Coming to you live from our Relliot Avenue studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts. Good evening, everybody, Welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Feltz here, good to be with you on this Wednesday evening, coming at you late tonight. Thank you so much for joining us for what's going to be a busy episode here Sounders Weekly, as it always is a lot to get to and a couple different
directions to go. Of course, we are coming off of a Sounders loss to the San Jose earthquakes this last Saturday down in San Jose. We'll get into that. We're gonna hear from Danny Lava, who got the start for your Sounders in the midfield, alongside Soda Kedahara who had his first career MLS start. Well, So we'll talk to Danny Lava here in a few minutes. In our middle segment tonight, we're gonna go a little bit of a
different direction. Listen. You know it's frustrating what's going on with the Sounders right now. On the not front straighting column, we have the United States men's national team who won the Nations League for CONCA CAFF this last Sunday against Mexico. Congratulations to the United States. We'll dig into a little bit about the victory, but more about a conversation we had last week with United States Soccer CEO JT. Batson. J T. Batson was out at Long Acres
at the Sounders facility last week. We had a big roundtable, long discussion. I was able to ask a few questions and we dug into the subject of the rehiring process of Greg Berhalter as United States head coach. Very interesting comments from JT. Batson about that process. We will hear those comments and other comments. So he was here for the Open Cup game. He was at Memorial Stadium for last week's a US Open Cup between Ballard FC and Spokane
Velocity. I will tell you about that more in around the sound coming up after from JT. Batson. But in that conversation with JT, he'll talk about being there for the Open Cup. He'll talk about the soccer enthusiasm and the in Seattle specifically of course with the United States playing here in the twenty twenty six World Cup. And then you know that hiring process on Burhalter. Interesting comments that I'll react to coming up in a little bit on the show.
And then as always, we will go around the league with Ari Lillionwall, we'll talk some sounders, we'll talk about the LA Galaxy, who Seattle faces this coming Saturday, and quickly I'll give you broadcast details on that. That is going to be a match, another road match for your sounders this Saturday. Now you'll actually be able to hear the broadcast only on digital.
I would encourage you all if you're not already listening to it. If you don't already have it, download the iHeartRadio app and simply look up Sounders FC stream channel and you can even google right now Seattle Sounders FC stream channel on iHeartRadio. You'll see a link there. I've been sending it out all week.
It's the Sounders FC stream channel on iHeartRadio. That's where we are going to be broadcasting Saturday's game Providence, Swedish premat show seven o'clock kickoff seven point thirty, So watch for that on Saturday night Sounders Galaxy and of course you can always watch the match MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. So that's the details for the Galaxy game. We'll dig into the Galaxy with Ari Lillionooil later on, and we'll also ask him about Nicholas Ladero. We haven't
talked yet about how Nico's doing that Orlando City. He had an amazing goal on Saturday for Orlando, so we'll talk to Ari about that as well. A lot to get to from around the sound around the league, United States Men's soccer, and then we start, of course with the Sounders. So it is a three to two loss, and I think this game boiled down and Brian Schmitzer was speaking yesterday and you know, he called San Jose's goals team goals, and I think that's what's most frustrating about it was that it
wasn't just one individual mistake. It was team misses for the goals, and
especially that third goal where the Sounders. Let's just start here. The Sounders give up two goals late in the first half, one right after each other, and that's the first frustration, is the fact that it was very much San Jose just taking over the last five minutes of that first half, boom boom, and you're down to nothing instantly, and it feels like, I mean, both the goals ended up getting reviewed the first goal is good. Second goal they thought wasn't good and they says no, he was on side,
so it is to nothing. So that already going into the half was just like, oh God. But then you bring on Cody Baker, you bring on Danny Mazowski, and the guys off the bench brought the fire. They brought that hunger and the hunger that I mean, I went on a little bit of a mini rant in the postgame show. The hunger that I didn't feel was there, you know, in the first half. They brought on that hunger. The substitutes did Albert Russnak too great seeing him come off
the bench. Brian Schmitzer said yesterday he will be back in the star ring lineup for the Galaxy game. But they brought that hunger off the bench in San Jose and Boom boom two goals and the Sounders get right back in it and make it two to two. But right after they make it to two, San Jose just comes down the right side. They get past Seattle defenders.
One pass breaks four and Bada bing Bata Boom. Jeremy A Bobasi scores and like forty five seconds after the Sounders equalized two to two, San Jose scores and makes it three to two. They go on to win three two, and it's just massive frustration on a lot of fronts. And listen, I mean we dug into it in the postgame show. I will direct you
there to that podcast, to Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts. We post the postgame shows there and Peefe youwing, and I dug into what happened, and it's just frustrating and hopefully we see that fire and we see that fight really show up for this team going forward and in the Galaxy game coming up. But now, Brian Schinzer said, Albert Rusnak back in the starting lineup, no time table for joal Paulo obed Vargas is in concussion protocol.
Leo Chu has a knee injury. It's a tear. He's going to be out three to five weeks. The vibes are not good right now, and hopefully the vibes change very very soon. One guy who had still good vibes, I mean, he was obviously distraught from the loss, but he got the start in San Jose, and that's Danny Leva. Danny Leva was in a good mood. When I spoke with him yesterday out at Long Acres after training. We had a good conversation and I just opened the questioning by asking
him, what's the feeling right now of you and the team? You know, two and two to start the season bottom of the Western Conference. How you feeling about how things are going right now? Yeah, I think it's
not the start we wanted to have. Obviously frustrating, you know, searching for that win and especially being in the the standing is so low, So I think, you know, obviously everyone's frustrated, especially with his recinging, But I think we just got to keep pushing and regroup mentally, and that's what makes a good team, you know'll be able to deal with adversity and
the tough challenges. So I think we just got to focus ahead and try to give a better look and change some things so we can go out and be the team we want to be. What does need to change from the wars against San Jose, Like what happened in that game that you know you need to change? Yeah, I think, you know, the game is obviously like everyone, anyone can be any team, you know, and I think it's just small margins like the goals we gave up were just small details.
You know, off of kickoff, we have that lack of concentration. So I think we just got to do better in those moments. And obviously we've talked about the attacking all year, but I think it comes from everyone, the fluidity without the team, how we move the ball with intention within purpose, you know, trying to find ourselves in better positions, and obviously
the decisions making. You know, we have good quality players, So I think we just got to use him more and make the right decisions and be able to play a little bit more for you know, more creative and play with that instinct that we've played with in the past. Well, you started obviously in a formation where you were next to Soda getting his first MLS start. What did you make of his first game for starters with the Sounders.
Yeah, no, no, I say, good moment for him. I listened to him and proud of him because you know, we came up in the academy together, so obviously having us playing the midfield together is obviously a special moment. So I thought you did really will you know, control the moment? Obviously it's not easy starting away from home and in your first time less game, So I think you did well. You coached it. You know, it was good and bad moments, like like everyone, and I
think, yeah, different for you. Interesting last twelve months obviously with the loan to Colorado and then now back here, you know, getting the start there against San Jose. Just you know, what's this last year been like for you with with the shuffling back and forth and now you know back here in Rave Green. Yeah, it's obviously been a lot of movement, a
lot of adjusting and that thing. Like you said, I was on loan last year with Colorado, so I think that was a good experience for me to know, keep going as a person as a player as well, because different system, different environment, different place, you know, So it was a good, good learning curve for me to continue to grow and add more
to my game. And like you said, now I'm back here. You know, in preseason, I came with the men sally to fight for a spot, and I think that's what I'm doing every day in training, you know, trying to earn that starting shouldn't help out the team and do whatever I can to you know, keep getting better and also improve the team. So that's kind of why what did you learn over there in Colorado? Maybe it was off the field, maybe it was on the field. What did
you pick up over there in your time on loan. Yeah, obviously it's not easy, you know, going to a new environment, meeting new teammates, especially adapting to a new coach, because you know you're starting from zero, I feel like, and over there, it's or anywhere you know you go, especially if you're in a new team, you gotta fight for your position and kind of adjust to the playing style. And I think that's that's
kind of a big thing I learned. You know, over there, we didn't really have the ball much and we weren't really in control of the game. We wanted to be more organized defensively, more structured and look for the counter attacking moments because we had you know, very fast winging, streaky wingers, And I think that's where we focus a lot over there, being able to, you know, once we win the ball first look forward and trying
to attack and get to go as fast as possible. So I think that was the style of play I learned, and obviously on the field that that's a big part of it. That's good stuff there from Danny Lava. We will see if he does indeed return to the bench. Josh Atencio no longer on red card suspension, Albert Russknak back in the lineup. We'll see how Danny Lavia's role changes. But it was good to see him playing out there
and great to catch up with him down there at Long Acres yesterday. We'll take a break here in Sounders Weekly and turn our attention to the United States men's national team. A conversation with US Soccer CEO J. T. Batson, a very interesting comment on the re hiring process of Greg Berhalter. You will hear it, we will react to it. That's next on Sounder's Weekly Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Now back to Sounders Weekly on your
home for sunders FC Cele's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back Sounders Weekly. Good be with you on this Wednesday evening, coming at you after Cracking Weekly. Well, thanks for joining us here tonight and spending that first segment there where we're kind of just you know, decompressing after a Sounders loss that drops the Rave Green. Of course, as we mentioned, the bottom of the Western conference, A lot to fix with this team,
a lot of players that need to get healthy. It's just a tough and a rough situation right now. But thanks for gritting your teeth through it. But listen, we're gonna continue talking Sounders. Well, of course preview the La Galaxy game coming up with Ri lullianwallofmlssoccer dot Com in a little bit, also host of the podcast Lobbing Scorches, So we'll get back on the Sounders front. But listen, we can spend the entire hour just banging our heads
against a wall talking Sounders. I wanted to go in a bit of a different direction for our kind of a featured middle segment this week, and that features a interviews conversation with JT. Batson. He is the CEO of United States Soccer. Obviously, the United States coming off of a very good result on Sunday, the winover Mexico winning CONKA CAF Nations League. Listen on that
note, I think a the United States did what was expected. We all know and we've all kind of understood over honestly last kind of five six years. The United States is very clearly the best team in CONCA CAFF and and Mexico had a run where they were an exceptional team and they were making runs and they were beating the United States consistently. But that tide has certainly turned.
We've seen to you know a little bit in terms of CONCA CAFF and for club level as well, obviously Sounders winning CONCA CAFF in twenty twenty two. We're now seeing a more even club sphere. But on the national side, it's very clear right now that Mexico is not playing well. They're not in good shape and not having good run of form at all. Yes, they got to the final, but listen, I mean, it really is the United States, Mexico and Canada to an extent, and then everybody else.
And right now it's very clear it's the United States over everybody. You know, I know, you can say the semi final against Jamaica was not very impressive. It took all the way until the very end of that game just to equalize and get the thing to add it sound to extra time, excuse me, and then Hodgy Wright took over, of course. But for the United States, I think that listen, winning CONCACAFF Nations League, they did what was expected. They did the bare minimum of winning Conca CAFF,
which is what this team should do. They are very clearly with the talent on this roster from your polisic Raina is a guy. I'm Gino Reina. I was singing his praises and we saw it again. You know, I think that this United States team, for the talent they have, should be expected to go win Nations League, and they should be expected to win by a comfortable margin. They did so in the final. They didn't do so
well in the semi final, but ultimately they got through. But the situation with the United States is the fact that right now we are two years out from the World Cup here in the United States, and this is a team talent wise I just mentioned it is phenomenal. I mean Tyler Matt Adams, what a freaking goal he scored against Mexico. I mean that was brilliant.
So the United States talent wise, that's not the issue. The issue is making sure who is in charge of the United States talent and making sure that that person, which is current head coach Greg Burholter, can get the most out of the United States. And I have been very clear on this show on other podcasts that I don't think Greg Burholter is the right guy. He had his time, he had his chance, and I don't I think they again, they just kind of met the bare expectations of the previous World Cup.
And I think that with the right coach in place, with the experienced and doesn't necessarily need to be an American, but with the right person in place, that person could take the United States program much higher than they are currently and utilize the fantastic talent that's over in the premier league, that's over in Bundesliga and bring out the best of these players. And I don't think Greg is the person to do that. I've been on record as saying that
a number of times. But listen, Greg continues to, you know, do the minimum and win Nations League, which is great. You know, didn't have any sounders on that roster. Should be noted. No Jordan Morris, no Christian rolled on. You know, I don't sure if you'd say that's expected. Josh Attencio got the run in camp with the United States in January. That was cool to see. We'll see about his future potentially for twenty twenty six or oh bet Vargas for example, still a long way off.
From that, But nonetheless, the question of who's the right man for the job is a very interesting and complicated one. So that takes us back to the conversation we had with J. C. Batson. This was out at the Sounders facility at Long Acres last week. Some interesting comments here just on you know, a being here. He was here for Ballard's Open Cup game, the one nothing loss. Unfortunately, as we kind of dip into around the sound Ballard losing one nothing in the Open Cup on a ninety seventh
minute winner from Spokane Velocity at Memorial Stadium. A fantastic result for Spokane on the road, but really tough and a heartbreaking result there for Ballard. But J. T. Batson was there for the Open Cup game at Memorial Stadium. We talked about that. We talked about the state of United States soccer,
you know, looking towards twenty two with the World Cup coming. You know how big of a part is the fact that the United States men's national team is playing here in Seattle. And we talked about Greg Burhlter, We talked about the process re hiring him. This is a little bit later in
this interview. You're gonna hear this interview goes for about ten to eleven minutes, So later in this conversation here with J. T. Batson, you're gonna hear him talk about that process and we'll come back on the other side and we'll react to his comments because there's one comment that is very interesting, so we'll react to that coming on the other side of this. But a lot of good stuff here from J. T. Batson on the Open Cup, on being there, on US Soccer, on Greg Burhalter, A lot
here to get to. So here was once again the United States Soccer CEO J T. Batson. You know, one of the things that is most exciting about, you know, the next run of soccer in this country is, you know, the world is coming to our shores. Obviously, you got Copa America this summer, the men's Club World Cup, You've got the Men's World Cup in twenty six. We're bidding for the women's rold Cup in twenty seven, which we're incredibly, incredibly excited about. Uh, and then
you've got the LA Olympics. So there's an incredible opportunity to bring people into our sport. And a big part of bringing people into the sport is is making sure that they know about it, they have access, they're well informed, they understand the stories, they understand what's going on and feel connected to it. And obviously y'all play a critical role in that. And I remember growing up in Augusta, Georgia, you couldn't get soccer in a newspaper to
save your life. You know. Now I'm living New York. You flip through the New York Times and they've got full page spreads on soccer. So we've come a long way, but we got a long way to go, and we want to play our our part and helping bring that to life. Did I see you were at the Ballord Open Cup game? Lest I was? It was? It was? It was with Roger back there. Yeah, so how is that? I mean the facility obviously Memorial getting redone soon, but just in terms of being at a place where you have a club
to third year like Ballard, what was that environment like? It was awesome? It was so much fun. I mean last night was was great. The I mean, the historic stadium, the sort of the crowd was was incredibly well informed. Uh was obviously, uh, you know, was there to have a great time. It was a fun game to watch. Ballard had some real chances in the first half whenever we thought on a on a
cross and a header that they had scored. So it was great and and to me, it's sort of a celebration of of all the great things about American soccer. So young ownership group, you know, pushing, pushing the envelope, trying to do cool things. You know, I grew up going to Charleston Battery games, at Atlanta Ruckus, then Atlanta silver Back games, and so you know, sort of local professional soccer, uh is you know,
sort of what makes American soccer great. Uh And obviously you've got uh Major League Soccer and NWSL owners investing literally billions of dollars in infrastructure and in player development, coaching development, fan experiences, which is amazing. But we
also have have communities all over the country investing in soccer. And and you know, I fervently believe that with the run of soccer over the next five or six years that they're going to see more and more opportunities for local professional
soccer, local semi pro soccer in communities all over the country. And and that's something that that yeah, everyone should have access to it, and here especially I mean if the local enthusiasm for soccer is something that certainly US Soccer is aware of a need to have coming to twenty twenty six, having the US team play here absolutely the as you'll know, you know, a number of our men, our men's team and Guitar was one of the youngest ever
to play in a World Cup. So a lot of those guys that never had a chance to play here in Seattle, and I can assure you they are very excited about about being here and how rowdy they are expecting it to be. Uh, And so they are very much counting on a sort of a home team environment here. And one that is going to be really important is as we set ourselves up for success in twenty six and and you know, set new standards for for what you know, men's soccer can look like
in this country. I want to ask you about Seattle in particular from your perspective from US Soccer, what's unique about Seattle that can be replicated in other cities and why Seattle for twenty twenty six. Well, I think the you know, the the culture, the soccer culture in Seattle and obviously the Pacific Northwest, you know, is is sort of you know, legend and sort
of American soccer. And I think, you know, one of the things that that you know, Seattle has by virtue of you know, stadium where it is and what that means from a sort of a fan accessibility and the whole game day experience is something that I think inspired a lot of communities across the country and you know, has led to a lot of the moves that have happened, you know, with regards to stadiums and how people have built
a very intentional fan culture, which is which is incredible. Uh, you know why Seattle for twenty six, I mean it's it's pretty obvious what the you know, the game day environment is gonna be unreal. Uh and the you've got, you know, as as evidenced by last night. I mean you had thousands of folks there to watch to watch the you know, first
round of the Open Cup. You know, we were Roger and I were sitting in between some fans that they knew Roger was, They had no idea who I was, and and uh, you know, hearing the hearing them talk about the game, and you know, you know, we thought a little harshly critique some of the shape and format of some of the players given
us a little early in the season too uh to do that. But you you know, you've got knowledgeable fans who care and a lot of that thanks to y'all because you do a great job of educating, uh educating the market. But but yeah, it's gonna be amazing. And you know, I said earlier, I know, you know, the guys are fired up about
it, and and you know Greg as well. JK. Before time U up to pretty quickly got to ask you about your perspective on the rehiring of Greg Burnhalter, that process to go through another candidate pool and then come back to Greg. How did that whole process function that ended up going back to the same guy you had then previously? Sure, so the you know,
as you probably remember, our prior sporting director is Ernie Stewart. Ernie Stewart decided to move back to Holland to be a PSV where he's been signing quite a few American players and it's working well for them because they're they're likely going to win this year. We said that we were going to hire a sporting director first and then that person would drive the hiring of our national team. Coach. So we went out and did a global search. We hired Matt
Crocker to be our sporting director. Matt then ran the process for hiring the men's coach. And at the end of that process, I remember I got off a train and Penn Station walked over to the hotel where Matt was doing interviews with everyone, and he said, you know, we've got our guy. He said, who is it? And he shared and and you know, we're incredibly excited about Greg. And you know, I don't know if
you I've seen some of the comments out of the team this week. Uh. You know the you know, Greg and staff build an incredible culture within that group. Uh. Going into guitar, the you know, I was relatively new. I was very new to the organization. Not relatively, I was very new to the organization, and it was incredibly apparent how tight that
group was and how everyone was bought in. Uh. And Uh, you know, I know they're excited about you know, they had a good run in guitar, but they're excited about having a great run here at home. And they know the expectations are high. Uh, and you know they they want to live up to them. Greg and and and staff and and all
the players. So uh so, yeah, so Matt ran that process and and similar to you know, almost the exact same process for hiring a women's coach where obviously we we landed on Emma Hayes and we're excited about her starting uh here here in May. So it sounds like it regardless of of Berhalter having a first time with the national team, it sounds like that higher ber Alder would have been made regardless because it sounded like it was a total fresh
person. It was a brand new person who was new to or a market who And so, you know, one of the things that was new to me coming into to the role, you know, lifetime soccer person, you know, sort of you know, I underappreciated how different the role is as a national team coach versus a club team coach. And one of the things that Matt did a really good job of was outlining the duties and the expectations
of the coach. And you know, if any of you have been a part of hiring processes, it's always helpful when your boss tells you what the expectations are of the role up front, so you can decide whether or not that's exciting to you. And I think there are a number of people on the men's and women's side who you know, when that the idea of being the coach of the you know, US national team is very compelling, it's exciting. But when you actually, you know, understand what the role entails,
you know, maybe you realize that's not for you. And so I think a big part of where you know Matt has done a really good job is is really clarifying, Hey, here are expectations, here's what the role is, and here's what's involved, and you've got to be willing to sign up for all of it, not just part of it. And you know, Greg absolutely is fully bought in in that regard and that was a big part of the selling point to Emma and why she joined is she's excited about
the full part of it, not not just part of it. So good question. So that's J T. Batson. He is once again the CEO of United States Soccer. Really good comments there on a lot of different fronts. But I mentioned, you know before we heard all that and obviously great stuff on the Open Cup and he was there of course for ballers who can But the part that I want to kind of key on and react to is
his comments there on the process bringing back Greg Burhalter. And you may have heard I followed up with that side question of wait, well, it sounds like you're saying that Greg Burhalter would have been the higher by Matt Crocker, the United States Sporting Director. He would have been the higher regardless of having
a first time with the United States. And this is the comment I want to once again read it again, and I want to kind of dive a little bit deeper into this right here where he says one of the things that Matt did a really good job of was outlining the duties and the expectations of the coach. And if you've been part of any hiring process, it's always helpful when your boss tells you what the expectations are of the role up front,
so you can decide whether or not that's exciting to you. And I think there were a number of people on the men's and women's side who, while the idea of being coach of the US national team is very compelling, it's exciting, but when you actually understand what the role entails, maybe you
realize that's not for you. So I think a big part of where Matt has done a really good job is clarifying, Hey, here are your expectations, here's what the role is, and here's what's involved, and you've got to be willing to sign up for all of it, not just part of
it. And Greg absolutely is fully bought in. So the middle part of that right there, where he's saying that a number of people you know, said, you know, all right, Apparently I'm just kind of trying to read between the lines here, and he clearly says that there were a number of people who found the job exciting compelling, but when they found out exactly what the expectations were from Matt Crocker, US sporting Director, it sounds like
they're saying, nah, it ain't for me. So what I take from that, very bluntly and very clearly is Greg Burholter was not the first choice. And when he says when that, when see me when J. T. Batson says, I think there were a number of people who basically took a look at the job, thought it was exciting, found out the expectations, said no, that ain't for me. I think when you look at
that, that's not just that Greg Burholter was the second choice. Greg Burholter may not have been the first, second or third choice, depending on what that a number of people means. So Greg Burholter right now, it seems like he's the fallback option. What we learned from J. T. Batson right there is very clearly Greg Burholter was a fallback option for US Soccer. He was not the guy. He was not Crocker's guy. He doesn't sound
like he was the the Federation's guy. As we're bringing a black Burhalter. He's the guy. He's the right guy for the job. It sounds like they've got a number of people in the building who, when they looked at the expectations, just said, that's what you're expecting, that's what this job
entails. No, I don't want that. And I would take a wild guess that the people who were up and in that building and saying those things were probably some pretty darn good head coaches who may have been the ones that I've been saying all along could have taken this United States managed national team to the next level. They could have taken this program, taken this talent that's
there. You're polistic, you're Adams yourana and built them into the best players that they can be and make the United States not only a program that meets the expectations. They met the expectation of winning Nations League, they met the expectation of getting out of the group stage in the World Cup. Not even just meet those expectations, but take this program beyond those expectations. Those type of coaches who said no to this job, it seems those are the type
of guys I think and listen. In terms of names, it's a great question, and I have my list of names who I wanted to see take over the program. My number one name was Jesse Marsh, the guy from you formerly Leeds United. I thought that Jesse Marsh was going to be the guy. He's an American, makes a lot of sense. And listen, you know, I think that Marsh may have been one of those guys who said, wait, that's what you want, that's your expectations for this job.
No, I don't want that. And I would then ask Matt Crocker, what the heck are your expectations for this program? What are you outlining the coaches potential coaches that make them say no, I don't want that,
Because very clearly from JT. Batson's answer there, it's an issue with what's being expected of these coaches, and I fundamentally would wonder what's on that sheet, what's in those meetings being said that makes guys, maybe like Jesse Marsh maybe others non American coaches as well, say no, I don't want that job, and that's why they had to fall back on Greg Burholter. Because what I take from J. T. Batson, I mean very clear is
Greg Burholter was the fallback option. And while they are defending him, and while they are standing by him, et cetera, et cetera, it does not sound like internally he was the first, second, maybe not even third guy in the list if J. T. Batson saying a number of people found the job exciting, compelling, but when they found out what the job
entails, they were like nah. So very interesting comments there, as we have now seemingly learned that Greg Burhlter was was not the top option for this federation, and it took a lot of people saying no for Burholt to be
back as head coach of the United States men's national team. So that's where we sit right now, and listen, I know, I'm a fan of you as Sucker, I have no choice but to you know, back Greg Burholter now, and you know, hope that he does the best, but it's discouraging to know that he was not the number one guy for the federation if that is you know, indeed, J T. Batson these words here and his answer is correct and if we're reading into that correctly, and I
don't know another way to read into what he just said. So there you go. Well, let's shift gears shift the frustration of the United States and then's national team. Not really frustration because they did win Nations League. You know, frustration more with the fact that Greg Burholter as a coach. But nonetheless I'm not too frustrated. They did win on Sunday. They did win Nations League, so that's great. But it is still slightly frustrating hearing that
answer. And even more frustrating is the Seattle Sounders right now. So let's shift our gears back to the Seattle Sounders really quick. For around the sound we'll quickly mention Rain. Unfortunately with a loss over the weekend. I believe that was to Chicago. You also had, as I mentioned, Ballard FC
falling in the Open Cup Tacoma Defiance. Great start of the year. They have back to back wins, a four to two win on Sunday night over at Starfire Stadium where Tacoma is still playing out of so great start for Erve and Tacoma and they are off looking very very good here to start too twenty four. So I wanted to give you a little bit of around the sound there, but we'll switch gears from around the Sound to around the League.
Ari Lillianwall joins us next on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. 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. Good to have you with us on this Wednesday evening. Thanks to you spent that time on that last segment listening to J. T. Batson and my reaction there in the United States soccer CEO and his comments, the very interesting ones about the hiring the
rehiring of Greg Burhalter. Congratulations to the United States, but it's the interesting thoughts there on from J. T. Batson on Greg Burrhalter. Maybe another time we can get to Ari Lillionwall's take on that, but joining us right now is the writer and editor for eminis Soccer dot com and the host of the podcast Lobbing Scorcheres. Ari back on Sounders Weekly. Good evening, my friend, how are you. I'm good, Jackson, good to be back.
Good to have you all. Ari listen, I want to really quickly turn the page and talk Sounders. But before we do, I just got done with you know, a United States Soccer segment that went about twenty plus minutes or so, and listen to the club obviously winning Nations League and beating Mexico two nothing. Where do you see the state of the United States Soccer right now? I kind of outlined it as they did the expected, But you know, what do you seeing from this team that barely got bass Jamaica
and then kind of dominated Mexico in the final. Yeah. I still think this is the most talented player pool that we've ever had, uh and it does still feel at times that we're performing below the sum of our parts. I think the Jamaica game was a good example of that. But in the Mexico game, you can see flashes of the potential and what these players are capable of when they're playing at their peak level, and you know, I just I still really enjoy watching players like Geo Reina come into their own.
He was dominant in these two games at times. Two assists in the Jamaica game and then a really nice goal in the Mexico game. So you still see the potential, but you would still like to see them be able to perform at their top level more consistently than we do see them. But overall, I feel very good about the talent level in the future of the team.
You just want to see more consistency. I guess one hundred percent agree with you, and that's why kind of I outlined, you know, as we heard from j T Bats in the previous segment, that a number of people, when they were in the hiring process for head coach, you know, said this is exciting, it's a compelling job. But when they looked at the expectations, it doesn't sound like they were fully bought in for what
Matt Crocker, the sporting director, had expected of the program. So that's why they had to kind of fall back on Greg Burholter, it seems. So I'm with you there, and I just wonder if Burhalter is the right guy to get the most out of this talented squad. And that's a question for another day. But yeah, it's an interesting one with US Soccer. It's it's the mix of happy that they won Sunday, but are we really getting the most we should out of this team? Ari Leullian was our guest
MLS soccer dot Com lobbing scorchers. Ari, let's turn our attention to MLS and the Sounders a loss to San Jose in what could have very much been a result on the road, a point on the road after they were down to nothing got to two. Two seconds later San Jose made it three to two. Man, the frustrations of this team right now. You know, just when we think we can't get more frustrated, we find a way to get more frustrated. You know. Yeah, I think in a season of
frustrating results so far, this was the most frustrating. I think the most frustrating thing about it is, you know, we've talked a lot about this team struggles in attack, but they've been a very good defensive team. Even last year when they were struggling, they were still defending very well for the most part. And the defending in this game was. I mean, that
was what lost them the game. You had two different goals where one of them occurred directly after they had conceded the first goal, which can't happen, and then the other one came on the ensuing kickoff after they scored the equalizer, which also just can't happen. So if you have, if you can see one goal like that in a game, that's going to be a tough film session. And they had that happened two separate times, the second time
to lose the game. So I mean, I still think that this is a defense that can be counted on to defend at a high level week in week out, but it just didn't happen in this game. And overall, I think you're just biding time right now until you can get your personnel back to a place where you have Jaopolo and Albert Rusnak to name two, back in the fold, and hope that that gets you back on track. But definitely zero two and two is not where you expect or want to be through
through four games. And our producer anders Hurst had a funny joke where he asked off the air, he said, who finds their offense first? You know, the Seattle Craft or the Seattle Sounders. And it's a good one and a fun one. And because I agree with you, the Sounders will find their offense. I think when this team gets healthy, and right now it's just such a question mark of when this team gets healthy, and we
still don't have clarity on Chul Paulo. We know it'll be a while, and Pedro del Levega, we know it'll be you know, five or so weeks per Brian Spencer. So it's gonna be a while for this Sounders team. And Ari listen, the frustrations may grow this weekend because we begin our sharp vision opponent outlook. We look at the La Galaxy coming up this Saturday.
It's gonna be a by the way, seven o'clock Providence. We just pre match show seven thirty kickoff and that'll exist on the Sounders FC stream channel on iHeartRadio. If you just look up Sounders FC stream channel iHeartRadio, you'll find our broadcast seven o'clock pre match seven thirty kickoff. You can also listen in l Ray thirteen sixty and watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and ARI. This is a Galaxy team that they are flying high right now.
Second in the Western Colmen. They got to comeback win. Maybe you can tell us a little bit about that over the weekend. It's a Galaxy team that is playing far different from the Galaxy teams of recent years, aren't they. Yeah, well, yes, and no. I would say this is not the team that you want to be facing right now, necessarily if you're Seattle, because they have other than maybe Inner Miami. When they're playing at their peak level. This is the best and most dynamic attack in the league.
In the early season. You've got two new designated player wingers, Joseph Painzill and Gabriel Pek. Paintil in particular has looked incredible for them. He's added a whole new element to their attack. And they have Dan Jobolich, who's the hottest number nine in the league right now. He has five goals, So they are flying on offense. They have not solved very much, if at all, their problems on the defensive side, however, and that's
where at times it has looked like the Galaxy of old. In that in Kansas City game that you mentioned, they went down to zero and then they scored three unanswered to win it. So it was a great comeback for them. But they have been conceding goals a fair amount this year and ill timed goals kind of like they have in years past, so you can get at
them on defense still, and they haven't been holding leads very well. Like I said, they've been conceding goals at very inopportune times, but they've managed to still pull results because they look so electric on offense, so they're gonna be tough to stop. I will tell you that painTill looks like one of the best signings that any team made over the offseason. And Joblich is scoring goals for fun right now. So it is definitely a very hot team and
not a team that's going to be easy to beat on the road. Interesting, Okay, Well, good to know that their defense is poor because now the Sounders where they've been poor as obviously on the offensive end, and if we can get some run there and utilize a poor defense, we could see, you know, a three to two type game. Any points that could come on the road would be very helpful. But yeah, certainly an attack with Jackson, Reagan, Yamar Alex Roldan Knew who need a big game out
of all of them? In order to stop that La Galaxy attack. Great insight there and our opponent Alec Tonight was presented by Sharp Vision, Modern Liask and Lens, the official Lasik provider of Sounders FC ARI. Let's jump around a little bit across MLS. We haven't talked once this year about Orlando City, which was of course the new home of Nicholas Ladero, which where he ended up after departing the Sounders after last season. I know something happened this
last weekend. How's Nico doing down there in Orlando. Well, he scored an incredible free kick in their last game and he also had another goal for them in CONCACAF Champions Cup, So Nko is doing pretty well. A couple goals for him to start his Orlando City career. They haven't been performing all that well as a team, so I don't know how much of an impact his signing has had on them results wise. They only have four points so far, they're one three and one, but he certainly has had a couple
of nice goals. Looks like it's going to be a good signing for them, and they're also a team that I would expect them to get back on track from where they are early in this season. It's a team that pulled sixty plus points last year and came in second in the Supporter Shield standing, So my money would be on them riding the ship, but they definitely had a slow start. Ari, I want to stay in the Eastern Conference and talk to you about what we saw between New York Red Bulls and Miami.
You know, Lewis Morgan was just named a couple of days ago Player of the Week in Major League Soccer. I know he got a hat trick, but it was so funny. I saw the score line where New York wins four nothing over Miami, and I thought to myself, well, okay, this is obviously a you know, international window, and you know Miami is missing a bunch of players. And I opened up the line and opened up the lineups, and Miami wasn't missing all but Messy right, he was the
only guy gone, and they still got absolutely whooped. Yeah they did. I don't know how much I read into it as far as inner Miami's stock. It was it was pouring rain at Red Bull Arena and they're dealing with a lot of fixture congestion, So them dropping this game wasn't as much of a surprise to me the fact that they lost four zero and gave up a hat trick to Lewis Morgan, who's, you know, a good MLS player, but he's not dropping the hat tricks every week on a normal week.
But it was surprising to see them get worked that badly by a Red Bulls team that is playing pretty good soccer to begin the season. But I don't think many people have pegged them as an MLS Cup contender. They're working in a new coach, but you know, I do think it kind of it kind of me made me made me think higher of the Red Bulls because they didn't have a Neil Neil Forstburg their new DP in this game, and they still be inter Miami for zero, and like you said, Inner Miami had
all their big dogs except for MESSI, So I think. I mean, I still think Inter Miami at their best is probably the best team in the league. And this doesn't really change my thinking on that much, but it did make me think that the Red Bulls might be more of a factor in the East than people might have thought going into the season. Ari last thing for you here and Ari Lion Walls with us. He is once again the writer and editor for MLS Soccer dot com, host of the podcast Lobbing Scorches,
where Ari has put out a new episode ahead of Sounders Galaxy. Make sure you check out Lobbing Scorches wherever you get your podcasts. But Ari. On the referee front, we have a deal. Finally, we have a deal. The long lockout is over four games in for your Sounders, what six match days in for the league? But Ari. This weekend, according to the staban from Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer, we are going to have the top flight refs back for our games. It's good to
have the revs back, isn't it. Yeah, it's fantastic to hear Jackson. I think we can all agree that the replacement referee situation is not necessarily something that we wanted to continue watching. So I'm very happy to hear that. And yeah, hopefully we'll see more control over these games and less controversial calls for the rest of the season here, hopefully. So I would hope we'd see that. Indeed, we'll see what it looks like Saturday for Sounders
Galaxy. But thanks again, man, I appreciate your time as always and we'll talk next week. Thanks Jackson, appreciate it. It's good stuff there from Ari Lullionwall, MLS Soccer dot com and Lobbing Scortress. Check out his podcast well. Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence, Swedish official healthcare partner of Sounders FC, and that will do it for our show tonight. We
want to thank all of you for listening. Has been a great show and good to kind of step aside from MLS and talk from US soccer there I have you know, we have frustrations with the Sounders obviously, and while it's great to see the United States, you know, doing what's expected when Nations League, I still have frustrations with the head coaching situation two years out from the World Cup, but good to cover all those bases. Check out a
podcast for our show in case you missed anything. Look up Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts, including the iHeartRadio app, and we will talk to you this Saturday over on our stream channel. It's going to be a seven o'clock Providence Swedish pre match show and seven thirty kickoff as the Sounders are down in Los Angeles to face as Ari was talking about that La Galaxy team where their attack is flying. Right now, you can listen once again Sounders FC's
stream channel on iHeartRadio seven o'clock pre seven thirty kick. You can also watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and listen in Spanish language on LRA thirteen sixty. So we will talk to you on Saturday over on our stream channel. Have a good rest of your week everybody, and Fox Sports Radio is coming up next.