Hey, what's going on Sounders fans? This is the Sounders FC podcast. Keely Dunning, Jackson Feltz in the house. Let's review. Let's get into a review, right? We were both in the radio studio this past weekend calling that game. And I love hearing the different perspectives of someone who's watching the game and then someone who has to call the game.
And it's really difficult to call a game, and you guys know this, while you're watching a TV screen and stuff, because you can't really paint the full picture. I don't think that that would have made anything better on the day, to be honest. I don't think if we would have been able to see the whole field here at home or whatever. The Sounders looked disjointed. They looked disinterested at times. for lack of a better word, just looked, to me, tired. and kind of said that on the broadcast.
It didn't get lost on Schmetz this week either. It just, nothing came together. And I think that second minute goal obviously changed the entire dynamic. It allowed the game to open up and play the way San Diego likes to play. This is a team that likes to get up and down the field over and over. And I mean, Danny Jackson said it best on the call with you.
It's they were enjoying their football because they were they were playing the way they want to play. They eliminated Obed and Christian in the middle of the park and they just beat us up and down. And I mean that that eight minute stretch from like 40 to 48. where we see the two goals, Godoy and then Lozano. I mean, that was a rough, and I mean like some of the roughest eight minutes I've seen in a long time. And I think that it's one of those things where...
you see specific players and specific moments to fault. And it's a team. I mean, Brian said it in the press conference yesterday. Those were team goals that they gave up. and uncharacteristic for Brad. That's the best defense in MLS the past two years. And we haven't seen them look like anything close to that this year so far. Yeah, you know, I've been part of those games where, you know, you get scored early away from home. You're playing in front of a crowd that's energized beyond belief.
and you just can't seem to dig yourself out of that hole. I said it on the broadcast, right? Every year, every team gets beat 3 or 4-0. That's just the reality of it. And maybe if you're a Supporter Shield contender, it's a little bit different. But we've taken our lickings at home against the Galaxy many years ago where we have to give a refund to the fans because the performance was so bad. And I was in that game. Right. And you kind of reevaluate after that one. And you think.
okay, we can't do that again this season, right? And sometimes it rights the ship, right? Sometimes you need to be kicked in the teeth to get back to where you once were. And maybe there was a bit of complacency from players going into that game. Maybe they just thought,
you know, San Diego's now played LAFC in the galaxy and in that California rivalry. And that's what got them, you know, to tie and, and get a victory. Um, I tell, you know, my high school kids is too, we have to be switched on from minute one. Yeah. And I think Schmidt said it best. is that's his responsibility because if you don't say that before the game...
sometimes it gets lost on players that they're just going to walk through it. And I think Schmetz, three minutes into it, was saying, did I tell him to stay switched on for this one? And you would think, they're professionals, right? They should know to be switched on for minute one. But things happen. When I tell the high school kids, you've got to fight for every ball and I don't care if you foul up the field, I told them yesterday at halftime.
And what do they do? They go out and commit six fouls in front of our own 18 by playing two physical. So sometimes it's the messaging that doesn't clearly get across and they need that re reaffirming sort of, um, messaging before the game. And... They just got caught. They got caught sleeping at the end of the day. And then it snowballs from there. Completely. And San Diego obviously was feeling it from that point on. And the Sounders just could really, really never.
Get in rhythm a couple half chances right a couple half chances in the game But to really say that the Sounders had a good game in any part of that field You know, we can't say that they did. But now you get an opportunity to play at Dallas. And it's three away games in a row. It's time to pick up points. And you're playing a Dallas team that's feeling confident as well. Before we go to Dallas, I want to go back because you used the word complacency.
And I talked about this on the KJR Weekly Show last night. And I think it's a very important thing to discuss and to bring up because Right now you have a team that's together and it's been together for a long time. And in terms of like new Christian staff, all the list runs on and on. And a lot of those guys have been part of slow start.
For the last decade. Right. And I think there is a complacency. And we heard it from New Who in his press conference last week of we're going to be fine. Like we're going to be fine. And everybody, it's one thing, and I think you can speak really well to this. It's one thing to have the confidence of we're going to be fine. We're going to get the results together. Does the element of we'll be fine develop a complacency of slow starts to happen. We're going to be fine.
And in that mentality of the player, because if you've been through it over and over and you just know you're eventually going to get there. What I said last night was we'll be fine doesn't mean we'll have points. It's a hope we'll have points. But it doesn't mean you are going to be in fourth place in the Western Conference when the season ends like we were last year. We'll be fine doesn't equal that as of, you know, what is it now? April 10th? I mean...
It's a hope, and I hope that everything comes together, and I hope that Pedro and Jordan get healthy and everything is looking good for Dallas on the road this week. As a fan, the fan in me, I'm getting a little bit tired of hearing we'll be fine because I'm afraid.
That is developing a complacency in these guys. Okay, speaking of complacency, though, you're wearing a Seattle Mariner sweatshirt, Jackson. That's the most complacent organization that has ever existed. I didn't know I was wearing a Mariner sweatshirt until this moment right now. I literally just have a line of the sweatshirts and I grabbed the next one each day. So look, there's messaging within the locker room. That's very different than what players say in interviews.
I think you heard it from Rothrock. It felt like rock bottom after the game in the press conference. So the guys are feeling the pressure, and it's a wake-up call. Now, when you're talking to the press, There are very few times in a season where you can really open up and say, point fingers and say, this guy, this guy, this guy, or myself, not doing the job right, right? Or not happy in a certain situation.
The messaging is, hey, we got this, we can do this, because there's something to have a positive attitude. I remember in 2016, we had just signed Jovan Jones and we went on a run of not getting results. And I said after the game, like some guys, we've got very good players on this team, but they've historically been on losing team.
right not very good teams and that doesn't happen here in seattle and you kind of have to pick and choose your moments on when you're going to say those things and how you're going to say them and so What you're getting from Nuhu, I think, is a realization that we're not doing enough. And I mean, his positioning on the second goal.
is very out of character and... to me mind-blowing but that's not just new who's responsibility that's jackson's responsibility that's stefan fry's responsibility and that's yamar and that's the two number sixes that's that's a collective team we responsibility When you're that athletic, sometimes you feel like you can cheat a little bit, but you can't do it against teams in Major League Soccer anymore, especially a team that's as high-flying as San Diego.
To see the mental lapses and not say, I'm a defender first. We have really three of us back here that are defending against three. I talked about this with Mike Fasito this week after the game. I called him and met at our place afterwards. If they're feeling that much pressure consistently all the time,
maybe it's a, hey, I need you to stay home. I need you to stay home. We need cover. And we're just going to shift a little bit. And whether that's a center back in Jackson and Yamar having the wherewithal to go to Schmetz and say, hey, we're getting overrun here. We need help. Otherwise, this is going to be 3-4-5. It could have been 5-0 at halftime, to be fair. And so that piece of leadership to say, hey, we're going to play this way at least for the remaining 15 minutes of the first half.
It just doesn't seem to be happening that... that organization from within the team, I think. And, you know, I think Schmetz's comments after the game in the locker room were the guys got lit up. and you have to have those. You have to have those moments. He's been very passive in the press, but I think behind closed doors, that was the time to lay into the guys and say, if you're not going to play for the badge, just get out of here.
Go find another place to play. Because that was the halftime show. And we'll find someone that wants to come in here and bleed and fight for every 50-50. you know and do the work and that's got to be the expectation from day one we've seen glimpses of it but you can look at the lafc game things just went well that game right there was a lot of change in the lineups for both squads And so we're still yet to hit a point where we can say that has been a 90-minute performance. And now...
I haven't watched training this week. I think you came out here, but I would imagine that there's a bit more fight in this week because you're at the bottom of the table. Right. That's the realistic positioning right now. So you have to get a result. And whether that's a draw away from home, but you play well, something to give yourself confidence coming home.
in the following week the drills that i've seen in training have been i think specifically to instill the offensive confidence yeah i was seeing a couple you know it's what the the two on two drills um you know and and very much executing putting balls in the back of the net over and over and over and I tell you what they're intense and guys are in good spirit
And it seems like we're slowly getting healthier. I mean, we see Alex and Albert running off to the side. We see Jordan and Pedro back in full training. And Brian said last week those guys needed two full weeks. I think they were. Full last week, too. So, you know, how close is Jordan? How close is Pedro? Because we saw about 30 minutes out of De La Vega in San Diego.
can he give you 45 and where does that 45 come or can he give you 60 and you know we don't want to push him too hard because obviously you know developing sort of the thought of we don't want to re-injure him right so what happened last year So it sort of is, okay, you know, the confidence. can get back hopefully through training sessions, hopefully through, you know, whether it's just even a few early minutes. The LAFC game, you mentioned it, right?
Kalani gets that early goal in LAFC. And suddenly we go from saying, oh, we're playing a rotated squad against a great team. Suddenly that goes from that mentality, like as a fan to, okay, we got them on their back heels now from Kalani Koza Rienzi, right? So it's one of those things where confidence can be gained in a lot of different ways.
But now if you get that plus getting a couple guys back, I mean, Jordan, as we know, like Jordan at the nine changes everything. That fundamentally changes the entirety of how this team functions. When you have Jordan up there instead of a Danny Mazofsky or instead of... you know, a Jesus Ferreira who kind of has to switch positions and obviously Georgie. I mean, the world is black and white. It's a completely different type of team.
Yeah, and now that Albert's out this weekend, do we see a Jesus pop in as a number 10 and kind of take over the reins? He goes back to Dallas for the first time, a little bit of a reunion. does that ignite him to have a little bit of a spark and a little bit of bite and edge? That's what I'm hoping for. Because I think he can play that role. I think he's crafty enough. I think he's...
He can get him behind, too. I mean, Albert's not fast, right? He's more of a passer, find the pockets. But I think Jesus provides a little bit of something getting him behind. A little sneak attack. That was my favorite.
as a player playing as we played a 4-4-2 obviously but playing as an attacking mid and one forward shows short the other one kind of stretches off and then this whole gap opens up and that's where your eyes just get wide make the run someone will find you on the pass and even if they don't
It's creating space for others to find more pockets and be mobile. And I just think he's got an opportunity to get a good solid, you know, 90 minutes under his belt. And he said it this week in his presser, like, I'm fast. Okay, then use it. Right? Use it. Go. Go. I want to see you freaking dog tired after 45 minutes in the locker room. Ziggy always used to say,
You can be tired, but I want you in the locker room mentally exhausted from what you just focused on for 45 minutes coming into halftime. And then you reset and get ready for the next 45. So that's what I want to see out of these guys is that mental just toughness of being in the moment and hyper focused on the task at hand and don't worry about putting the ball in the back of the net necessarily just focus on your position your role
and let the other guys focus on their position, their role, and things will work out well for this team, I think, moving forward. Yeah, I think you nailed it with the mental toughness. And listening to Ferreira talk yesterday, I mean, he's a very, very polished player. I mean, he's... young but he's clearly been in the limelight for so long united's men's national team and whatnot so he very clearly it was funny kind of hearing him
sort of you know move his answers from at the start of the answer he'll kind of give you the meat and then they'll he'll he'll kind of mold the answer into kind of the more like the cliche we hear you know from a russell wilson or whatever right and and I remember asking him yesterday, kind of, he was asked initially about the emotions going back to Dallas. Very cliche answer. And says, okay, but. You going to have a little something extra in you for this one? And he said, yeah.
And then spent five seconds elaborating on that and then went back to Carter sort of like, I don't want to give too much bulletin board material. But it's kind of clear from just like the answers when you listen to the very start of specifically the Dallas questions. he's going to have something extra in his boots for this game.
He has another gear that I think he's going to hit. And whether that turns into a goal, maybe not. But whether it turns into, I think, a good impact on the offense, especially if Pedro and Jordan are with him. then we could be talking about the breakthrough we finally have been needing to see from Jesus Frera this week.
Brad, I have a question for you as a player. Was bulletin board material a thing? Was there ever a moment where you would read something or someone would say something and it actually motivated you extra? Is that a real thing? I think in any press conference, whether it's a home or an away team, someone always says something mild.
But playing here in Seattle, every team always brought their best game because they knew that at that time they were playing in front of the biggest crowd in Major League Soccer. And so it didn't matter if you were playing the LA Galaxy because Bruce is very... Willy-nilly with his comments and you knew that it was coming from Bruce So it's tongue-in-cheek. It's a tactic And then you get some of the more novice coaches that might say a little something. And I think for me,
It never really pushed me to say, oh, I'm going to give something extra or screw these guys. And they're talking a lot of smack. That never really happened. But what would motivate me is when I walked into a locker room and you're sitting there and then the coach writes they're starting lineup on the board and there's someone that you expected to be there that wasn't. That got me more motivated to say, okay.
This position is now at 70% of their hundred. That's where we have to attack today. We have to get after this guy. That was more my mentality. And saying we got to go at these guys today because if they're missing, you know, a key piece or two key pieces, we have to exploit that. And so how are we going to do that? So then the conversation started about how we're going to exploit those guys that have now made changes. And as a center back, right, you expect to play against.
You're playing Portland, and it's Fernando Adi, and I'm well undersized at the time playing against him. And then all of a sudden, it's Max Irudi starting, and you're licking your chops. You're like, okay, I'm faster than he is. I'm bigger than he is. This is going to be a good day.
And it always turned out that way. Play against Adi, give up a PK, we lose. But play against a Rudy, we win the game. So on the other side of it, sometimes the new San Diego where they've been rotating, right? And they've been kind of dealing with injuries. And then suddenly last weekend.
Lozano is back and their lineup is full force. Yeah, watching them play, I just really appreciate how they've come together as a group and stuck to the way that they want to play. It's a 4-3-3, but when you watch it, all six players. When they defend high up the field, let Seattle play out of the back. All six players are going to be beyond.
half field, if you cut the field vertically and sit there. And if the Sounders can break, then all 10 drop behind the ball and get behind halfway line. And they're so committed to the way that they wanted to play. Mikey Varis, head coach, right? But still, I mean, like... Less than 10 games in franchise history, and they already have a full character and a culture and a belief and exactly how they want to play, and they're executing it so well. It's so impressive. Yeah, it was fun to watch.
Well, not fun to watch for us, but fun to watch. It's a good, exciting new franchise in Major League Soccer. Yeah. So moving ahead, FC Dallas, a team that I started off a little bit slow, I think, but then... They're doing okay. They're doing okay. And Peter Moussa has been a true, true target number nine. And he's done the job for them. And then they sprinkle in. I mean, you see Leo Chu get a goal last week.
So that's the way that they play. That's the way that they've always played. They're going to play counterattacking style, but a little bit more possession based this year. And I think. It's a motivated team. They're going to be at home. FC Dallas has kind of shifted up their stadium where that whole opposite side is totally tarped, so you don't even see any fans while you're watching the game hardly.
But the guys will go down, get an extra day. They'll leave today, get a day in Dallas for Friday training, get settled. and then get off to the races. What are your expectations? That's a confident Dallas team. They haven't lost in a while. They just got a draw in Atlanta. They've won a couple before that. You mentioned it, Chu, the goal. Moose is great. This is a confident Dallas team. And no doubt, I mean, those we talk about like.
You know, Baltimore material, whatever. Jesus Ferreira, I think, is going to be up for this game. But you know that all of those guys are going to be up to face him. Those midfielders, those defenders. They're going to be up and saying, all right, we know this guy. We're going to go up and shut him down. So they're going to be just as up as he is maybe. And that's going to create a kind of an interesting dynamic there.
For me, it kind of is just the first 15 minutes. If we can not have what happened in San Diego where we clearly, A, give up a goal, and then just, B, allow the pressure and let us on them. I love when we pressed San Diego, and I'm not sure Dallas will.
I'm sure they'll be a little bit different because San Diego did not handle the press at all, right? They kept basically just giving it to us, right? And it's sort of one of those things where if we can just... ease into the game, get our legs under us. We'll see what the starting lineup looks like. But if our horses are back.
then we're talking about a team that I think we can go into the half with, whether it's tied or whether we have a lead, with the horses perhaps on the bench, and then be able to say, all right, guys, three points is there for us in this game. When we talk about building momentum, when we talk about... We'll be fine. We'll be fine started last year with the win at Philadelphia. Go up 3-0 in the first half at Philadelphia. We hold on to win 3-2.
But that sort of set the ball in motion, and then it just went roll downhill from May through pretty much all of summer. So it starts with a moment, and it started with Philadelphia on the road last year. Start with this moment here this week. Yeah, I think it's about playing good soccer at the end of the day. That gives you the most confidence moving forward.
Yes, you are pretty desperate for a win at this point, but you don't want to do it in a way where you're not playing your style. It's got to come together in a way where, yes, you get the result. Maybe it's a little... A little sloppy at times, but I think the biggest confidence boost is playing good soccer.
And so the guy's got to be focused from, from minute one. And you better believe the first messaging from Schmetz is going to be stay switched on first corner kick. Right. Does, does, does playing good soccer mean playing attractive soccer? Because I think, I think a lot of like fans are kind of like, you know, I want to see the fun and I want to see the attractive and I want to see, you know, the, the offense, et cetera. But does that always equal?
uh you know the good soccer especially in a game away from home well i think it's we have to maintain possession and for me possession is most important and most fun and most attractive when it's done in the opponent's final third. And so to do that, we have to high press up the field. We have to continue to high press, but we have to recover the ball and make sure that on second ball, something we didn't do in San Diego, our second ball winning is top.
And so that you go into halftime feeling confident, like, okay, we did well. Maybe it's nil-nil or we snuck a goal. It's 1-0. Get in at halftime, get a couple tactical changes, and then get off to the races in a confident second half. feel most confident is when you walk off the field and you don't feel like you've been under the gun for the first 15-20 minutes and we've gone to Dallas before and they're high flying and it's corner kick after corner kick after corner kick and you're fighting.
So it has to be the first 15, 20 minutes is maintain possession. Get a good rhythm into the game in the first 15, 20 minutes. That will give you confidence then to play the way that you want to play. Because Dallas is going to get chances at the end of the day. They will cheat in moments. Moose is a handful.
And the guys running off are consistently game changers and can be. Now, you know, they went against a Kansas City side that was down in the dumps two to one. And they do go to Salt Lake and get a result, which was decent. But before that was two losses. And like you said, they pick up a draw in Atlanta, which is a big, big result for them. So I don't expect them to play like they did in Atlanta. I expect them to come out and be at home and play a bit more high flying. And I think that'll be.
We'll see. It's going to be a tough one. It's going to be a tough one. I love the fact that we don't have to play Paul Arreola again, though. Because, I mean, that dude was just, I mean, he makes it. very hard for the opponent to play against now that he's wearing our colors and we'll see for later or next year, but not having to face him in Dallas is definitely nice.
All right, Keely, you got some over-under for us today? We do. These are from our broadcast assistant, Jordan Thompson. Shout out to Jordan. Thank you for doing these every week. We finally got to them this time. All right, so our first one, goals in the second half. The over-under is one, and six of eight of our goals this season have been in the second half. So are we going to have a lot of second-half goals? Over-under one second-half goal.
I think we hit that. You're taking the line? I mean, that's why I always love over-unders that are on the halves, right? I mean, yeah. So if it was one and a half, I'd say the unders. They're supposed to be on the half, but it's fine. I'm going to say it's one. I'll take the over. Okay. All right. Shots. Total shots. Over under 16 based on average of 16.2 shots per game through the first seven games.
Over under 16 shots. I'm going to go under. I think road game. I think doubt. We were obviously more of a possession, but. I only say under because I don't know if Pedro and Jordan will start. I think if they start, then it's... A, it's massively impressive by the two of them to work back so quickly and start. And I think it is over. If you have to work back in and you'll get another 30 or second half for Pedro.
If Jordan can only give you 20, 25, 30, then I think it's under. But I think it really comes down to the health of those two guys. Yeah, I'll go under in this one. I think the Sounders can sneak one early on in this one. And then... be concise about their moments in and around the box because i watched um the previous game with paul some some video he happened to be in the room and i was like oh what are you watching and there was a moment where the sounders had
Seven players in and around the box and four defenders for the opposing team. And Alex Roldan is pulling up for a shot from 18 yards. And who has the wherewithal and the awareness to say, if you did that in training on any day and I was a defender and I have to play four against seven, it would be... insanely unfair but where's the recognition on the field to say we got a 7v4 here why are we shooting from 18 yards right
So I think if the Sounders can sneak one early, just the patience that the game will require, there's no reason to go after it. So I'm confident in this one. I'll take the under. Okay, last one. Ferreira goals against former club over under one. Ooh. I don't think he scores, but I think he has two assists in this one in a two. Dang, I was going to say two assists. I think we go into halftime 1-1 and we win 2-1. All right, I'll take the over on it. I'll say he gets. Okay. All right, cool.
Thanks for playing over-under, guys. That was good. Fun stuff. All right, so your Sounders are taking off, headed to FC Dallas, and then come back home the following weekend, finally. It's been nearly a month since this team has been at home, so that's going to be an awesome one. um stefan fry's birthday weekend my birthday weekend that that sunday so hopefully steph's in on uh on saturday and gets a good result next saturday on the 19th but first and foremost fc dallas away from home
Keeley, broadcast info. Yep. 950 KGR AM on the call. Danny Jackson and Kellen Rowe will be doing color commentary. And then Jackson Feltz and Marcus Hanneman. For pre-half and post, I'm sure he will bring beer into the studio. Guaranteed. Beer and dip. 100%, he definitely will. Reign FC are also playing on Saturday, playing Orlando Pride at home at Lumen Field.
And Sounders will also be on MLS Season Pass per usual. Cool. All right. There are two fields that are opening up in the next couple weeks. In two weeks, we have a rave. Field going in at Moses Lake, and then I believe another one in Yakima, that 29th and 30th, which is pretty exciting. I think there's going to be so many of these fields popping up this summer. I'm going to be so busy opening these guys and cruising all around the state. Super excited.
Earth Day is coming up as well. So make sure you take a look and watch out for some Sounders activations. I'll be at Concord Elementary tomorrow celebrating Earth Day with that group of kids. And of course, Sammy the Sound. You've never seen anything until you go to elementary school.
And then Sammy the Sounder comes out. It is the most insane thing in the world. It's like Brad Evans Who and Sammy takes over the entire thing. No idea. And then Sammy comes out and just everyone is on their feet screaming at the top of their lungs. It's the best thing ever. Speaking of mini pitches, I got a press release from FIFA earlier this morning. That said Gianni Infantino has announced a total legacy contribution of $11 million.
which are going to the host cities for the Club World Cup, one of, of course, being Seattle. And it says, funds will be used to build mini FIFA pitches and support social projects to drive football and foster community across the United States. So more mini pitches coming. It's a million bucks. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's big time. Yeah, it's super fun. By the way, I went to downtown to the new waterfront.
Last Friday. How nice is that? It's unreal. It's so nice now. You can just walk everywhere. Yeah, the steps everywhere. But there used to be a little mini pitch on one of the piers, and now they're redoing it, and I don't know if it's going to go back in or not, but that would be one that would be. Epic to have back in the mix. It's got to be there for the mini pitch was there when the announcement that the World Cup was coming to Seattle. And I remember that the mini pitch was just.
overrun by like three dozen kids they're like for every square foot of the mini pitch there was a human being it was like i think i think the teams are a little bit too stacked Guys, let's open up the pitch a little bit. Spread the love, man. Good stuff, guys. Good stuff.
Thanks for tuning in, and we will be back next week, obviously reviewing that Dallas game and then previewing Saturday's home match on the 19th. And hopefully celebrating Tacoma Defiance winning another Open Cup game as well next week. Who do they match up with? Oakland Roots. Oh, that's going to be awesome. That'll be a good one. That'll be a big test for them.