Coming to you live from Orellion Avenue Studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Good even everybody, welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Feltz here going to be with you on this Wednesday evening talking all things Seattle Sounders FC and talking all things Seattle soccer. And there is a lot of soccer that will be featured in Seattle over these next two years. There is
a lot to discuss on tonight's show. I wish we had two hours to do it because we have two big interviews and some very interesting and awesome audio to play here in a few moments later tonight, we are going to be digging into Decision Day Sounders, Timbers, Ari ELEENWILEMLS Soccer dot Com, moad do MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Both of those men MOA do, by the way, who's on the call for Sounders Timbers. We are going to be talking extensively about Sounders Timbers with both of them.
We're gonna be really spending the entire last half hour of the show previewing that game. How the Sounders can shut down Evander, how the Sounders want to play this game against a Portland team that has been in the run and gun.
Mode for so much of the year, but it's playing more defensively of late.
We will really break down every angle of Sounders Timbers on Decision Day. A game where the winner gets Cascadia Cup. A tie will send it to Portland. So we're gonna be spending a lot of time later on tonight talking about Sounders Timbers. But we lead tonight with what was really the breaking news yesterday morning that for the Club World Cup in twenty twenty five, and yes, we are getting the World Cup in twenty twenty six. Six games in the World Cup.
What is it?
I think it's four group stays matches and two knockout round matches, which if the United States were to win their group and things fell and they won again, I believe that that next round quarter five final game would be the United States playing in Seattle, by the way, But alas it is six matches in the World Cup in twenty twenty six. We are also having the Club World Cup come to Seattle in twenty twenty five next year.
And we learned about a week and a half two weeks ago that all three of the Sounders group stage Club World Cup matches will be played at lumen Field if they make it through the group stage. Who knows, but we do know three group stage matches for the Sounders playing at home. We will also get three more
matches in the Club World Cup at Lumenfield. No idea if those are gonna be knockout round games or group stage games, but Lumenfield will be hosting six total Club World Cup matches next year, which is just incredible as you're gonna be hearing in the audio in just a moment.
We know that there will be a temporary grass surface for both in twenty twenty six for the World Cup and and a temporary grass surface a separate temporary grass surface coming down in twenty twenty five next year, so grass services coming to lumen Lots of big, big games. Could see a Bayern, a Real Madrid, a Manchester City
playing the Sounders in a competitive match in Seattle. Now yesterday with this news, we also had the President of FIFA, Jiohnny Infantino, come to Seattle and we got a chance to speak to him. U's local media out there, so I decided, why don't we hear a little bit from the President of FIFA Jiohnny Infantino, right here in Sounders Weekly.
I smushed together the start of his press conference with also the start of the press conference of the CEO of Seattle's World Cup bid, Peedo Toamasala, as well as Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer. You're gonna hear a few voices here talking about the big news of Seattle hosting six games in the Club World Cup. Here is to start FIFA President Jihnny Infantino.
Thanks for for being here and for me. It's it's a great pleasure to be here as well. First time in Seattle. I arrived yesterday, visited Luvenfield, great arena, very special arena, which has a special soul, a special heart inside. I mean you you can feel that when you go in some stadiums, right, they don't have to be the biggest or most special. This one is very special and it was empty, so I cannot imagine how it will
be when it will be full. And it will be full not just for what you call football, but also for what we call football, which is what you call soccer. It will be full for soccer games next summer, definitely well certainly as well this year for the playoffs and what have you. But next summer for the FIFA Club
All Cups, six games will take place in Seattle. The thirty two best clubs in the world will participate, including the Seattle Saunders, and the three games of the Seattle Saunders in the group stage will be played as well in lumen Field, so three home games. We want to have sixty nine thousand fans cheering for their clubs beating. I heard there was a there is a discussion about the world record in making noise in the stadium or something like that. So we will get it back to Seattle.
That's the objective. And then of course the year after the World Cup as well, six game including six games including the second match of the US national team. So we're ready, you know, to welcome. I met today the governor, the mayors, ready to welcome the world to Washington, to Seattle, to this whole area. Because that's what will happen. We'll have hundreds of thousands of people, I mean, in total for the World Cup, between five and ten million fans
will travel to the US. For the Club World Cup. It will be a little bit less but very similar numbers as well of fans who want to come and enjoy the game, and this will be for me part of the legacy we want to leave as well. We are not just here to organize tournaments and events, but we are here to grow the game, to make it become number one not just around the world, but also
in this country for men's football, for women's football. We are discussing about the reign as well, which is a great team we have now the Under seventeen World Cup taking place in not far from here in Dominican Republic, where the US under seventeen team is playing, including a player from Seattle. So a lot of discussions and a lot of good vibes.
From what you saw here in the city.
What's your level of confidence that Seattle can host two major global events like this.
I'm extremely extremely confident. I mean, the commitment I've witnessed here from the authorities, from the people is really I mean, I don't want to say unique, because there are sixteen host cities for the World Cup and eleven for the Club World Cup, but it's really very very special and I will definitely use and side and mention Seattle as an example as well to the other host cities of what can be done not just during the events, but also in the leading up after the events.
Having a FIFUS president here.
How exciting is knowing that Seattle is seen in this global respect, in this light when it comes to this game.
It is just such an honor. Honestly, to have both the twenty twenty five Club World Cup and the World Cup in twenty twenty six says a lot about how FIFA, which is, you know, the global governing body of the sport of soccer, how much that respect for our community there is For that, we really felt it. So I'd say we got a chance to show Johnny the stadium yesterday.
We had him here at the long Acre's beautiful facility which will be a home base camp for some lucky nation in twenty twenty six, and also to talk about the World Club World Cup, because you know there's going to be six matches in twenty twenty five. With our six matches in twenty twenty six, that is just an amazing opportunity of his community.
Yeah.
The other thing all at is that he did confirm that the Sounders are his favorite team now, so that can go global.
No, it was great.
It was good, a great visit and it was really nice to spend quality time with he and his team, and you know, for me to give a little history, a little of the story of the Sounders and the Rain and the history of soccer in this region and why it's such a hotbed for the sport was great. Great for him to get context. Obviously he's got a lot of territory to cover with a lot of nations and and the history of football. So yeah, getting some time together was was was really fun.
Will it be a temporary grass field for the Club World Cup? Yeah?
Yeah, the the you know, look, it'll be of higher quality than previous like the sought installations, more technical and technology has changed and evolved, so but yeah, it'll it'll come up after the Club World Cup, as as will the grass after the FIFA World Cup.
Just to quickly clarify, for the temporary glass, is that going down for the Club World Cup and then later again.
For the World war will stay all the way?
No?
No, no, it'll it'll be two separate, separate installations.
Well that's great stuff. Always say it's great stuff. That truly was great stuff there from that trio of men as I kind of put together a couple of those press conferences that was yesterday out at Long Acres. You just heard the voices, of course of Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer, of the CEO of the Sounders and Syrie Sounders, Seattle's World Cup committee, Peter Tom Wizawa, former business president of
the Sounders, of course is Peter. And then who could forget there that first voice you heard is the president of FIFA, Giohnny Infantino. The fact that he was out there watching Sounder practice, you know, being in those conversations. Brian Schmenzer also spoke with us out there and was talking about how he was so formed by the World Cup at a young age. And just you know the fact that we had Infantino here in Seattle and checking out what will be a facility, a home base for
a team in the World Cup. That is so very very cool to have a couple of years. And we'll see what it looks like for the Club World Cup next year. Having six games now, in case you missed the start of the show, that's the breaking news. Six games overall. We have no idea if what that's gonna look like in terms of group stage knockout round. You know how many. We just know that there will be six of them, and three of them will be Sounders games. To have them here in Seattle is pretty darn cool.
And also the fact that we will have grass down four games next summer for the Club World Cup and then again for the World Cup. We knew it was gonna be coming for twenty six, but we are gonna be having it for a portion of twenty twenty five as well. How long and if we the Sounders get to play on grass for a little bit of extra time, we'll see what that looks like. But either way, very very cool to hear that from Adrian Hanauer and all of that news there from Peter Tomisawa and then FFUs
president Gianni Infantino. One more thing before we took a break here and then get back to some Sounders Timbers talk. We've kind of shoved that down.
It's weird.
This is a Sounders Timbers one of the biggest games in Cascadia Cup history. Because the winner gets Cascadia Cup a tie. We'll send it down to Portland. We're gonna be talking about that extensively for the rest of the night. But before we do, one more note and that's that. Twenty twenty five Sounders season memberships are on sale now. You can join the Sounders FC legacy and secure your spot with the best fans in MLS. Becoming a member is the best way to gain access to the club
World Cup we were just talking about. We are working closely with FIFA to get our season members access to tickets, including those three Sounders matches I just mentioned. Members also have access to MLS season pass ticket flexibility, our new training facility and clubhouse, plus more. Learn more at soundersfc dot com, Backslash Tickets, Backslash memberships. Okay, let's talk Sounders, Timbers our guests for the rest of the night, Ari,
Lillienwall and Moad. We're gonna go deep into this match on Saturday that starts next on Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Now back to.
Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders fc CL's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Welcome back Sounders Weekly, Jackson Felts, good to be with you here on this soerrainy Wednesday night, ninety three point three kjr FM. Still coming up here in a little bit, mo Ado Broadcaster MLS Season Pass Apple TV. He'll be on the call for Decision Days Sounders Timbers game. We are going to be talking about that a lot with our guest right here on Sounders Weekly. It's our good friend from mlssoccer dot com. He's a writer and editor there.
He's also host of the podcast Lobbing Scorchers Ari lillianwall Ari, how are you, buddy.
I'm good, Jackson, how are you doing?
I'm good man, I'm good. Before anything else, as we always do here in these show interviews, a hearty congratulations for kicking my butt in fantasy football this week. You abb destroyed me, and as always when we play each other, I will give you the public satisfaction of saying that already absolutely kicked my ass this week.
I appreciate that it's been a rough time season for me so far, so it's always nice to get to get to talk to you, though.
Oh hey, at least we had both of us. Actually, I think you had some sunnier skies. I took the trip down to northern California, had a nice weekend there in San Francisco and Monterey. You were in San Diego. How are the sunny skies away from what is right? Now rainy Seattle.
Oh, I had a great time. I was actually down there for my best friend's wedding and gave my first ever speech at a wedding, So I'm definitely I had a great time in the nice weather.
I imagine the Lobbing Scorches podcast. You know, it gives you a nice bass for some jokes. How did that go for a groomsman speech over the weekend?
Oh, it was excellent. I Like I said, it was my first time, so I was a little nervous for it, but I think it went really well, and I think we didn't which was the most.
Important thing that absolutely is well nobody bombed too much over the weekend. There was only a couple of games because it was the international break, most teams added off. Columbus beat New England for nothing, so I guess the revs bomb. LAFC beat Vancouver two to one, and because l a FC beat Vancouver two to one, are that means that your Seattle Sounders are locked into either the three or four seed in the West, which means they will either be facing Houston, Colorado or Minnesota in that
first round playoff series. First question of the night, real question is how do you rank those three teams in the order of you as a night you personally, but you know, for Sounder fans out there, what order should we be wanting to see those teams come the first round of Houston, Colorado, Minnesota.
Yeah. I think they're all challenging, potentially in different ways. But for me, when I look at it, I would probably either face the Rapids out of any of them, I think, first of all, at a spot in their develop at a spot in their development, they're probably not quite there yet as far as being a true Western Conference contender. But more so than that, I'm just looking at the road records. Houston have won eight games on the road this year. Minnesota's also won eight games on
the road this year. Those two teams tend to travel better, and I also think Houston and Minnesota have been in better form.
As of late.
But really, I don't think there's all that much that differentiates the teams. Basically from five through nine in the West. There's different things. There's pros and cons to facing all of them, but I don't think there's like a strong preference one way or the other.
Frankly interesting, so because the Rapids are your one and then I mean, I look at the record that the Sounders have against Minnesota at least in Seattle, and they just they constantly beat them in when it comes to playing at Lumen Field. So you know, if I can kind of parse it out, would you agree you're looking from your mind and to put ours together at Colorado one, Minnesota two, Houston three.
Well, my only thing with Minnesota is that they've been they've been in a hotter run it for him lately. And also this new forward day signed Kelvin Yoboa is looking very dangerous and he's the type of player it looks like who can make a big difference in a playoff game and can come through with a goal at any time. So I'm looking at that team and that that worries me a little bit more than a Colorado attack that was very productive this year they scored fifty
nine goals. But Boa scares me personally more than Georgie mihailovision Raphael Navarro. But then you got a Houston team also that they can play very good ball on their day. They're probably getting Hector Herrerabak, who they didn't have the last two times those teams played. So yeah, that's kind of the lens that I'm looking at it interesting.
Well, you know, as we look at this entire you know, Western Conference and we kind of run it down and once again, Ari Len was our guest MLA at soccer dot com and he hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers check out wherever you get your podcasts, including the iHeartRadio app. And it's interesting to kind of look at it because you have LA Galaxy and LAFC. They've secured the top two spots in the West. You have Inner Miami and Columbus they've secured their top two spots. In the Eastern Conference,
Sounders are there in third. But you know, you look back at the last I don't know about twelve years of Major League Soccer in the playoffs and it has really consistently felt like number one seeds and even number two seeds. They have faults in some ways here and there.
As we kind of, you know, are a few days away from the playoffs beginning, are we seeing maybe a more top heavy you know in terms of both conferences, a top heavy power in each West and East this year than in years past, Like where does it where it feels like lad both the teams in LA, and it feels like Inner Miami and Columbus sort of are almost chew ins, where in years past that might may not have been the case.
Yeah, I mean, I definitely agree that there's a pretty clear hierarchy at the top of both conferences right now, and I think it's even more pronounced in the East than it is in the West. I think right now, Inner Miami and Columbus have clearly shown that they're the top two teams in the league. They were the ones who were duking it out for the Supporter Shield at
the end of the year. I think this Miami team is about as I've been saying, they're the best MLS team I've ever seen when they're healthy and at the top of their game. I don't think anyone can has ever hit quite the gear that that team is capable of hitting. And then Columbus, you know, they're right there. They've won, they won League's Cup this year, and they're the reigning MLS Cup champions, and they're a very good,
perhaps historically good team in their own right. And then, like you said, in the West, the LA teams have kind of been jostling one and two for a lot of the season here and they're very good, but I don't think there's as much separation between them and maybe three through five in the West as there is in
the East. If you look get the top four in the West, you have the LA teams at one and two, but Seattle in Salt Lake, they're only They're not that far off their paces in terms of points per game. And so while I think the LA teams are definitely the favorite in the West, I could. I think the West is more open in that sense than the East is where I just fully expect Inner Miami and Columbus to be duking it out again, and I think Inner Miami is going to win that.
Yeah, I mean Inner Miami right now. What They're on seventy one points right now and they face New England on Saturday, so it seems like the points record is right there for them to take.
Yeah. No, they could absolutely break it with a win in this last game against the Revs. And this is not a very good New England team that they have to get through to do it. So if I had to put money on it right now, I think they probably do break that record, which is not necessarily surprising.
Which means they would end the season with a twenty two eight and four mark. Four losses in a thirty four game schedule. That is a deserved points record. And to think that they didn't have Messi for you know, half the season is just insane. But here they are on the point of Messi. Obviously, you know, lots of debate over the last week as people got their ballots. I think we debated the MLS MVP conversation. You still
had Kucho last week. Is there anything Messi could do in the final game to earn your vote or is it kind of Kucho with a bullet here no matter what happens in game thirty four.
Well, I've been saying that Messi is honestly, if we're if we're being real about it, he's the MVP of the league. I mean, he's the most valuable player of all time really, But you know we're not voting on that. I do I'm sympathetic to the argument that Messi did not play enough this year just to be in contention for an award like that. I think you do have to play the full season, which is why I'm probably
going to vote for Kucho. But I mean, I see that as a technicality when Messi has been far and away the best player in the league this year, even better than Kucho.
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see kind of I think because you bring up the great point over you know, by playing not enough games, do you really earn that vote? And I think you're gonna see a very interesting vote dynamic. We may have a closer MVP vote this year than we've ever had. And one of the guys that is part of that conversation for MLS MVP is Portland Timbers Evander A. Vander right now is having I hate to say it, but you know, there's no way Sounder fans can can nod.
He's having a spectacular year.
And really, as we begin our sharp vision opponent out look here we are looking ahead to decision Day. It's going to be a five to thirty Providence, Swedish prematch show right after six o'clock will be kickoff a few minutes after six. It'll be over on Sports Radio nine
to fifty kr AM this Saturday. Folks can also watch at MLS Season Pass on the Apple TVP and listen in Spanish language on LRA thirteen sixty so Ari let's talk Portland Timbers, and let's start with a Vander because he is in that MVP discussion race, and the big question I have is how Seattle can stop him, how Siatle can slow him down, and how other teams this season have managed to slow him down.
Yeah, I mean, while you're right, he is in the MVP conversation and deservedly so. He's put up monster numbers this year. But really, when you look at the Portland Timbers, it's all built around to Vander. But they have an all around very good, very productive offense. They scored sixty four goals this year, which was I think third in the West or fourth in the West. So this team can score with anybody. And Evander, I mean, for how to slow him down, it's very not easy to do.
He's probably gonna have his chances, he's gonna have his looks in a given game, and he's very unselfish and he's very good at setting guys up. So this team is not easy to slow down on offense. But there's a reason that they finished in a wildcard spot this year and they find themselves the ninth place going into their decision day, which is that they're very loose on defense.
They gave up fifty five goals. A lot of their games become kind of crazy shootout type of games, and while it's pretty hard to slow them down offensively, you can get at them on defense. And I think really the way to slow them down is to just try and play a run and gun game and outscore them. But like they don't play a lot of grinded out zero zero type games this team. Really they they like to get out and run and the game's become track
meets frequently. So I think without trying to play too much into their hands, you just have to be ready for the reality that they have a lot of firepower, but they also can be exploited at the back.
That was the entire I think basis of the conversation before the Sounders Timbers game down in Portland in what was at the end of August where the Timbers got a one nothing win, was based around and you you look at the previous games where it was just kind of you know, it was the craziness where I think Portland, you know, had to come back and get a four
to four. Maybe they gave up the four to four draw there against Saint Louis, and you had another one a few weeks ago against Salt Lake where it was three to three, and then you know, I because I agree, and these there they have these crazy back and forth, high scoring games. And then I kind of, you know, had my eyes pop out when I've looked at these last few, because in the last three games it was one to one up in Vancouver, it was one one,
Aga one zero. Scuse me, we lost to Austin in Portland and then zero zero against FC Dallas just a little over a week ago. This is a Portland Timbers team that in the last few it feels like they are grinding out more games, and based on the Sounders not scoring on them, you know, a little over a month ago, defensively, it does seem like they have improved.
Yeah, that's actually a good point as far as their recent form. And I think the other thing to keep in mind is that at Darby game, recent form or season long form, all of that tends to go out the window and it doesn't really matter, and you really never know how a game like this is gonna play out, especially with the Cascadia Cup implications and everything on the line.
So these tend to be good games and entertaining games, and it might be a little bit more of a tense dynamic, like you said, with Portland's recent form not playing into that high powered identity as much, and also just the rivalry dynamics that play.
That's an great point too, because you know the fact that this match here for the Sounders, I mean, you have you have so many things on the line here. You have seeding between the three and the four seed, which then affects in the second round facing the Galaxy
or facing LAFC. And obviously, you know, as we talked about first round opponents, you have Portland Timbers trying to I think if I kind of pull up the standings right now in terms of what this looks like, a Portland win could allow them to host that playing game against the Vancouver Whitecaps theoretically, so Portland, you know, playing for home field advantage in that first game of the
playoffs between the eight and the nine seed. You have Cascadia Cup, where if it's a win, the Sounders get it. If the Sounders lose, Portland gets it. If it's a draw, I believe Portland gets it. And oh, by the way, if the Sounders win, tell me if I'm wrong here, but I believe it's a CONCACAF Champions Cup berth.
All of this to say, Ari, this seems to.
Be maybe just maybe the biggest regular season game between the Sounders and Timbers. Dare I say ever, considering all these implications, well, it's certainly.
A big one. And I think another thing to keep in mind too, is that until this year, really Portland had been dominating this rivalry in every capacity. They won a bunch of these games in a row, to the point where we both remember when Brian Schmitzer got really irritated with how much it was stopped feeling like a rivalry because of how much Portland had been consistently getting the better of it. Seattle finally broke that streak by winning at Portland earlier this season, which was that was
a big hurdle for Seattle to get over. But you're also you're playing to kind of change that dynamic back too as well. And I think with what all those factors that you mentioned, if Seattle can win this game and keep momentum that they've had recently going into the playoffs, you could see it gives a team a pretty big morale boost ahead of what they're hoping is a long playoff run too. So yeah, I mean a lot on
the line. And if it's not the biggest game in the history of this rivalry, it's it's up there with one of them. It's gonna be. It's gonna be big time.
Oh man, cannot wait for Saturday. I'll see out there a loo and field. It's gonna be real fun to see. I hope, hope ECS and everybody there in the bro Men comes out with a huge tefo because I can just feel the energy on Saturday. Hopefully it's raining and nasty weather and just I haven't even looked at it yet, but just all setting up for a magical time for
Decision Day, I mean Decision Day overall. I mean, ari is this is really kind of our Christmas, right, I mean the day where you're just turning your head in all the standings are flipping every single second, and teams are going you know, it's a little bit different this year, of course, because the at least the Western Conference, the top four seeds are solidified. But this is one of the I imagine for you too, covers the entire league and you watch everybody, there's so many, you know, other
interests that you have. This has to for you be one of the greatest days of the entire you know sports calendar.
Oh yeah, absolutely, it's awesome and I think the great thing about it this year from Seattle's perspective is a lot of the seating implications are pretty much solidified. You know, there's a question of whether they finish in third or fourth, but it's not like they're playing for a playoffs spot.
That's craziness, right.
So you can kind of just sit back and watch everyone else duke it out and play a big rivalry game, try and hammer down your seating, and then get ready for the playoffs. It's time.
It's gonna be a lot of fun. Man, enjoy it. I'll see at the stadium. We'll talk next week as we begin the playoffs, and I'll get your playoff predictions as we begin it next week.
Sounds good, Thanks, Jax, appreciate it.
It's good stuff there from Ari lulin Wall MLS soccer dot com and check out his podcast again, Lobbing Scorches wherever you get your podcast and all that good Portland talk.
Listen.
This is our sharp Vision Opponent out of presented by Sharp Vision Modern can Lends, the official Lasik provider of Sounders FC. We're gonna continue talking Sounders Timbers. The man who is on the call for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV moa do he will join us and we will talk Sounders Timbers, will talk more about this wild decision Day ahead here in Major League Soccer. Before we take a break, I will quickly tell you that Sounders e FC Soccer is presented by Providence Swedish, the official
healthcare partner of Sounders FC. And we'll continue talking Decision Day that comes up next with Moa dou on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRF.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC Cele's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FL.
Welcome back Sounders Weekly. Good to have you with us here. Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Been spending a lot of time tonight talking Sounders Timbers, and we're gonna continue doing that. Of course, check out the podcast in case you missed anything tonight Ari Lillenwall and then talking Club World Cup earlier on. We'll have ask the next guest here about the Club World Cup coming to Seattle next year. He's gonna be on the call for
Sounders Timbers this Saturday on MLS Season Pass. We welcome back to the show again for the first time in a couple months. Maurice, Adieu, Mo, good to have you back on the show.
Man.
How are you.
I'm doing well? Man, How you doing?
I'm good, I'm good.
Last time we had yon was the night where the rumors finally sort of came to fruition and we saw that Mauricio Pochettino became the United States head coach. It's so funny. I think I saw you at loumin Field afterwards. So funny. How the night we were just kind of positing, could this happen? Could this be a thing? It did happen, and what do you know, just like an hour after we spoke, it became a reality. We now saw it was first time coaching the United States mentioned national team.
What have your impressions been of the higher and what have your impressions been of him?
Now?
Kind of leading this team to their first win.
I mean, it's the power of manifestation, right, we've spoken into existence. Listen, it's since early days, but you know so far, I mean, obviously to win the first game is very important to I guess an opponent that we'd expect to be Panama, But you know, this recent version of the team hasn't always delivered the games that we expect to win. So first and foremost, to get to win in your first game, plot it to him, Plot
it to the players. And just from the impression that you that we've seen so far and some of the comments from the players, of course they're they're going to be they're going to be all positive. But I mean, I'm excited about this hire. I'm excited about the prospects and the direction that this team, this group of players,
and this programs can go. To me, this is the kind of manager that we all as fans wanted, something that was going to get this fan base excited, get these players back on their toes, get everyone now in a position of a little bit of uncomfort, right discomfort to where your position isn't guaranteed. You know, you've got to go out there and earn your strips. Yet again,
it's a new manager, so you have to. It's always about every practice, every game, every opportunity to reinvent yourself and earn that earn a chance to put on that
on that kit. So game one done, next ones against Mexico, which is obviously the biggest game for US in terms of rivalry matches, and so I'm looking forward to seeing a continued progression, hopefully another win, and and you know, very very hopeful and optimistic about what the future can hold, the near future as well as the not so distant future for this program.
I completely share your optimism. Well, I think that's that's that on you use that kind of the phrase, you know, the discomfort and making everybody a little more uncomfortable and getting people out of the comfort zone of we've been in for US soccer for some time. And you said that a couple of months ago, and I think you nailed it saying it again right there. You also mentioned
the rivalry for the United States Mexico coming up. We have an immediate rivalry between the Sounders and Timbers coming up this Saturday, and this match here basically the winner, if the game is is a win one way or another, goes you can get Zkascadi a cup. If it's tie, goes to Portland. And not to mention, lots and lots of seating things on the line for Portland potentially in that playing game for Seattle the three or four seed. This is going to be a massive one here coming
up this weekend. It'll be great to have you at lumen Field. Just how do you look at this game? How do you view the stakes from a national side coming in?
Yeah, I think you started off in the correct way. Caskadi a cup.
Right.
Obviously there's the immediacy of the bragging rights. This is a long tenured rivalry and I think the fact as well that I think it's what twenty seventeen the last time that Seattle won at Luminfield, which sounds crazy even saying that oulloued, But that's added incentive for the Sounders team. And then you go you dive even deeper into the difference and aarios that can play out. Portland's been poor on the road, right, They've been poor on the road
this season, just three wins. So for them to go into a wildcard game having to play on the road, it's a massive different than them playing at home. And it's funny enough because when you talk about these two teams, you celebrate one strength on either side. Right for Portland, you talk about the goal scorer, their attacking player, the Evanders, the Johnson Rodriguez and Felipe Mora Moreno, all these guys in the amount of goals they scored, which has been incredible.
But you talk about them defensively, and they that's what they That's to me is where they have a real chink in their armor. For Seattle, you you constantly talk about how well this team defense, and that's what keeps them in game. Since since League Cup, I think it's what six clean sheets out of eight games, six wins as well. But funny enough, since League's Cup, they've actually scored more goals in the Founders, which I don't think
people realize. And it's a It's an interesting staff because, as I said before, the thing that you point to the most from the from the Portland standpoint is how good they are going forward. So I'm excited to see this class of of of rivals, a class of styles,
class of different strengths. But I think the form that Seattle is in right now, you would kind of nod your head towards them because of the forum, the fact that they're playing at home, the fact that they know and we'll be reminded by every fan by their manager. We haven't won against this team, against his opponent, against this rival in this building since twenty seventeen, and that'll be the kind of carrot dangling in front of them.
So nevlun, we'll be saying to his team, we need to be playing a wildcard game at home, point blank, simples. So the sake today for both, for both sides, and you know myself, Keith Coskin, we love coming and doing these games and look forward to another edition of this, this infamous rivalry.
Yeah, I'm gonna love having Keith back in the building to our former radio voice. He had gave us his voice on this station for a good couple of years, more than a couple of years doing Sounders games, So it'll be great to have him back in the building. There, both of you guys, MLS season pass on Apple TV. Guess right now Maurice Adu Moadu joining us here in Sounders Weekly. And you know you talk about Poland and obviously you know we know the name of Vander and
this amazing season that he's had. The question I have is is just looking at their recent results and playing a lot of low scoring games, I'm wondering, MO, how is the best way to play the Timbers right now? Is it to force it into a running gun, back and forth, high scoring style game or do you want to, you know, try.
To just make this a little bit of a.
You know, not so fun to watch kind of rough game and make them try to get through a little bit of a muck defensively. How would you, if you were a coach of the Sounders, the best kind of setup for how you want this game to go Saturday.
I mean, the fan in me says I want to see running guns. I want to do a six five games something along those lines, and the commentator and me, of course yeah. But if I'm the Sounders, you stick to what works for you. You know, the base of this team and the foundation of this team is being good and being sound defensively. I mentioned in the last eight games and Leeves Cup, five clean sheets, right and they've only can see this five goals in those games.
So that to me, and if you and if you even and extrapolate that over the course of the season, I think they're second right now, maybe just to Charlotte or just above Charlotte in terms of goals allowed this season. So that tells you straight away the base of this team. The success of this team is them being good defensively, first and foremost, and then that gives them the spring board the platform to go on and score goal in which they've shown that they can do as well, sixteen
goals scored since League's Cups. So if I'm the sounder, yeah, first and foremost, how do you keep the vander quiet? How do you limit the chances that Jonathan Rodriguez gets in front of goal? How do you deny the space and behind in the wide areas for Moreno to attack or you know, for their fullback to get higher up the pitch and try to get service into the box. So if you cut that out, well you take away
the biggest strength of this Portland side. And now with that being said, as I said before, they're a team that their weakness is defensively. So if you can take out take where their strength, which is a vendor and his creativity to whether score goals or create goals for others, you now give yourself a chance to win the game, which is obviously the objective for both teams. But to me,
that's the which I would take. And that's not saying that you parked the bus no by no mer, But I'm just saying that in every phase of defending, whether it's one be one defending, whether it's defending set pieces, limiting set pieces, defending in your own box, and then rest defending, meaning when you have the ball, how aware are you to the threat in the transition moments when
the ball turns over. If you get all those things right, Seattle have enough power, they have enough strength, they have enough quality going forward to score goals, and they've shown that. So. Brian Smiser is savvy enough coach, experience enough coach. He's been in this situation numerous times. Beginning the season. So many of us were writing off the Sounders, saying they needed change in terms of personnel, maybe they'd head onto players for too long, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
And here we are, here we are, Here.
We go again.
Sounder's getting hot at the right time, and to me, a lot of that starts with having a manager who knows how to get the best out of his team at the right time. Brian Smencer has shown that yet again.
Mentioned to Vander a couple of minutes ago, He's obviously been a big part of the MLS MVP conversation. I've been saying throughout the last couple of weeks here on this show that I think he's in that second tier of people who are in the running for MLS MVP. Right now, who is your MLS MVP?
And people are gonna hate me for saying this, but to me, it's Massy, right, yep, yeah, And it's I know the I know. The counter to that is the guy hasn't played many games, but the numbers are just appalling and and this is maybe a biased opinion in some ways, but to me, he's the most valuable player, not just to his team but to the league as well. Yep, right, this the the numbers alone, to me, just tell a
story that it's hard to it's hard to replicate. I mean, guys have had lesser numbers than that over the course of a full season. Is one MVP. I mean you go back to let's say Carlos Hill for example, and the numbers that he put up the year that he won MVP, and obviously with with his REP team setting the records for points in the regular season, so all those different factors. So if Miami on and do the same thing and MESSI is a player that's put up
those numbers for his side. To me, it's I don't want to say the no brainer, but it's hard to look past that and build otherwise. But I do love the fact that there are quite a few guys now that have really entered that race and put their name of the hat you mentioned the Vander It's to me, it's actually incredible this season that you put together. At the beginning of the year. I remember Bradley Wright Phillips.
I'll give him a shout out because he was one of those guys who pointed him out and said this guy is he's the best number ten the league. And at the time I was like, wow, good player, Yes, good player for sure, but that's best number ten league on then you're bypassing quite a few guys and do
you know what he's He's backed it up. His numbers have been absolutely incredible and as we were just talking about before, he will be to me, if Portland maker run a deep run into this playoffs, he will be the main reason behind that.
Yeah, I think you nailed it.
Hopefully they don't make a big run and hopefully he isn't the reason behind it, but he obviously could be.
Listen, I think you're dead on with MESSI.
He's my vote as well, because you just look at the goals and assists for ninety minutes. The production's there, and I think you bring up the great point of what he means to this league too. He's the most valuable player by definition. I think absolutely so. So I am one hundred percent in agreement. MO, dude, one more quick one before you this morning or youes to me. Yesterday morning we had the FIFA president, Jonni Afontino, was
out at our Sounders facility. Obviously we're getting the World Cup, but we're also getting the Club World Cup. Six games in Seattle for the Club World Cup next year. Uh, this is a tournament that I'd love, you know, for you. You know, obviously you've played in large, large, you know, contexts and stadiums, and you've been spent many many years in national circles and on national stages. The Club World Cup is a
tournament that has not traditionally been a major tournament. Now that it's expanding, and now that it's becoming a bigger thing, and the Sounders are currently the only only MLS team playing in next year's turn, we'll see if that changes. I'm wondering your level of excitement for the Club World Cup now that it's coming to the US, now that it's expanding, now that it's including an MLS team for the second time, of course, to what a couple of
years ago. What is your level of excitement for the Club World Cup next year.
Yeah, I'm excited, you know, I'm always excited to see to see more and more football, you know, as long as it's as at no detriment or expense to the players.
But I'm excited to see this tournament be played in our country, as you mentioned, has never been done, and a chance to see teams like you know, obviously Sounders are in it, and potentially one more team to be named from from MLS, but you know, teams like eventu is where we have American players to see, like a Bayern Munich, a Man City, Real Madrid or Chelsea's and a whole list of other other teams. I think it's
gonna mix as well. And so a chance to see this kind of competition where the meaning of it has whe their significance to the games being played. They're not just friendly games preseason games. I think that's incredible. I think, you know, fans will get a chance to see some of the biggest players in the world that they usually only get to see from afar or as I said before,
preseason kind of feel to games. So that'll be that to me, will be exciting for fans, and hopefully it's a spearhead of something more valuable and important to come. And again it's almost also a test run for the following summer of.
The World Cup.
And you know, just from a logistic standpoint, managing the kind of fan bases and the crowds that's around that and just getting all that that properly instituted will be important from a structural standpoint, But from the game itself, yeah, I'm just excited to see top level football being played on our on our soil.
Can be real, real fun next summer. I hope to see you out here for one of the big games and have MLS season pass and we'll see how it all looks like. I have a great call coming up this Saturday alongside Keith mo. It was great to have you on the show this week. Safe travels up Seattle. We'll talk real soon.
Sounds good, one man, I appreciate it. Yet again, see you get soon.
It's great stuff there from Moad. Always love having him on. He'll be on the call MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. That is how you can take in Sounders, Timbers, you know, so listen to it in Spanish language on LRA thirteen sixty. But I encourage all of you to listen over on our sister station here on KJR Sports Radio nine fifty KR AM, nine to fifty am this Saturday, five thirty Providence, Swedish premat show kickoff coming just shortly after six o'clock.
That will be an exciting one on Saturday. Winner gets Cascadia Cup, Sounders looking for a three or four seed, Timbers looking to host the playing game. So many things will be decided this coming Saturday. We will talk to you over on nine to fifty am. Have a good rest of your week, everybody, and for right here and right now, Fox Sports Radio is coming up