hey what's up everyone welcome to another episode of the sounders fc podcast presented by toyota and the sounders are still overseas still in sunny spain but we're here in Renton, and I'm just looking at the schedule right now, and the games are going to come thick and fast. Yes, only in preseason, but the real season, I mean, we're talking just three weeks, and you're getting going into the Champions League, and then shortly after that, you open up at...
home to Charlotte. Before we get into kind of a deep dive on the Sounders schedule, we'll talk about the rain schedule that got released as well. At this stage of preseason, Brad, they've had the one game. And now you've got kind of three games coming up in a week, including two in one day. What stage of training camp should this team be at? Because again, are you looking at performance? Do results matter at all?
Because you're going to get going against Antigua pretty soon, and that game's going to matter a whole lot. So you don't get too many dress rehearsals. So I'm just curious, sort of. In preseason, yeah, results don't always matter, but with so much at stake these days, how much do you want to ramp up to your best 11, best results, etc.? Yeah, I think for preseason, it's about getting fit.
fit number one, right? We didn't see Jesus in the first game. We didn't see a Rothrock read. So for guys, it's about getting fit. But I think Schmetz's press conference, I listened to it from the other day, was
tactically, how this team is going to set up too. And there were a lot of questions asked by the press. Is it going to be three in the back? Who's showing well? Who's not? And Schmetz's answer was like, well, you'll find out in a couple weeks. I'll give you a full breakdown. So it looks like the Sounders, especially with signings right we'll get to talk about another signing soon but that might be an option for the team so right now it's about formation can the guys perform in that but
For Pedro, it's about getting off the mark, right? Golden and assist. And then for Jordan to put one in the back of the net. And you saw last preseason, Jordan didn't score at all, right? And then it took him a while to get the ball in the back of the net. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For me, I was thinking yesterday at home, that's such a great feeling just to put the ball in the back of the net, right?
Everyone wants to see that. Everyone wants to feel that. And you know, goal scoring, it comes in waves. It comes in bundles. But you have to take them when they come. And so for Jordan, it's a matter of... Put the ball in the back of the net, off we go. And then you've got Pedro, who's now, he needed a full preseason, like we said, to see his best. And he needs to solidify that position. So for him, it's going to be about production. Because you know Jordan's going to be.
up there. But now it's about Pedro showing production. Schmetz was happy with the entire group. There was one interesting fact that I think it was like Rusnag's dad played for that team that they played the other day. Something crazy like that. So it's good for them to get other competition too because now you come into Champions Cup and you're going to face a team that you've never played before in a different style of play.
It's everything. That's why it's preseason. It's team bonding. It's fitness. It's, you know, it's a chance to be in a place where it's good weather and they can really just put their best foot forward. But did you like... going away for preseason because i was thinking about even my drive here i'm like man they've been gone for a while and
you know, yeah, you're over there, you're together, you're training, you're getting better, but it still is time away from home. You're still kind of, the days are repetitive. It's not the field, the hotel, the field, the hotel, maybe a little bit of downtime in between. Maybe guys are playing cards, doing stuff, you know, probably more.
options these days but the mental side of it as well is not easy I think the best part is the team bonding you're getting Paul and Jesus to be able to be around the group for a long period of time
But it's not easy being overseas. I'm not even in a beautiful place like my bear. I guess it is. It's your job, right? And when you look back on it now, those are the times that we remember fondly. I do miss it. Even Casa Grande and things like that. Yeah, you still look back and you're like, okay, I understand the grind. I understand what it is.
Sometimes you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable, right? We've talked about that before. And so for this group, it's a little bit different. You're going to Marbella. You're not going to Casa Grande. It's going to come thick and fast.
How, I mean, line up things. Is it too early to think about things like that? Because how do you approach like three games in a week and three games that mean something? And I think this year, and I think the fans would agree, we don't want to get off to a slow start.
No. Like, just have a good start. Let's forego that sort of panic stress period we have every summer. Let's just have a really good start. And to do that, winning at home against Charlotte would be good. But you have two, it's standard between two Champions League games. Yeah, I think Antigua is in a... place, they're going to be early season form, right? They'll be...
four, five, six games into their season by the time the Sounders play them. So it's not like the group is going down there playing a group that's in preseason. They sit in third place right now. So they're going to have to send a full-strength lineup. No, you've got to play. And then you've got to...
Quick turnaround, fly home that night, and then get ready for a home game. And hopefully, if you get the job done in Antigua, then you can kind of take your foot off the gas and make some changes at home. You would expect the Sounders group to win at home. And then save some.
some of those legs for, I think, a Salt Lake game is the second game of the season for the Sounders. So it's going to come thick and fast. And we've gone over the schedule before, but it doesn't get any easier after that. Every team is going to improve in this league. I've already seen San Jose, which was. But playing at San Jose has always been a bugaboo for the Sounders. It's always been tough. And they've only gotten better, and they've got a new coach. St. Louis, you expect to have them.
have picked up their game. And then, of course, LAFC in the third game of the season at home. That's an afternoon game. The 1.30 kickoff, I don't want to play a big team at 1.30 in the afternoon. Did you prefer the even games? See, I always was in between. Sometimes I preferred waking up and just getting the game out of the way. Of course, yeah. As opposed to waiting around. Yeah, you're waiting around all day, 7 p.m., big game. You don't know what to do the whole day. But, but...
Playing under the lights, all of that. You have to play under the lights. You can't beat that. That is home field advantage, playing under the lights. Because we've gone to the Galaxy before afternoon games and gotten results. It doesn't feel the same. Then you go there at nighttime. There's something about being in the LA lights that... feels different everywhere. The afternoon games just, for me, it takes a little bit of wind out of the sails. I don't think you see the best of both teams.
And then we're just West Coast Conference for a long time. It's interesting that we play St. Louis, Dynamo, and LAFC all twice. before the May 17 game against Portland. So it's not an easy start to the season. Dynamo we saw were tough last year. That was a tough playoff opponent. St. Louis had a down year last year. You expect them to bounce back. I think they made some changes there as well. Obviously, then it's the first...
one going down to portland is going to be huge um are those guys still going to look around schmetz will answer this and just say why are you even asking the question portland's still the first one you're circling It still has to be. It still has to be. It's always Portland. And then maybe Vancouver for me. But then before even Vancouver, it's...
When am I playing in Houston, Dallas, Kansas City? And what time? Those are the only times that I cared about. I'll play the other teams anytime you want. Vancouver, anytime you want. But that one's not circled for me. And then you look at the LAFCs. I guess right now everyone's looking at Inter-Miami too. You want a chance to play against that team. And we do get that chance for the first time. Who knows?
That'll be late in September. They'll probably have made five or six signings by that time. Mid-season signing. Interesting here is October 18th, Decision Day is in New York. which i'm trying to understand the logic why you wouldn't have decision they go west against west east against east why would i don't know i don't i'm not as smart as the guys in new york like the mls office but why would you put sounders against nycfc
When they, in different conferences, playing for different things at that point. I don't know. Yeah, it's just how it shakes out. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Yeah. It's... You'd like to see those flip-flop play at New York City and then come home and play Portland at home on the last day. We played Portland in decision day.
Before, once before, maybe? Has it happened season day? Yeah, I think really recently. It does sound quite familiar. Like two years ago, maybe? Maybe. I don't remember. It sounds yay. What a big game that would be. Oh, my God. you you assume something will be at stake and then yeah i just i just like the synced up kickoffs you know get the east out of the way and then we couple hours there we start the western conference game so yeah we'll see maybe
They've gone for the support shield or something like that. We'll see. But one thing that won't be on the schedule is no Open Cup. But the sound is obviously you have MLS. And in MLS, you're going for support short MLS Cup. You have the League's Cup. We have the Champions League. And this year, the Club World Cup. So from that perspective, if you add an...
Open Cup, and you have anything similar to last year or years past, an extra five, six games. I don't know if these squads are even now built for that. That's a lot of competition. Yeah, I mean, echoing Schmetz this past week is... If it was the Open Cup, you're playing a potential of 65 games, and it's just too much. And we can always look at teams in Europe, but you have to look at roster size and how they're built. It's way different, way, way different. So the load is just nearly impossible.
You know, it's a bummer, and I thought about this yesterday, was does that take away now anything that the Sounders accomplished in winning the Open Cup early days? No. Because the new class is going to say, well... they don't compete in that tournament anymore. It doesn't mean anything, right? But some people don't understand the history of the Open Cup. But it does give a great opportunity for the Defiance to step in. It does. And get some meaningful games against MLS competition.
I loved the Open Cup. I mean, you were there. We played the final. inaugural year in DC like one of the best memories like winning a cup at an opponent then we came back the following year and we did it here against Columbus a very good Columbus team and then we did it again against Chicago so no I think for me Open Cup will always hold a special place for those reasons. What a way we used to bond with the fans down at Starfire. I'm glad to see that that was still brought around.
Competition-wise, we were playing, what, 30 league games, five, six Open Cup games. You can go all out kind of. But it gives fans a chance to turn out and watch yet another maybe up-and-coming star or two. Agreed, yeah. And they have to show up in those games.
If they're complaining that the first team isn't in it, then you need to show up for those games. It's accessible for the most part. There's no excuse for that stadium not to be pretty well full supporting a second team because you know that the first team guys will be there. supporting them and watching them hopefully do well. Well, who knows? Maybe they don't get advantageous home games anymore for Defiance. Maybe they'll be playing away from home for the majority of that tournament.
So, yeah, you know, it's a bummer, but I understand the way that this league is going. Right. The way that when you and I played, it was we're going to play three friendlies in a year and then we're going to have open cup. And that was it. Yeah.
But then we qualified for Champions League, and we had that tournament throughout the season as well. But it still wasn't that demanding of a load in the grand scheme of things. Not as many regular season games. The level's higher. You're adding League's Cup. Now the Club World Cup, those games mean something. Yeah, you've got four tournaments. Major League Soccer, Leagues Cup, Champions Cup.
And Club World Cup. And then potentially MLS Cup, which is its own. Potentially playoffs. Its own, yeah, you know. So, yeah, the playoffs. So, I don't know. I get it. I'm disappointed because I want to see every MLS team in it, but I get it. It's not.
something that is too surprising at this point. We've kind of seen MLS go back and forth on this, and they've got to prioritize what makes the most sense, the highest competition. So I do get that from that perspective. Does that give you the inkling that, right, it's going to be... Some USL teams in that tournament, probably more than ever before, will advance in that tournament. It gives them the opportunity if second teams are going in. Yeah. Does that kind of like pave the way for the...
promotion, relegation sort of response. I don't think MLS ever goes for that. I think that movement gains steam. I don't know if it can ever happen. I'm thinking, for example, I think it was Sacramento. I could be wrong. We played Sacramento last year, Open Cup. I mean... Jordan played, Alba played. I mean, second half was a game. Now imagine that's Sacramento against Defiance. Or mostly Defiance players, level players. That's a good game.
That's now you're looking at. You're not expected to win. That's like a 50-50. Maybe they're even more favored. I don't know. So...
Yeah, I think you probably will see more USL teams. USL proper. Like, those clubs who are just USL, that's what they do. There's no first team above that. Probably advance a bit more. And, yeah, I mean, those games for me were always hard, man. Like, I think any time we played against a USL... the day and just saying that's how some how hard some of those open cup games were when you went to a lower team quote unquote it wasn't ever easy so
Yeah, I'm with you, but I don't think we're even close to pro and relegation in this country. It's never going to happen. MLS 1 and MLS 2 maybe, but even that's far-fetched. Okay, so the Sounders, obviously... We focused on that, but also the rain. So the rain schedule was announced. Now, the rain coming off, not a great season.
You know, the first season without Megan Rapinoe in a very long time. Obviously, they're so much off the field. I think the instability, just the merger with the Sounders, it does take a toll. And then you're, you know... kind of seen what's going to happen. Now they have that stability. They've had an off-season. We've got a fantastic coach over there. You know, I think Lou Barnes resigned there from what I saw. And, you know, it's a team that won six games last year. They lost 15.
They're much better than that record and have been in years past. It's always been a team with championship aspirations. We do have their schedule as well. And the Reigno, they play the games at Lumen as well. And I'm a frequent... game had turned out really really fun um i said last year was a bit of a down year um what would be reasonable expectations that in terms of just from even just bird's eye view perspective um
To bounce back. Obviously, you can't be second from bottom again. Yeah, they've got to make the playoffs. They've got to make the playoffs. That should be the... I mean, every team comes into the season saying they want to win a cup. But I think when you come off a season like that, it's let's get back into the playoffs. Similar to the Sounders a few years ago, right? You miss out on the playoffs.
The backlash from that, and you saw the response immediately, was let's go. And let's at least make the playoffs and give ourselves a chance. A couple of good signings. I mean, obviously, you bring back Lou. I mean, I think she holds the record for minutes games played, things like that. And that's just your stalwart in the back.
And not only that, but maybe she just provides that experience that this team needs to get back into the playoffs. Stability, locker room, been there, seen it before. So I think that's important. I mean, it will probably do the same thing as the Sounders do, where they go in and... they circle Portland Thorns.
and we have that april 18th i'm seeing i'm just going through the schedule um then that'll be up here and then this um the sound is the rain go down there um august 10th as well i'm assuming it'll be the same on that side that's a really good game i can't remember which year it was what we did the double header um
The Jimi Hendrix kit year. Whatever that was. The time is just flying. Also, Decision Day, we played Portland Decision Day last season. Are you joking? We just forgot. It was last season. What was the score? It was 1-1 draw, I think. What? I want to say. Here? I can't remember the game. I know. I can't believe it. I'm surprised you can't remember the game. I know. I'm usually every detail. Why am I blanking on that game?
Oh, my God. We all did. It's all good. That is hilarious. I've got to go and just check the highlights on that. So that's what the Reign will be doing. I think, you know, trying to replace a player like Megan is not easy.
I think they struggled there. But I think primarily for me, the off the field stuff, I think it takes a bigger toll than you can think in a league like that, where there's probably still a lot more parity even than MLS in some ways. But yeah, I think a bounce back here is minimum.
Yeah, I mean, they signed Lynn Williams. Oh, what signing? I have to look up her last name. She just got married. I think it's BN. Oh, okay. What's a player? How did that happen? Yeah, you make a signing like that, you know, comes from – gotham championships yeah who's a proven winner the pieces are there
They just have to get the job done on the field and hopefully have a good preseason. I think they go to Coachella for preseason. Yeah, they do. Which I think would be pretty nice. That would be nice too. Have you been? Spain's going. No, I haven't been down there to see it. I know Mike's going down there. Facito's going down. Yeah.
So when I was cool, I went to Coachella twice. I have been to that festival two times. Whether I remember most of it, I will not talk about on this podcast. That means it was a good time. But my grandparents actually own a home.
a mile away from Coachella, so I didn't have to camp. I got to go stay in a cookie bag. That's the only way I would do it. I don't believe in camping, so I would go and do it. Don't believe in camping. I don't believe in camping, so that's why Glastonbury Coachella, I'm not there.
All right. So the sound is obviously hoping to bounce back this season. We've got a little bit. Let's play the prediction game for a little bit. Let's put on our predictive hats and just kind of see where we stand right now and what we think.
This team can do this season. I think, number one, I think the roster's improved off-season. I think it's weird to say when you lose Raul, someone like that. But I think you have improved. So I do expect some areas for this team to be better right off the bat. And some will still take time. But we have some over and under.
So we can see, let's put our prediction hats on. Yep, okay, so we'll start with over-under, then we have some predictive team superlatives that we'll also get into. Over-under, just quick, simple, easy. Total goals, I have it at 51. That's how many goals we scored last year. not an offensive powerhouse last year do we think we can do more more has to be more because jordan got jordan albert carried a load you have to assume his suits will chip in with i mean maybe
Eight would be nice. Maybe 12. He's capable. Paul Areola will create offense. They're going to get more. They're going to get close to 16. All right. And then total shutouts. We were a defensive team. Steph Fry had 13 clean sheets last year. Gosh. Do we think that we're going to have... Over 13. That's high. I know. I mean, only 34 games. I mean, can I say 15, 16? I think you'll be...
That's a hard one. About the same? Probably like 10 to 12, man. How can I say 15 shutouts? That's ridiculous. I'm going to take the over. You think so? Yeah, the defense is only getting better. They've only gelled more. But then if you add more offensive power, Steph's going to face even less. Right? In theory. Hopefully in six months we can talk about it and say we were right. But in theory, that's how you'd think it's going to shake down.
That's a good point. We didn't lose any of our defensive core from last year. And we've always been good defensively. At the expense of adding to the offense. So that's actually a very good shout out. And then finally wins. We had 16 wins last year. Are we going to go over? More. More. Yeah.
I think 19. So, yeah, I think there'll be some wins. There were some games last year that we should have won. I think this team wins. Yeah, they should. They should win. I'll take the over on that. Yeah. All right. Speaking of defense, can we hit on Kim Kihee? Yes, we can. Coming back. Yeah. Another edition.
Yeah, I mean, I'm assuming it's going to be kind of the Shane O'Neill vision where you are the backup, but we're not going to bat an eyelid if you have to step in. Obviously, he's a champion. He was here. He was really good when he was here. I remember there was a year when he kind of was... pushing a Roman Torres out. And it was like, Kim Ki has to start. Very calm with the ball. Haven't seen him in years. Don't know the level he's at now. But...
Dale done the due diligence. He's familiar with the landscape of here. I think him coming in, accepting a role in that locker room and just accepting that, hey, I'll be called upon when needed. And we just said so many competitions, he's going to play. And you can do a lot worse. You can do a lot worse. Yeah. I mean, Schmetzer's comments yesterday in press, he mentioned...
Christian Obed was the two starters in that role, right? And then the two other players he mentioned in that role were JP and Leyva. There was no mention of Atencio. So the next question asked was, Atencio has been playing as a center back. And so now you have... Do you see that? I think so. Just body type and, you know.
Mobility-wise, yes, he can do it as a 6-8. I think there are probably a handful of other teams that would take him as a 6-8. But for this team, I think at this time, if he's going to get on the field, the Sounders need super mobile. kind of guys in the midfield. So then you have Jackson, Yamar, Kim Kihi, you've got Jonathan Bell, and you've got Atencio, and you've got Stuart Hawkins. You've got six, which is crazy.
So someone's got to either have a breakout. Yeah. You can't rely that all six are going to be healthy at all times. But like you said, you got a lot of games. So this just bolsters. Yeah. You might go free at the back sometimes. Then you're talking new who can slide in. I mean, it's a very. Good depth, yeah. Kim, you didn't play with Kim. No. No, you didn't. You guys didn't overlap, yeah.
My memories of him were always very positive, very good. I think his translator sits right there, sideline, kind of close at the field. So I see him a lot. It would be nice to see him some more. Yeah, I think it's a good signing. And that depth is good. I mean, the defense has not been the issue. Last two years, even if offensive. struggled always been good defensively and seems like only gotten better so yeah okay a couple superlatives so let's uh give well
Predictive superlatives, I guess. First one, who do you think is going to have a breakout season this year? So who had it last year? Who would we say had it last year? I don't know if we did these last year. No, no, no. Who do we say had the breakout last year? Oh, had the breakout year? That's a good question. Rothrock. Rothrock. Oh, man. Yeah, how can I forget? It was definitely Rothrock. Okay. I don't think anyone has a Rothrock. He was ridiculous. Who's going to have a break? I mean...
Georgie? Pedro? He would come. Yeah, Pedro. I think Pedro. Pedro. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not only do we need him to, he kind of has to. Yeah, Delevego. He doesn't really have a choice. We're rooting for him. Yeah, he has to be good this year. Delevego. I mean, if you get Pedro on a level that... Physically, when you watch him play, if he could be close to being on an all-star ballot, that's what you need. It would be like a new signing. Biggest surprise for this year?
What do you think last year? Probably Rock Rock. Rock Rock again. He took us by storm, man. Oh, my God. He just kept going and going. What would be the biggest surprise? Biggest surprise, you know. It's a tough one. I think it'll be either Paul or Jesus.
I mean, they have, but the tough thing is, is they've had the pedigree before. It's not really a surprise to anyone. There's just a lot of capable guys that you hope would be, you know, we don't know really too much about Jesus and obviously he's got fitness concerns.
Can you really hang your hat on him right now? Hopefully he's a surprise for us. Biggest surprise would be a right-footed Nuhu goal. Oh, there we go. It could be a moment. Yeah, I think that would be a surprise for me. All right, most improved this season. Who do you think is going to be the most improved? That would be... Most improved player this year. In the complimentary way. Yeah, because I think Reagan probably last year for me, like the jump he made, Jackson. I would say I can see...
Georgie, I can see Paul again. Rough Rock, I can see him being in there. I would – hopefully it's Alex. Yeah. Because I think – I mean, he was great. Obviously part of a defense that has been the best. Yeah. But if he can add five, six, seven assists or six or seven second assists, that would be kind of a...
a little breakout for him too. Yeah, that's a good shout. Yeah, he's a bit quite offensive. And a resurgence. So if he can get offensively, I think that would be like, you know, technically a most improved. The team was very good last year. Agreed. Hard to find a most improved. Alex is a good shout, yeah. Okay, MVP. Who's going to be the team MVP? Was it Albert last year? I believe so, yeah. I think, honestly, the second half of the year, the way Christian played.
i thought he was exceptional he was like back to his very best if he's in the sixth role not moving around because he doesn't have to anymore and he just anchors it and just is the leader i can see him Honestly, I was very impressed with him the last few months of the year. I thought Christian was back to like, okay, I see what this guy's about. I mean, my shout was going to be Obed.
He's good, huh? He's so good. He's so good. Hobart is good, man. And if he's even close to where he was at the end of last year or two. Yeah. The goal he scored in Philly, I remember, was just a special goal. It's one of those things. Yes, it's really important to have a 10. Yeah. And a goal scorer. But if you don't have that anchor as a six, life becomes really hard in this league. Yeah. And he was a big piece of keeping.
teams off the score sheet but also providing offensive outlets on the other end it's like if you took Ozzie out of our lineup early on it was tough you could see it you could see a difference right if you take if you took JP out of the lineup he got injured you saw a big difference in the group absolutely and then
And, you know, you take a guy now out like Obed, you know, teams tend to – that's where the engine room is. Yeah, he's fantastic. I don't know how long he'll be here, but he's fantastic, yeah. Yeah, I think in France they call those players the water carriers because they carry all the water.
for all the other players. Everything, yeah. And you notice them more in their absence. Yeah, and he's so young. So, oh man, unbelievable. Okay, last one, and it's kind of similar to MVP, but a little bit of a different take on it. Leadership Award, because I know we've sort of talked about, you know, who the leaders of this team are. I'm still waiting for that. I mean, Steph is an obvious choice.
just by default so many years in the league kind of has to be um i would love to see like at this point jordan take more of that role i don't know if that is jordan um Christian and Jordan, they've never really been that. They've done it with their play. We asked Paul if it's going to be him, right? When I was out here watching the first practice, he's already got arm around guys. You need that.
You got to have it. And he's not afraid to do it. He was the captain at FC Dallas. Yeah, yeah. And that's got to be – that was – That's got to be a difficult group to wrangle in Dallas. You've got a lot of youngsters, and then you've got a couple foreign guys coming in. And I think this is a more settled group, and I hope that he feels confident to kind of put his stamp on it.
He can, but I just think he's young that he's so focused on his game. He needs to stay focused. But if I go back, if I push back, I mean, you were young when we came here. You were vocal. Yeah, it's just a personality trait. Yeah, you know what I mean? I just think it's finding a balance between joking around, having commonality. But then being able to do your job, too, and understanding you've got three or four years under your belt. It's kind of time to step up in every way.
In every way. That's a good one. Yeah, I don't know. I think it's got to be Christian, though, if you're playing as that role. In that middle. I think you see it when he's fiery in games and he gets knocked around. I think he can be that guy. Yeah.
Especially with JP not being the big part of it anymore, yeah. Because he definitely could do it. Okay. Those are our superlatives. We'll see, man. We'll see how it comes back. Yeah, I'm interested. Interested to see that. But we'll see. We'll be back next week. By the time we're here next week...
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