Listen to this Andy, let's start right there. massive win against lafc um it's a team that for whatever reason would be struggling against and it was really hard to kind of figure out why that particular team we couldn't get over the hump against and then you know bring on the game on the weekend and the game plan seemed to go to plan um you know first half kind of just kept it contained but they weren't that dangerous even the second half in the right moment you got a goal you needed so
Talk us kind of through the messaging and game plan leading up to the game and then how closely the guys executed everything you guys wanted on the night. Yeah, it was an incredible, incredible game to be part of, to be honest, Steve. Just from a determination and a grit standpoint, all things you kind of have become so synonymous with the Sounders. It just felt like a really complete performance.
So many players had huge outputs, huge games. Obviously, you can point to a number of guys. Stefan Fry, obviously, with the saves. coming up so clutch in a couple key moments. I thought Jackson Reagan was fantastic against Giroux. And we've spent a lot of time talking about those types of strikers and how he can get the better of them at times this season.
A player like Brian White has been able to have a little bit of success in winning the first Bulls against Jackson. I thought dealing with a player like Giroux and the quality he possesses. how aggressive he was, the amount of balls he won, his positioning. We talked a lot about, with the back four, the idea that... When Bogush and Buanga get around the corner, they're looking for the early service to the opposite side winger who's always arriving at pace.
As a defensive line, can we just drop off and really contain those moments and protect the space in behind? Different type of performance was needed and obviously we changed shape. Reid Baker-Whiting and John Bell coming in, having not played a ton of minutes recently and just giving such a great defensive effort. You know, I thought Reid and Palencia kind of cancelled each other out a little bit.
And John Bell going 120 minutes was just... absolute warrior mentality um he's such a great guy he trains so hard every single day and and fair play to him for for stepping up when the team needed him most and then you look at guys like nathan who Haven't played a lot this season and called upon in such a crucial moment to come in for Jaimar, who arguably has been our best player this season, most important piece.
He's been so solid defensively, and Nathan comes in and just, you know, wins every single header. You know, going up against Kai Kamara, we all know, is such a beast in the air, and Nathan just doesn't give him any time of day. Really smart decisions on the ball as well. Just total team effort, man.
Really, really proud just to be part of a night like that. It felt like something special after the game, just seeing the guys sat around talking about it and just kind of like this almost sigh of relief to finally get past them. Because like you said, they... Had our number for a while now. Knocked us out of some big competitions this season. And it was really cool to make a tough decision to change things because in all fairness, even going back to the...
the playoff loss last season. We've had a lot of good moments against that team and had moments to potentially go up 1-0 early in games. Haven't quite been able to capitalize. And then are punished through a moment of brilliance from someone like Buonga or a penalty decision that goes against us. And obviously, they're such a physical team. They just put you under so much stress, so much pressure. And for us to be able to withstand that...
and so many different players stepping up. That was awesome, man. We're so excited about it and ready now to look forward to the Galaxy. So, you know, all throughout the season, Steve and I, you know, talk about... the lafc game not being able to get over that hump and are they going to change formation are they going to try something different this time that's going to be the secret sauce and then we had precky on a week before and the last question was basically can you give us anything
and he just said no i'm not going to tell you guys anything about how we're going to play right little sly comment um so Was this by design going into this game a week before, two weeks before as you had that break going into LAFC? Or was this something because you're missing Rothrock, Rusnak? hadn't really been in the mix for a minute still kind of getting fit or was this the plan the whole time to say okay they've outscored us nine to one we have to switch up something or was it just nope
We don't have these guys. We're going away from home, so we're going to play this way. Yeah, a lot of things. I mean... When we really reflected and we had a few weeks to really reflect, the frustrating thing about that sort of three-week layoff was, you know, Pretty much the whole left side of our field was gone. You know, Albert was out injured, so we had to be really careful with managing his minutes in training. Reid was gone with the U-20s, knew who was gone with Cameroon.
And so tactically, it wasn't the easiest thing to just train for three weeks, to decide early and train that for three weeks, given the guys we were missing. But we talked a lot about it and we talked about, you know, okay, obviously Buonga, one of the top elite players in the league, Bogus, another 20-goal season. Not a lot of weak spots in that team physically. And so, yeah, that was a real pride, I'd say, in the team we've become in terms of...
our spacing in possession, what we look like with the ball, how we try and play football, how we try and dictate the game with the ball. And then the flip side of that, how we try and control the game without the ball. And obviously LAFC is a team that... doesn't necessarily want a lot of the ball and not like the LAFC of old that are going to break you down with 60, 65, 70% possession. They're looking for a lot of direct play.
quick transitions, winning the ball back quickly and going at you 100 miles an hour, making the game really fast. And so, for sure, that was a belief that we could be ourselves and score the first goal and put the game more on our terms. And as things progressed and as we talked more and more... And then we realized Nuhu, you know, because that was a late one. We weren't quite sure what was going to happen with Nuhu. So we needed to have another plan. And yeah, on, you know, Tuesday.
And, you know, Wednesdays are usually, you know, big tactical day. We made that decision early on Wednesday. And it was one of those where... To get the players to really believe in it, we had to be all in and really believe in it. And so, yeah, really, we had discussed it a lot and then, you know, fortunately made the decision with plenty of time to train it.
We had three really great training days. We felt really, really positive response from the group. You know, they seem to be excited about it. And obviously they executed it so well. We've all been part of really big wins before, but this wasn't a final and it's not what the club plays for. How do you kind of ride that wave and be high and let them enjoy it? But then also flip the switch to there's another big game coming up and we can't go into this game.
riding that wave. It's a brand new game. How are you finding that balance this week in training in terms of, yes, we did a great thing, celebrate it, but come back down to earth quickly. Let's still work ahead. No, I totally agree, Steve. And yeah, you've seen that with a lot of teams in the past. They have a really big win like that. And then, you know, the week goes quickly and all of a sudden you're back on the grass with a fresh opponent.
And teams have struggled with that in the past. I think the biggest thing I've seen, I bet you guys would feel the same way about playing for the Sounders. You know, we all played for other clubs as well. There was... a real sense on game day that I felt from the group, a real calmness, a real composure. This kind of, I described it as a quiet confidence that I felt going into the game. I really felt we were going to win that game.
And that's saying a lot given all the weapons LAFC have and given our recent record against them. But there was this real quiet confidence. There was a real composure, a calmness about the group. And so... I don't think it was like this huge surprise to the guys that we won. I think they felt the moment. They trained so well. They've been really proud of what we've achieved in the last six months or so as one of the top teams in the league.
So it didn't come as a surprise. It came maybe for some guys a bit of a relief due to the narrative out there. But also... You know, it's a team and it's a group that have played in so many big games. And so I think there's an understanding that, great, that one's done. Now we got to move on to a totally different tactical challenge.
A totally different style of play that we're going to play against in the Galaxy compared to LAFC. But an understanding that, yeah, this is, you look at Christian, Steph, Jordan. Guy Marnell, the experience of Jao Paulo, Raul. These guys have been in so many big games. They were all part of winning the Champions League.
um going to the club world cup this group has been on such a long journey together that it was um like you said it was a great night but that's kind of all it is and now this week move on to the next focus on the galaxy and um you know, hopefully have that same kind of, you know, quiet confidence going into that one as well. I have no data, no way to prove this, but in my view, I think midfielders...
central midfielders make the best coaches. That's in my view from what I watched because of how you guys had to play. You were a central midfielder. I'm curious how much of what you did as a player do you kind of take into day-to-day training today or is it when you become a coach you kind of shift your mindset now you're thinking about
other areas of the game that maybe as a player you didn't have to think about because we asked Pricky this and he was a very kind of attacking player and stuff like that and he works with attacking players quite a lot and I think when I've coached like youth players and stuff like that I enter from an attacking mindset first and I think oh there's another side to the game as well
never thought about when I played at all but as midfielders you were kind of box to box a little bit I'm curious just how much you've grown as a coach and how much things that you learned as a player that you're still using today
And it's sort of how the game's changed so much since back when we played. How many new things are you having to kind of learn on the job as well? Yeah, man, great question. I feel like I could spend... a few hours and at some point we should steve because there's there's so much to unpack there i mean in um i think my you know as as a midfielder I learned an awful lot here. This was my first professional experience playing for the Sounders.
Brad was hugely influential on my career and watching his training habits and trying to kind of be his understudy for a couple of years there. And that first group was... I learned a ton about both sides of the ball with that first group I played with because when you looked at the weapons we had back then, first Eddie Johnson and Mauro Rosales, and then suddenly you're playing with Clint and Oba.
A lot of my job and our job, Brad, was to be really solid behind the ball in two banks and make sure there wasn't much going the other way and kind of allowing them the space and freedom to do their thing. And I'd say the game has become... There's different thoughts out there. There's different schools of thought in terms of, you know, relationism, positionalism.
How we like to play and occupy the spaces. I can tell you I've learned so much from sitting next to Precky every day and on all of his experiences. His eye for detail. The things he picks up on film are incredible. Freddie. And his experience as a coach, I mean, in terms of his defensive organization.
And how it all connects. You know, the one thing I always believe, I hope I always believe, is that it's all connected. You know, both sides of the ball, the fact that you need a team that understands.
OK, this is how we want to look with the ball. This is our game plan. There needs to be some fluidity within that. There's going to be some fluidity when you have players like Pedro De La Vega. You don't necessarily just want to put them in a box and say you have to stay here. There's going to be moments where... their creativity comes out. And so as a coach, being okay with that, but then also making sure the message gets across that if we lose the ball in any given moment...
this is what we want to look like. And these are the areas we need to get back to. Are we going to counter-press quickly? Is it going to be first man straight to the ball? What happens behind that? Or is it getting back into an organized block? And if so, what... Where's that line of confrontation? Where's that lock? And so, like, I'm really fortunate. That's definitely not lost on me to be in a room every day with Brian, with Precky, with Tommy, with Freddie.
Our analysts are both young, hungry, incredibly intelligent. So just today watching the Real Madrid-Liverpool game with them. And the details they're picking out, you know, for me as a young coach, I'm trying to just soak up all that information and then give my two cents as, you know, whenever I need.
In terms of how my playing career links to my now coaching career, you know, I... I was lucky in Vancouver with Mark DeSantos, Ricardo Clark, who I know you guys know was one of the assistants for a couple of years there with the Whitecaps. He had a great ability to connect things from A to B, from the coaching staff to the players. I've really tried to do that and be a little bit of a bridge as well, just given my age and knowing, you know, playing against pretty much all these guys.
back when I was playing and playing even with, you know, Steph and Christian, those guys, um, using those relationships to, to help just make sure that as, as.
consistently this idea that we're all on the same page we're all together on the same team we're all trying to go in the right direction together um that for me is also a big part of coaching you know just the environment trying to trying to make sure I take my experience as a player and knowing what I loved about training, what the best moments of training are.
the small side of games, the competitive things, the duels, which Brian luckily is huge on, but trying to make sure those days are really fun. For me, training needs a lot of noise. It needs to be enjoyable. Players need to come here and feel like, man, this is a great environment to be part of. So I think about that stuff a lot.
And then, yeah, like I said, tactically, just trying to stay ahead and watch top-end teams, top-end players, figure things out, how it relates to our team, things we can pick up. And being in this room has been great for me. Last one I have today is just, I'm trying to think of a player that I played against that is anything like Pooj.
And there is not one player that comes to mind that I ever faced. And maybe you guys can recall someone else because my memory is not that good. But I'm just thinking as a player, if I'm playing, you know.
against three in the midfield and when i watch him play he literally goes any and everywhere and and i'm trying to figure out how you neutralize that and We don't need to talk about tactics for the Sounders, but just you as a former player, when you watch him, knowing what you know now, obviously, but even as a player.
That would just drive me nuts. The only player I can think that was like that was Espindola for Rail Salt Lake, where you just, yes, he was kind of like a withdrawn forward, but he was also picking the ball up on the wing. He'd also come inside and overload. And that's the only player that jogs my... memory um and what a nightmare it was as a midfielder especially to play against someone like that yeah i mean no that's a great shout i mean you know i remember one instance it must have been 20
When would it have been? It might have been COVID year. It might have been 2020. I played here for the Whitecaps. my job that i was supposed to be starting center back and something happened i think one of our center backs for the game went down with an injury or maybe he was sick and um
Sorry, one of our sentiments did. And so we changed the shape and I went into midfield that day as a six. And my task was to basically just follow Nico around. And it was horrible. It was horrible, man. It was probably the first time in my career I'd ever like... kind of man-marked someone. And this guy was just everywhere. I mean, and so I guess there's some, some little similarities there. Ricky Puj is, is no doubt an incredible player.
You want to keep him as far away from your goal as possible. Obviously, his ability to drive with the ball, to dribble with the ball is a little bit like... You know how hard it is to get the ball off Darlington Nagby when he's driving and he's swiveling and swiveling his hips and moving around. It's impossible to get the ball off him. And Ricky Puj...
his ability to drive out of pressure and just carry the team forward, you know. And so in those moments, understanding tactically, you might need to foul at times. to be really tight and compact as a midfield unit. And as, you know, the body positioning of the defenders, they're understanding that...
They always need to be sideways on to protect the space and behind because his ability to drive past somebody, maybe you think you're getting a tackle in, you don't, and then he drops a dime. Those are crucial, crucial moments. He does, you know, along with Marco Reus and Serio, they do play them quite, you know, they like to pick up the ball deep. And sometimes, sometimes...
they'll have like five players behind our first line of pressure. And so in those moments, can our midfielders be really switched on where he is if he starts drifting out to either side? He loves to pick up the ball and kind of like the left. Half space, deep half space, turn, and then he's looking to spray balls in behind. Obviously, Joe Valich has really good movement for a nine. Peck has been very dangerous in those moments.
And so, you know, your focus and concentration without the ball has to be elite on the day. I thought in the League's Cup game... Was it League's Cup? I think League's Cup we had Christian on the right, Paul on the left, and I think it was JP and Obed. And it was really tight. You know, they did a great job of protecting that kind of weak side half space that he likes to arrive in turn and then find the other pocket. And so I think you need to be really switched on to those moments.
And look, I will say this. I thought Christian and Obed, I didn't mention them in the beginning of the show, but man, I thought those two were absolute machines the other day. I thought they were unreal. The distance covered by those two was scary. They were really good without the ball, but man, on the ball, they were both, you know, just elite. I thought Obed's ability to...
to dribble out of things and, you know, take a couple of touches, let the team breathe a little bit and then make a good decision. Obviously, he's working on arriving late and shooting more and the technique around that. And he's getting a lot better than that. And Christian's ability to cover space, win the ball, and then again, make good decisions on the ball was just incredible. And so, you know, those two, more often than not, will be matched up against him.
And we're obviously really, really happy with what they've brought to the team since they've been playing together. And then the other thing I'd say just to add to it, Brad, would be when you do have the ball, you have to keep it and you have to be intelligent with your ability to move the ball, make them defend. You know, he doesn't want to defend a ton. And so the more the better decisions you can make in your shape with the ball.
while also having one eye constantly on where he is. If the ball turns over, you're active defending. You know, like I said, the covering of the space and behind is crucial. But we have to be good with the ball. Brilliant. Yeah, I think there was a player at Dallas a few years ago called Mauro Diaz, and he's the only one that kind of came. Yeah, he was the only one.
He was a player, man. Didn't he go to Saudi? He was unbelievable. So he reminds me a little bit of Puj. But I think Puj, outside of the guys in Miami, I think Puj has been the best player in the league for a while. I have not seen many players at that level. But...
I was going to ask about Obed, but you kind of touched on that. He's fantastic. He's unbelievable. Oh, man. I texted Chad in the middle of that game, and I said, because i was watching him specifically and all i said to chad i was like in the last five or six years have like guys become that much better at getting out of tight spaces with the ball
And he's like, what do you mean? Like in the league or just young players? And I guess my brain was thinking like just watching Obed made me text him that. It's been unreal to watch his development. You know, right after the game, we're on the flight home and he's already got the flight downloaded. He's already got the game downloaded on his laptop and he's watching it back. Great professional.
has the ability to to go to a really really high level man just because of the type of person he is how badly he wants it and and the work he does to put into it and his confidence you know because he I was texting with him the following day. He missed his first couple passes, and one of them was in our box. And you know, Brad, like...
For young players, that can really hurt your game, you know, if you give away the first couple. I remember the first thing you said to me before my debut against Philly. You said, just complete your first five passes. You know what I mean? It doesn't matter how they don't need to be.
40, 50 yards per age, just complete your first five passes, get into the game. And it can be hard for a young player if you don't do that. And man, the courage he showed to then just be like, whatever, I'm just going to, you know, essentially. boss the game now against one of the most physical teams in the league when the lights are on and all of a sudden now he's just taking the ball in difficult situations.
wiggling out of things, making great decisions, forward passes. No, I thought he had a really special game. And again, that's what he's capable of. Yeah. Well, Andy, we'll have to do this again soon. obviously lots at stake this weekend but really the reality is you win and you get to host mls club i can't imagine any more motivation that a team or a player could need if we get a chance to and you can imagine how packed it's going to be
We've had it here before. So wishing you and the boys all the best, man. Massive game. I think as a neutral is probably what a game to watch as well. But I can't imagine being involved. These are the kind of games that you coach for and you play for. You know, going to Los Angeles, playing against the Galaxy, a big club.
with everything on the line, everything at stake. So we wish you and the lads all the best, and hopefully we'll have you back on post-December, I think December 7th, or after that, we'll celebrate in a cup. Hopefully, I'm hopeful.