to do certain things. And is that added if he was just like, you know, this guy's not a less of different conversation. We're not saying that we're saying that he actually can make the difference. He has the ability. And so maybe that's a bit of frustration too is knowing that he actually has the quality.
I think there's been multiple cases of, you know, highly highly touted players and highly paid players come into this league and it takes just a minute or two to get into the game. I mean, Hector Herrera came in and had 17 assists last year and he only has six or seven this year and three goals. So it does ebb and flow. But it took a lot of time. He's got 10 and 15 or 10 and 16 this year, but his first year, we were saying he's we were having this exact conversation.
He's able to play off course. And but we just weren't seeing a consistently. He was me moved to the left, moved to the right. He was playing as a six at times, trying to figure it out. And he came from within a mess. So yeah, I think it just it it depends on a lot of factors. I think the quality is there for pressure on your right.
With that in mind, you're not going into leg two. What I mean, you go for the kill or do you play in a way knowing you have the third game at home in the back pocket if you need it. So you don't go crazy or do you just let's just get this.
What then approach you have you change land up. Yeah, that would you do that all bed things like that. Yeah, well, I think you put all bed into the mix. I think offensively he does provide that extra number moving forward because he does have legs to do it and just allow Christian to sit. You know, I thought Pedro or JP filled in well during the game, but you can see he doesn't have that offensive bite that they did two years ago.
And he did do his job serviceably, but it's time for Obed to come in and be ultra fit and really put his stamp in Houston. That's where he scored. I think he scored this year in Houston from that left flank coming inside with his right foot. I think that was this year. Was it he was a filly. Oh, that was a filly game. But okay, he's got the quality to push forward and be that player that's going to be that extra runner in the box.
So I think in this game, you start Georgie though away from home. I think I think you saw Georgie early in that second half when it's 11 V 11 Houston, you know, was always going to sit back when they went down a man. And then Latif blessing comes on the field and they really just double down on Georgia the entire game. You can't really you don't want to do that when it's 11 V 11 at home.
There's no way that Houston does that. They're going to lose too much going forward. So honestly, I think, you know, him and Pedro can. If Georgie's having a good half, maybe you push him to 50, but then you can bring on Pedro and give him 40, 40 minutes, 35, 40 minutes at the end of the game. And he can implant his game away from home.
I think that's probably what you'll see. But then you have, you know, Jordan's out. So you have Roel back into the mix. And, you know, if you're talking about a sub coming on that's going to have to fill in for you. I'm not sure you could find anyone better in this league. That's that's going to do it. Yeah, he sees it was great to see him back on the field. And if that's the guy you're telling me is going to start away from home. I mean, what else can you ask for?
Can you believe because I can you believe that he chips his penalty? I don't know how keep his understanding. I'm just like if I'm I'm standing and if you put in the corner, go no problem. But the fact that it's still diving. He does it all the time. Yeah, every time. Every time. Every time it's unbelievable. Yeah. So, so, so then we get into the second half and it's a red card and the sounders had so much possession and and, you know, but still the inability to really threaten.
He's Houston backline, but they did come and sit, you know, with 10, 15 minutes less stairs came on sit with the back five. So they're playing for PK's at that point. It is really difficult, especially if you have Raoul in there. There's there's no height when you serve, serve the ball in. I mean, the center backs, center backs for Houston. They're all, you know, six, six, one, six, two.
So it was always going to be a difficult task and there were moments where it looked like it might break through. It just didn't happen and then you go to PK's and I mean, just out it was unreal PK's shoot. It was perfect from the sounders. Christian's penalty, you might want to the best. Yeah, I talked to him after the game and I was like, what? Yeah, I mean, yeah, you can't save them. That's like, that's all the afterwards. I was like, if you miss that, that's going out the stadium.
And he was like, I'm just put my head down and rip it. So I mean, that was all you don't see that very often. No, that was a ridiculous penalty like ridiculous. And then top corner, you didn't even keep it. You didn't even barely move. Sorry, did you guys see on social that like every single player who scored a PK for us, their name is with the letter R. And that's probably the first time that's ever happened. I didn't see it. Oh, well.
Yeah, that's growing that one out there. That's actually really funny. Did did between. Did we see anything or did you see anything from Houston to worry you enough to go and say, you know, go because he's the thing for me. I think you know, Danny mentioned a broadcast that possession stats for this is the high is a second highest of all time in Emma less.
0 and YCFC than a few years ago. So that's what they do. But they didn't have any players with double digit goals or double digit assists. So it's kind of a team effort. They don't have that one guy that you go to play LFC. You're like, if one goes on today, even if you're perfect, he can still get you. You know, you go play Miami. If Messi's on if Suarez is on, they're going to get you go to Columbus. If Kuchos on, they don't have that.
They don't have the however isn't that there are good well-ordered machine clean on the ball. He's definitely built a good system. They don't have that individual guy to win the games. It's almost if you can shut down their team, which is possession possession. Now you can be comfortable with that. You can beat them. But what I will say is, without Jordan, then what the sound is do lose is that in behind Fred will that you need in transition.
What approach ishmets and the roles, Prekki, you know, those guys, Freddie sitting down. Yeah, what will be the way to approach this because you use this. They're going to change. That's been clear. They're not going to change. They're not like politely dangerous. They can find ways to score collectively.
There's not that one guy you got worried about. So I think it is a game you can play on the front foot. I think it's a game that you can also be like, you know what they're going to maybe have 55, 60% of it. But anytime we win it, rough rock goal, Georgie goal, if it's Pedro goal, because that's where the space is going to be. And I don't think Houston at this point they're not going to change.
But I'm wondering for the sounders, did we see anything from Houston that causes us concern in terms of light. This probably goes to a game three. Well, I think Houston is a good team. That, you know, they're a good team. And I still think that if they are on on Sunday night and they have to play desperate also because if they lose her out.
I think you're going to see the best of a Houston side and a bit more tuned in. And that's where the sounders have to be really careful. You go away from home in these games. We saw it last year when the sounders went into Dallas. I mean, they could not have played worse. And I don't know if that was just the mental attitude, whatever it may be.
But the sounders have to be switched on. And this one. And hopefully that last year game against Dallas will provide them with a little sting saying, no, we need to go home. We need to go away from home and put in a good performance. We can't just count on our defense to make plays. Because that Dallas team was actually pretty similar. I mean, the way that they move the way that they're front three kind of played.
So I think Houston is a dangerous team. It always worries me when teams possess the ball and are able to kind of run you ragged. Because we've seen it before with the sounders. They go to Colorado at the end of the season. And it looked easy. They went to Vancouver, kept the ball 50, 60% possession. And it just looked easy. And if you're not switched on, that can become a long day as a sounder side going away from home.
I mean, I have memories of going to Kansas City where they just kept the ball. And you're just working to try. And you're so tired. And it's hot. It's muggy. And it's going to be that way. And Houston, I think Sunday. Sunday is going to be 85 for the high. And after after three days of rain. So you know, it's at game time at 530. It's going to be 80 degrees and humid as all hell.
So it's going to be a real test for this sounders team. But like you said, if if I'm schmatz, I'm saying, oh, bed, when you get the ball, if it's not on the play feet right away. And Georgie is if it's Georgie Pedro Paul, you got to just knock that ball over the top. It's on grass field and turn Houston around. Yeah, yeah, you have to. I think it's hard when it team one of the hardest things about playing teams are really good in possession is your level of concentration has to be perfect.
Because the moment, you know, especially as a backline, one person's out of position, one person's there. They're looking for that. They're going to find a way to try and break you down. So I agree with you on that. I think it's. Yeah, I would be shocked if all beds not back in. And it's crazy. I didn't think we'd be saying this a year ago that, you know, all bed has to play over JP.
It's so crazy how quickly things change in football. But he's become a key piece. Like that. I don't think this is the same team without him. And you can kind of see that on Monday night. He had such a dynamic. I think I don't want to see. I still think she might go to the Pedro. I think he starts with him will see. I do think so. The last question I ask you on this is.
There's a right right. You do preseason. You play at certain intensity. Then you do regular season. And then you go up and have one playoffs and it's different intensity. And we do carry a lot of young guys who don't have maybe that blood. Someone like rough rock, for example, who's not been in a playoff experience things like that. If you you were a captain of this club for a long time.
To those guys, you know, you're not talking to Christian and Stefan Frye. The bit they've seen it. The guys who maybe don't have that experience haven't been it. And a lot of guys on the bench as well, even Georgia as good as he is. They've not seen this. There is a rise in playoff intensity. I remember our first year, it wasn't against Houston. We played them at home. I think it was no nail and then we lost with branching score and like a crazy goal. I think an extra time, something like that.
Now, remember those two games and being like, these there was something else like they ran a bit harder. They tried a bit harder like it was. To those guys, you maybe don't have or how do you communicate that the level's gone up and it just happens. I think it's just every team just goes up and I think that's what caught I spoke to a night beyond Columbus. And he was just like, we've not seen that version of New York like.
New Smog and some of those guys, they were cramping. They were this, I mean, they ran it. They went for it. They ran into the ground. And so teams just go up to a different level. But there's guys on the team who haven't seen that intensity. Ruff Rock has good. These years, it's still you have to kind of go through it. I guess, but yeah, what as a captain or leader, the Christians, the staffs, what messaging the guys who run that locker room. Should they be kind of saying to these guys?
Well, I think it's a case of, you know, all you have to communicate is there, there are no what ifs in playoff games. There's no what ifs when you walk off the field. What if I had ran for that ball? What if I had challenged just a little bit harder? It's impossible to perform in those situations without that experience. And unfortunately, fortunately, maybe Georgie's a bit naive when he goes in here. And I think you've seen Georgie play at a high level. He doesn't care who he's playing against.
He's going to play the same exact way if it was Real Madrid or if it's, you know, playing Rio Grande FC down in Texas with defiance. He's going to play the same exact way. So I think you've got good character in these guys to know that it's time to up level. I think Rothrock is, you know, he's playing for his career too. He doesn't want to be a flash in the pan. And so I think he's got that mental attitude of, yeah, I can get out for it.
But you saw one thing I will say about Rothrock is he's still young. He still gets into too many antics on the field for my liking if I was a captain. I just have to keep reiterating, like just keep your head down and stay in the game and you saw Houston, whether they found him every single time he touched me. Every time he touched me on the first 15, 20 minutes because they know he's a young guy.
Let's get into his head and then that'll knock him off of his game because he's a guy that's built on confidence. And Georgie, you can't get close enough to him to even knock him off of his game because if you do, he's gone. And so for a guy like that, I'm looking my chops going down to Houston on the grass field where if Houston presses high and forward every time I get the ball and sitting on the line and pushing forward.
And I think that if you have guys that are going to be less experienced, you want them high and wide. And then you're more experienced guys. You want them in the center of the pitch that can control the tempo of the game and just really be a conductor. And that's what you have with the sounders. So it's really just two guys that don't have the experience, real playoff experience. If you told me that in a group of 11, I just got two guys that are playing in the playoffs for the first time.
Like, okay, we can handle that. If it was a center back, I'd probably be thinking something different or a center mid or a number six. But that's not the case with this one. And we said it on the broadcast brief at the beginning of the game that, you know, you talk a lot about strengthened depth and things like that. And the fact that, you know, you're missing all bedroom suspension and his replacement is JP. I mean that.
And then if Jordan can't quite go, you're bringing in Raoul. This team is very deep now all of a sudden. And it's because those young guys have stepped up. They have given Schmetz option. So you have to give a lot of credit. So the rough rocks, the Georgies, Obeds, they perform, they perform. And I don't think anybody here would panic.
And for example, at some point, you've got a fraud, Joshua Tensyo in there. Like he, you know, so there's enough depth there. I think he's on a good team. I do think so. I do also think they match up well with the sounders. I think the sounders, it's, it's, it could be a lot more intimidating trips. I think you can be taken on this Sunday. And it's not to say the games in the bag, but I do think you've got the win at home.
You just have to grind it out. It's the playoffs. And I think, I think, it reminds me a lot. And I think you're in the skin. The year you think you guys won M&S Cup, you went down to Colorado. I think Jordan and the goal. Did that type of performance where it's just, we're just going to dig in. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't that you were probably the best team in Colorado. But at the moment you needed a goal, you got it.
I think that's what this team is. We hardly concede goals. So kindly, we just find one. And because sounders don't give up more than a goal a game often. If ever give up a goal. So I feel good about it. Maybe, you know, that's a good sign. Maybe it's not a great sign. But I think we're in good shape.
And the depth of the team is what impressed me. The guys who stepped up Houston is a very good team. We're going to see how it goes. Kaley, what's our broadcast looking like in full Apple TV and last season pass as usual. They've been doing a great job in the playoffs. So looking forward to that one. But you can also sync up the radio on 950 KGR AM. We are traveling our full radio crew other than Steve Steve is staying home. Obviously take care of yourself.
I'll be back on for all of our home games. Danny Jackson, Brad Evans and Michelle Leccon sideline. And then for pre-haven post Jackson felt coach Pete viewing and Kellen bro. Brilliant. Yeah, brilliant. Do we want to do predictions of the we know when it jinks it. I'm on James thing. I'm on you guys. I'm all set. Thank you. He said no. Okay.
All right. So you got that in for their Sunday, founders at Houston. The playoffs are always exciting. And again, I wasn't the biggest fan of this free game format. But I think it does open the games up a bit more gives the away teams incentive to say, look, we can get Nick one on the roll. We saw that with New York. So hopefully the sounders can close out business to Houston on Sunday. But either way, we'll be back here next week.
We're going forward to getting three or then we're going forward to the next round. That's what we're hoping for at least a season count and on Sunday. So we know that for the sounders. There's always this has been the sounders at some part cost presented by Toyota. We will be back next week.