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 Felts here on this special Monday edition here of Sounders Weekly. I think we're on Monday tonight and we're also on next Monday evening. Just lots of other programming coming on here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. So doing
a Monday addition here as Sounders Weekly. As we are just a little bit reacting to the two nothing loss for your sounders at Real As Salt Lake this last weekend and looking ahead to a very very busy week of action for your sounders coming up. We of course have the Conka CAFF Champions Cup action against Cruise Azol
on Wednesday. No radio broadcast for that, but it will be a seven thirty kickoff against Cruisesol in the first leg of the Round of sixteen at Loomin Field and then LAFC coming up that is gonna be on Saturday, that one thirty kickoff also at Luminfield. Jake zivin Men calling the match for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. He'll join us later on tonight to preview LAFC. We'll also go around MLS with Ari Lillienwall from Major League
Soccer dot Com in the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. But we gotta start by talking Cruisie and then maybe a quick thought on what we saw against Raal sal Lacas. Joining us off the top of the show tonight on the phone right now here. It's a pleasure to have on our very good friend Nico Moreno of l Polso. He
does work for Sounder at heart. He is the Swiss army knife who does so much reporting and great inside information into not only what's going on with the Sounders but really international soccer as well.
Nico. Pleasure to have you back on Sounders Weekly. My friend, how are you?
I'll thank you for that introdation one man, I'm gonna need you to hide me up for like future events man. But always happy to be on KJR. Love your audience, love your show. Ben So excited to come in here and perhaps give a little context to this upcoming game that it's gonna be a difficult one, but one that I feel like a lot of fans are gonna enjoy.
Yeah, no, it's gonna be, I think, a really difficult one on paper at least. And I want to really dig into Cruise a Zoo with you here in a few minutes, because that is a team that, of course we soccer fans know a lot about and how much of a powerhouse they are. For your average Joe sports fan driving around I five right now listening into the show, they're like, Okay, well, who the heck is Cruises All.
Let's dig into that in a few minutes. Let's start with the Sounders, though, let's eat the vegetables right away. I don't want to talk about it that much tonight, but let's just quickly get your two cents on what happened again STARSL two Nothing lost on the road on Saturday with a slightly rotated squad.
I didn't like much of what I saw, did you?
I did not, And I don't know if I'm starting to feel like I was being a little bit too harsh, but I've looked at that game twice and I cannot come off the conclusion that the team looked disjointed and looked plaid.
To start off.
It's not something that I think Brad Metro necessarily agrees with but I that's the way I saw it, And maybe it was some of the rotational mandatory things that you had to do. You know, colonig as his first start on the right side for you on at right fullback.
Then Jay Bell has to commit and play for Jackson Reagan him in, there's some wrest So maybe some of those things had something to do with how it felt luggish and the way that this team had been playing, at least in parts of certain games this season was exciting, was dynamic, was very fluid, and I felt like even defensively, there was a lot of gaps, there was a lot of openings for and our cel team that was struggling right So coming into this game, you kind of felt
like Seattle had the advantage and they had the ability to perhaps win somewhere where you've only won one out of twelve times at ourself, and maybe you were going
to be able to do that. But none of that happened. However, the goals were anomalies, right, I mean, knew who gets another on goal for the Seattle Sounders, and I mean another by We had one against Charlotte obviously at home, and then once that happens the second goal, I feel like it's also the team trying to get that goal back, pushing the lines real high, and it's a one two touch that puts a joggle behind your back line and
he just takes care of business. So all in all, did not like what I saw, But maybe this is something that the team needed. Brian called it a wake up call. Perhaps that's what he could be.
Well, I want to ask you, I know you were out there for Brian Spencer's press conference today. I want to ask you about that in a minute. But I couldn't agree more and disjointed in flat were two of the exact words we used on the postgame show on Saturday. Because it looked like it was the first game of the season. I mean, it looked like we hadn't played
three games and looked good in three games. I mean, if you had told me just you know, you know, blindly, that this was the first anybody played of twenty twenty five, I would believe it because it was just very flat. And you know, the troubling thing, as you mentioned there,
the goals. I mean, all every goal that the Sounders have given up so far this year have been absolutely preventable, and in this one too, I mean the new own goal, just like, what are you thinking there with with the you know you sure if you didn't hear Stephan fry I totally understand that. But if you don't hear Stephan Frye, you headed out, you don't head it down and onto the frame of your own goal.
So just every goal being.
You know, one that was preventable that we've given up so far is massively frustrating. But Brian Spencer, you said it, he said today wake up call. What else did Brian Schenzer say it as press conference? What information did you get as we are now just a couple of days away from Conker CAF Champions Cup Round of sixteen Leg one.
Yeah, well he said that after the game. They're in the posium conference today. He could have pushed back a little bit and that's why I was a little taken back by the fact that he did not think that team was luggish, and he did not think the team was disjointed and the team created and to his point, the team did create three opportunities that essentially you could have scored on. You know, Jordan had a couple, Ohvid had one.
I thought that.
Manongu got himself in some very good decisions, but just wasn't sharp there decision making wise, and just simply his service on the ball. So he just pushed back on the fact that the team perhaps played better than we were kind of putting it out to be another team. That was interesting that he said was that the team in general census if you take away you know that mistake,
I knew who and other things. He feels like he put the best group in lineup out there for that particular game, which to me, like I had a different take on. It was a little bit surprising. But you know he has guys back, so that's exciting.
Yeah.
Well, I mean, ultimately you have to rotate a little bit considering what you're gonna be up against on Wednesday. Once again, Nico Moreno is our guest here to lead off Sounders Weekly on this special Monday night show talking all things Sounders FC Soccer. Nico is a writer reporter. He does everything for El Polso and Sounder at Hart as well, and Nico, you are so dialed into the
international soccer game as well. On this part of the dimission, you see this part of the globe around the entire globe, and you know, Cruise a Zool is a team that the Sounders are facing here in the round of sixteen. Leg one is gonna be this Wednesday. I believe Legs two is next Tuesday. On the road they're in Mexico.
So my question to lead off this conversation about Cruise Zoel, because you know a lot about them, is that I think a lot of in depth soccer fans like you and I like many others, know Cruise a Zool as a Mexican power, but I guess put it in the context of how large of a club this is on the landscape of Lega mchis and on the landscape is of North American soccer.
Look, they're called well, no its grandes, one of the greats. They are one of the top fan bases, top teams, nine titles. They do carry that benefit of being one of the main teams for Mexico City, and that gives you a little bit of an in general census. But they do have a huge stigma a being the team
that seems to choke the most. So anytime that you're talking about a team choking, you talk about, oh, the team just crucis soulded because they have so many times within their history, but they've been in a final and one anomaly happens when our thing occurs and all of a sudden, they lose finals. So that's one thing about this team. But they are greatly respected. I expect them to have a huge fan base here in Seattle. And
if we're talking about today's Cruzasoul, they're extremely talented. But all in all, Man, it's without a doubt one of the greats in Mexico.
Okay, so setting that standard is honestly just you hear that and say, okay, this is going to be a challenge over these over the next week or so in leg one and then leg two down there. It kind of reminds me when the Sounders played Club Layon in the twenty twenty two Conker CAF Champions League and we had the first leg here and we got off to a three nothing lead going into the second leg in
Mexico and feeling very good about that situation. My next question is is it possible for a Sounders team to jump out like that to get a three nothing lead going into leg two? Where are the Sounders going to be able to get leon? You or sorry, cruise Azulia think and where is they going to be able to pose a big challenge to Seattle in leg one on Wednesday?
Well, look this for the fol team, and I'm gonna try to be brief because I know that we're in radio and I gotta be concise.
But we got all the time you joined us at the start of the show, my friend, you get as much time as you want.
That's right.
I don't want to get int the promoter's wage, you know, But this is it right here. This team as a very very talented team on the field, but there is a little bit of turmoil, and I'll try to be brief, right This team was the board for U deb funds in week two of Mexicans.
Let's stop right there, Cayln de Bor, who left you dub for Alabama.
You're saying, okay, that.
Is correct week two. Apparently Martine Selmi was talking to Portal in December and in week two he just decides to up and least you say, the players didn't talk
to anybody. He had plans for the future. Actually he decided where the team was going to play because another funny anecdote there, but the squad is that right now, they're homeless, they got no stadium, so they're playing in Tuma Stadium, which the Sounders you know well, So the Founders are ironically going to play the second leg of this particular matchup where they played Tumas in that CCC final,
So a lot to kind of take in there. But all of that has kind of led to a team that has a little bit of turmoil and it's not as a dance in their tactics as it was with their prior coach. We Sent Sanchez is the interim head coach. Done a good job as they're currently at sixth place, but the criticism that's been consistently set about this team is that they're not as dynamic, they're not as fun, and they're not as dominant as they were under the old coach. So that's where I feel like it'd be
interesting to see how they play. They actually are coming up of a one to one draw Admatatlan, which is eleventh place in the Mexican standards, and there is some question mark about that attack specifically where they haven't put up as many goals, although they have a lot of firepower with Jackumakis and Bogots leading that attack.
Wow, so Yaku Maki's from Atlanta United and Bogush of course from LAFC. We are seeing two very recent MS stars there. But it does sound like this is a very gettable team. I mean, my god, just to reiterate, they're homeless, they do not have a home stadium right now. Their coach up and left in the second week of the season for another club. This is I mean, if you're ever gonna face cruise A Zoom Nico, this seems like the time to face Cruise A Zola.
Absolutely, And like I said that, they have not been able to be as dominant with the amount of talent that they have because you look at the roster, you look at the salaries, and this team should be taken over you know, certain teams, and they haven't been able to do it. I'd say that their best the biggest win was against Pachuca and it was not a clear cut victory. It was a two to one victory. So this team has a lot to work and now when it comes to the talent, there is a lot of talent.
Obviously we talked about Boguds. The puvid is kind of be super sub that has the best goal permituted for the team right now. Ratondi is a great veteran, experienced, smart wing back that comes up the left side, and that's where a lot of the problems that they put into teams comes from, is particularly the overlow that that wingback does, the way that Bogus pushes to that side. So they're a team that's very talented defensively, very good defenders.
But one thing that we should be looking at is that Wilder detail, which to me is their best center back without a doubt, and actually the group in position that they have to least them on the depth. What's sick over the weekend, he did not play against massa plan and there's still question so much EASi make the trip to Seattle, so that'll be something to look at without a doubt.
Okay, Nico, this is why we call you up, this is why you are on Sounders weekly. What great information that was. We will again not have a radio broadcast for Wednesday, but now I got I really really want to. That was just the entire opponent outlook for what we're looking at for CRUs Zool on Wednesday here at Loman Field. Buddy, thank you so much for staying up late and joining
us tonight. We really appreciate it. Got to have you back on more on the show this year, especially if we end up facing what what is it Club America or Who's Club America. It's either Chieves Squadalhara or it's Club America. If the Sounders were to get past cruz Azul. So we may be having you back on very soon, my friend, maybe even next week, to continue talking about this. You are so knowledgeable about this club and all of the clubs there in Liga anekis so thank you, my friend.
Appreciate you staying up late and doing this tonight. We will talk to you soon and I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
Thank you for hiring me on man. And hopefully all the fans come out to this particular game, because I promise you that the Kruzizsoul fans.
Will be there.
And you guys got a match set up so losen it to this, So get out there, get you tickets, let's match up those those pregame functions as well.
What do you think?
What do you think their side looks like? Do you think that they travel a good number of thousands of fans and they're kind of stuck up in the corner of the stadium.
I think so.
I think it'll be pretty much like it happens with a lot of this Mexican teams, the top teams, where you do get specific groups with that with and around the stadium because they do have a big fan base here. I mean, this is one of the most popular teams in Mexico. Out in out, there will be a lot of pockets out fans all around this stadium. So Sunder fans gotta show up. They got to buy the tickets otherwise, I guarantee you that there'll be some Cruisies Sol fans all around the stadium.
SOUNDERSFC dot com slash tickets. Everybody buy them up and I'll see on Wednesday out there, Nico, thanks so much for the time. I'll see on Wednesday. Just a one awesome information there from Nico. Glad we could slip in there the fans situation, because yeah, it's a great point that there will be a lot of Mexican fans out there for Cruise a Zuel at the game. Well before we go any further, and of course we got to get to Ari Lullenwall from Major League Soccer dot Com.
The podcast Lobbing Scorchers, as we are going to talk about what's going on around the entire MLS. We'll also get to Jake Zivin, who's gonna be calling Sounders LAFC on Saturday for MLS Season pass. Before we get to both of them, I'll tell you that michelob ultra ninety five calories and two point six grams of carbs. It's only worth it if you enjoy it. We'll have more next on Sounders Weekly coming up on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRF.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Saunders fc cel's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Welcome back Sounders Weekly Monday edition here this week will be on Monday again next week, but we are previewing Sounders cruz Azul coming up with Thanks to Nico Moreno of l Polso and sounder Alhart for joining us in the previous segment.
To preview cruis Azoo. On Wednesday.
We'll talk with Jake Zivin about LAFC coming up on Saturday in the next segment. But joining us right now, ari I think I'm gonna start calling you cat Daddy, Ariy lilienwallt MLS Soccer dot Com. He's a writer and editor. There, he hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. What's up, Cat Daddy?
How are you?
I'm doing well, Jackson. You're right, I am. I am fostering to adopt a cat. But please don't call me that I will.
That's the last time I'll do that. No, congratulations on becoming a cat owner. I'll refrain from the previous phrase.
I appreciate that she's very cute and we're helping rehabilitator over here.
Where can people see pictures? You got your Instagram up and flying with us?
Yeah, I guess you.
Can follow me on Instagram or maybe I'll send him.
Out on Blue Sky, Please Dad, do so. Ari Lillienwall on Blue Sky. We are there as well at Jackson on radio. On Blue Sky. Ari Lillian Wall on Blue Sky as well as Twitter as well. We still exist there, all right, Ari, I want to bounce around MLS. A lot to talk about from the rest of the league, but sadly we have to start with a Sounders loss to RSL again in Sandy, Utah. I asked Nico in the previous segment, neither of us liked what we saw. What did you see out of that game on Saturday?
It was definitely a letdown of a performance.
I think we were all hopeful that the depth of this team.
Has demonstrated over the first couple games leading into this would lead to not having results like this while they're trying to juggle CCC. So I guess for me, the concerning thing is that it kind of looked like they might be falling into the cycle that a lot of MLS teams playing in CCC fall intwo, which is that you can have good form in that tournament, but it's very hard.
To maintain your league form while you're juggling it.
And they, I mean, there was nothing in that game to me to suggest that Seattle is going to have a much easier time of it, which is that's not good because they got they can't be bombing in league play like they did in twenty twenty two this year.
Yeah, no, missing the playoffs in twenty two is okay because you won the damn thing, but yeah, yet to balance that and even the best of them, I mean, LAFC, you know, got to a final, lost to final, and they managed to sort of balance it. So Sounders have that challenge ahead of them as it's back to CONKERCAF action on Wednesday at Loumenfield against cruz Azul. Once again, I'll remind people no radio broadcasts for that, but you
can watch it on FS two. All right, Ari, let's bounce around the rest of the league, and there is a lots to discuss.
First head up, just north of the board.
This game yesterday Sunday, Vancouver hosting the LA Galaxy, the defending champs, and the defending champs are now zero to two. They lost to San Diego in the opener and they lose at Vancouver. But I want to talk more about the white Caps because we're now two games in, Ari, and this white Caps team looks pretty darn good.
Yeah, they definitely. I mean, I think most people kind of picked.
Them to be middle of the pack this year, but they did it.
They had a kind of not that great start to see see see, but now they advanced through and they they got a good win against that Galaxy team. Brian White got the game winner at the last minute. I don't know how much to make of that as Vancouver being good versus LA being really struggling. Right now with all the salary that they've shed and the injuries that they're dealing with. So we'll see, but I definitely don't think that should take away from what you're right. It
has been an encouraging start for Vancouver. They look pretty good right now.
Well, speaking of not being able to know if if it's one team being good or one team being bad, I want to jump to the Sporting Kansas City San Jose game where the Earthquakes get a red card in the middle of the game but still eke out a two to one win. And San Jose looked pretty good in Week one with a four to nothering win and then this week following it up with two to one. But Kansas City, I mean they're now zering too as well. So how good is this Earthquakes team?
Yeah, I mean that's what we're gonna find out. But I definitely I feel pretty confident that they're gonna be a lot better than they were last year when they wouldn't spoon and gave up eighty goals. I realized that's a low bar, but I think even with Bruce Arena coming in there, I think most people expected them to be better with him kind of steadying the ship. But a four zero win to open the season and then getting another win like you mentioned when they were down
a man, That's an impressive start. There's no doubt about it. I don't know if they are Shield contenders, but I think they are definitely not Wooden Spooning this year.
Speaking of Kansas City Peter Vermeiz, the up and down run of Peter Remeiz over the last number of years has been interesting, and I feel like, you know, just behind the scenes, a lot of people, you know, constantly ask the question, you know, what would Peter Vermiz have to do to eventually get fired? Is there a line, because I know Peter Remeiz runs the whole thing, there is there a line where you think, if Kansas City does X, Peter Vermeiz could finally I mean, he's the
longest tenured coach, god maybe in this league's history. Is there something that they could do to eventually, you know, say goodbye to him?
Yeah, I don't know.
I mean, I think that's the question a lot of their fans have been asking for the last three or four years now.
He does seem to have the most job.
Security of not just any coach in MLS, but any professional sports coach I've ever seen m kind of synonymous with that organization, and based on what I've read about it, their owner just really has ultimate faith and belief in him, and a belief i think, just in continuity in general. So we'll see if they have another season like they did last year. It's hard to imagine that the calls for just just anything new there won't be at a fever pitch. But again, I've thought in the.
Past, like many people, that they he might.
Be getting to that line. That hasn't happened yet, so I don't really see all that much reason to think that would change.
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Ari Leullian was our guest. He's a writer and editor for MLS Soccer dot Com. He also hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorches. I believe Ari had a live show, What do you do? Live shows on Mondays and Thursdays. How does that now.
Play out with the live Lobbing Scorches.
That's right, live.
Streams every Monday at eight am. Lobbing Scorches kickoff with Nico Moreno and then Under the Lights Thursday night streams seven thirty pm.
How about that kickoff under the Lights. I love the branding there. And we just had Nico on the previous segment. So how about that Monday night, both you guys on the show Monday morning, both of you guys on the podcast plays off, Well, let's hop over the Eastern Conference.
Ariy.
You know, I think we all came out of that to two draw against Charlotte in week one here for the Sounders, I should say coming out of that draw sort of disappointed that it was a T two final. And then Charlotte fires back and Wilfrid Zaha is back
in the lineup. He scores his in his debut for Charlotte, and you know, we talked about how they're kind of the darling pick of a lot of pundits, and I'm kind of wondering, after looked at how well they got past Atlanta to nothing at home on Saturday, are we going to be looking back at that to to draw to start the season and kind of saying that, yeah, that was actually kind of a good draw, given how good Charlotte ended up being.
Uh, I don't think you could ever say it's a good draw because they had the game won and then sacrificed it at the last possible second, which is always a bad result no matter who you're playing. But I think your point is taken that it was not, by any stretch at all a pushover team that that result came against.
In fact, like you.
Said, Charlotte had been a trendy pick to be a breakout team this year, and they looked a lot more like it against Atlanta. The first half of that game, it was a bit of a sluggish It was a bit of a slog for them, but then the second half, Zaha was pretty electric and he Dean Smiths, their coach, said after the game that he's exactly the type of player that they didn't have last year and that they needed, and I definitely, I mean, based on what I saw,
I agree. So I don't think that game will ever be looked at back on as a good result, but it definitely it came against a team that is probably.
Going to be quite good this year.
Well maybe eight months from now.
I'll completely forget how that was a two to two draw, and I'll just remember that it was two to two in my You know, if if I'm Miami luck, the men in Black will come and you know, make me forget what the hell happened in the ninety second minute there with that own goal. But Ari, let's us stay in the Eastern Conference. Inner Miami was messyless I guess the joke would be messy FC was without Messi and it didn't matter four to one over Houston Ware by
the away. Nikolas Laderos scored for the Dynamo. How about that? But Miami and they also got a red card. But Miami looking pretty dominant kind of even without Messi. They're showing just how much of a force they can be.
Yeah, you know, I was having a good time with all the with the messy takeover and the installing the new sporting director, hiring the coach. I was wondering if maybe there could be a downfall there. That does not appear to be the case. They looked, honestly, about as good as they have looked over the last couple of years without Messi on the field. This guy that they got to replace, Diego Gomez who they sold to the EPO for a club record fee, Pulasco.
Segovia, that is Whitland kid. He looked incredible. He had he already has three goals and one assist.
He's basically putting up Messi numbers. You know, I was not saying he's gonna be that good, but he is looking like.
They struck gold once again.
They might have replaced Diego Gomez with someone who's even better. So yeah, I mean this team is absolutely loaded. They might have defensive deficiencies that will you'll see pop up at different times throughout this season, but I don't know. Just watching that game last night, I was thinking to myself, I once again am having a hard time envisioning a scenario where this team doesn't win the Supporter Shield.
Yeah, it just feels like if they're healthy, and even if they lose one of those guys, if they lose Suarez, if they lose Alba, they lose Bisketch, if they lose Messi, They're still they're still able to put up four a game.
So it's just tough to see. I agree with you.
A couple quick last things here for Ari Lillian Wall once again MLS Soccer dot Com writer and editor. He also hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers Where Do They Go Live every Monday morning and Thursday night. Ari, I'm not sure what you can add to this, but a lot
of headlines around Major League Soccer. I mean headlines that are even defying the sports outlets like just news outlets are posting about what happened with San Diego FC, the newest club from Major League Soccer, the newest expansion team.
They had their home opener over the weekend and there were homophobic chants by fans during their home opener, And I mean, that's I'm not even sure what the question is, but it's just a really tough situation and terrible look and just bad all around that your home opener features this crap.
Yeah, I mean, it's ridiculous that this is still an issue, Jackson. It blows my mind every year when it pops up and that we're still doing this. I mean, I have a simple solution to this that I've been proposing for years, and I'm not sure why it has. No one's taken me up on this idea. But the simplest way to avoid this controversy is to not do the chance, which is not very hard to do. I don't really understand why it seems to be so difficult to do. People
seem like loyal to tradition that doesn't deserve loyalty. But yeah, credit to San Diego head coach mikey Baris. He came out after the game and was very firm in his statement that that doesn't represent the club and.
Their values and that it needs to stop.
So credit to him for saying that, and hopefully at some point this issue will go away. Like I said, I it is mystifying to me that we are still doing this in the year twenty twenty five.
Just disgusting all around. Couldn't agree with you more. Let's just not do it, And I mean, Jesus, it's amazing that it's still happening. Ari last thing for you, from one bad fan base to sometimes another bad fan base. LAFC Sounders next opponent, as LAFC will be coming their way to Seattle on Saturday afternoon for the Sounders next MLS game on Saturday. LAFC now has let off the season with two to one to nothing wins Minnesota and then at home against New York City this last weekend.
How worried should Sounder fans be with a potentially rotated squad facing LAFC over the weekend.
Yeah, well, hasn't looked like their normal world beating selves for their first couple games of their league season.
But to be fair, they are.
Juggling Champions Cup as well, and they got They're getting the results that a team that is an elite team should be getting. They're grinding out one zero wins they did in each of those first two games, So I definitely we were talking about this on our show this morning, But after thinking about it and talking about it, I don't think you should read into those one zero victories
as LAFC being diminished. In fact, I think you could look at it the exact opposite, that they are quite successfully so far navigating CCC and their league season in a way that Seattle, frankly was not able to do in the RFL games. So any matchup against LAFC is always going to be a tough one. But I think Seattle's got to show that they're able to juggle these
competitions better than they showed in in this game. Otherwise, the league season, any game might be tough if they are if they're gonna put out performances like they did at RSL.
Thanks thanks for Saturday for Seattle.
For sure, we'll have more preview of that match coming up next with Jake Zivin of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
But Ari, it's been great, buddy.
Have a very good live show on Thursday, and I'll see at the stadium on Wednesday for the Cruise A Zool game.
Appreciate it.
Thanks jacksony arililiona MLS Soccer dot com and check out his podcast Lobbing Scorchers. We'll take a break and we'll continue previewing Sounders LAFC coming up on Saturday. I know there's a match in between. We previewed Cruise Azool earlier in the show with Nico Moreno. Check out the podcast in case you missed that, by the way, but we have two matches to preview on this week's show, so
we'll continue doing that with Jake Zivin. I'll first tell you that Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence Swedish, the official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. More next to here on Sounders Weekly on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC. Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Welcome back Sounders Weekly, talking all things Seattle, Sounders FC Soccer. Here Jackson Felt on this special Monday night edition here of Sounders Weekly. We'll be on Monday night again next week ahead of the Sounders Leg two against Cruise A Zooel. Thanks to our guests so far tonight Nico Moreno of El Polso and Sounder at Heart, and also Ari Lillionoil
of Major League Soccer and the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. I think those two will join us in the exact same slots next Monday, as we'll talk about Leg two and talk about this coming weekend here in MLS, So it should be a fairly consistent couple weeks here in Sounders Weekly, as we also are looking ahead tonight to Sounders LAFC. We previewed the Cruise A Zool game on Wednesday, by the way, once again, that is this Wednesday at lumin Field.
We will not have a radio.
Broadcast for that, but of course you can watch the match on FS two, and I encourage you, as Nico said earlier, be there in the stadium because I think there's gonna be a heavy contingent of Cruise Azool fans and let's balance out that sound Let's get a good crowd. And I thought there was a good crowd for the
second leg against Antigua for a Conker Calf match. There was a good crowd on that midweek night, so let's see that again on Wednesday for the Cruise a Zool first leg of Round of sixteen, and then see if the Sounders can do what they did in twenty two against Club lay On, where at the first leg it was a three to nothing lead, went down to Club lay On and the second leg and got one to one and went through the next round to face New
York City in the semifinal. We can get a lead here in leg one on Cruise a Zool against what is as as Nico said, a homeless team in Mexico. They don't even have a home stadium right now. They're playing at a Pumas's stadium. So Sounders can grab a lead go back to Mexico in a stadium where you know they're not even in their home stadium. It'd be a good recipe to move on to the quarterfinals against what would be either Club America or a chief A Squadalajara.
So that'll be a big opponent there in the next round as well, So that will be what's coming up. So previewing that match earlier, but we are really looking ahead as well. In this segment to Sounders LAFC on Saturday, We're gonna have the broadcast right here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM pregame.
Show right around one o'clock, might be around one fifteen.
Kickoff coming shortly after one thirty for Sounders and LAFC at lwin Field. So you can tune right here ninety three point three KJRFM for Saturday's LAFC match. Meanwhile, you can also watch it on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. And the man who's gonna be calling that match alongside Taylor Twelman. He is the former voice of the Pearl and Timbers, but don't hold that against him. He's our very good friend and he is back. I'm excited to see him on Saturday afternoon at Luhman. Jake zivin back
here on Sounders Weekly. Jake, I'm excited to see you again on Saturday, my friend.
How are you?
My man?
I've been great.
I can't wait to get up to Seattle for our first Sounders game of this year Lemonfield, and of course, you.
Know one of our favorite places to go.
I think I'm gonna actually get out to Long Acres on Friday, which I'm excited about. I know it's not the new training facility anymore, but it is still new to me.
I haven't been.
I've been to Starfire plenty, so yeah, I'm really looking forward to this weekend and to getting up to Seattle.
All right, get to see a day early on Friday, then excellent. Jay, you can start saying that it is your favorite place to go because.
I don't have favorites. I don't have favorites.
Man, is it better than Portland? All right? Jake Zivin, Hey, we've.
Got it great in the Pacific Northwest? This great up.
All right, Well, you're gonna be on the call Saturday for Sunder's l E f C. Let's obviously talk about l A f C in a minute, but before that, just the NA and for your perspective on what the Sounders have done. Four games in, we got a draw, we got a couple wins over Antique, we got the lost r s L from Afar.
What are your take on our Sounders so far?
Yeah?
I think kind of.
Nobody's worried about the Sounders haven't been at their best in league play, but nobody's worried about the Sounders.
Right, expectations are high and should be igh for this year. Charlotte Camis should have won, you know, right, there's no doubt about it.
Charlotte SHOT's a good team and they're a decent team, beyond decent, they're a good team. But when you have that, you know, the lead late, you gotta hold onto it. Not a great giveaway and then you know, not a great own goal RSL game. It looked to me like the schedule was catching up a little bit to the team, and there was you know, obviously Brian was rotating as he has to this year, but still there's two moments that are slightly offside. I guess Georgie's first goal was
more than slightly offside. But if RSL, you know, keeps somebody on the post and he's onside, it's a set piece.
And if those you know aren't offside, then it's, uh, it's a different game.
Right, So yeah, I think again what most people think, very high on the Sounders and their potential this season.
Thought it was a really good offseason.
Loved the additions Ferreira and and Paulariola to an already deep team and the number one thing I think from the first two weeks is Pedro de la Vega and if he can do what he did in the champ and yes it's antigue well right, but if he can do that this year, then it's like getting a new designated player because he didn't really contribute right last year. So you know, again, not the results in leagues play.
I'm sure that the Brian Schmetzer and the Sounders want one point through two games, but I don't think that's changed anybody's and certainly has not changed my view of what the Sounders can do this season.
I think that's generally the good take and I think it's generally what Sounder fans should be feeling, which is just that, Listen, this is a very very deep team, but that doesn't take away from the fact that we
are still rotating. We are still working against Conca calf uh and obviously this week is so massive, facing a Mexican powerhouse and Cruise a zool on Wednesday night and then turning the right back around to LAFC on Saturday and LAFC meanwhile, they're also dealing with Conca calf action at the same time, they are also you know, looking ahead you know, in looking two different directions, but they've managed it better with two one nothing wins to start
the campaign. So on the flip side, what have you seen from LAFC so far?
Yeah, look they are they picked up where they left off. They made some changes in the offseason. They changed the midfield. Is what sounderstands who who were familiar with LAFC last year in a bad way for the first what four games, and then in a good way at the very end, but the Sounders got very familiar Sounder supporters got very familiar with LAFC. But what you'll otis on Saturday and again rotation could change things because as you said, LFC
is going through the Concast Champions Cup as well. But what you'll see is they've they've they did quite a bit of change in the midfield. Ilias Sanchez is gone and Rotuesta is gone, Lewis O'Brien uh is gone, and instead it's Simmy Tilman who's still there and he's been partnering. It seems the preferred threesome in the middle is Tilman with Mark Delcato, who was on the La Galaxy in one MLS Cup last year and then was trained at the Cross Town Uh and a young Brazilian.
Named Igor Jaysus who looks looks good as well, so a little more mobile of the midfield.
I think maybe it'll be a little more active than when you had Ilia in there, who was kind of this this pivot running the show, and they like that. They up front you still have Bennie Bolanga, but they also sold Tayos Bogush, who we're gonna probably see on Wednesday forel who's been been playing great for gruz azul Uh and also Christian Olavera Kiki O Lavera. So Jeru is the question mark for them still. Jeremy Bobasi, former Portland Timber, former centas aera quake. He's now in LAFC.
Dvin Martinez. They're giving a chance to a young kid, Jengis under Turgis International they've brought in on loan. Hasn't played yet, so they change LAFC for a team. It's funny because LAFC and the Sounders are two of the most the two most successful franchises in the Western Conference, at least over the past let's just say a decade, right since LAFC came into the league, and even across that LS. I mean the numbers of like points. I
think they're one too. In points accumulated since twenty eighteen. LAFC, for a team that has had the level of success that they have had, have been extremely active in the transfer market every year. It's ten twelve in ten twelve out. Not afraid to sell young players, not afraid to bring in other young players. But they've continued their success. So you'll see some different faces for LAFC, but still a
great team. And and like the Sounders, right competitors and and and I think you know, most people predict I would as well. As they'll be right there at the end of the season as they often are contending for for the top of the West.
We expect nothing less. Jake zivins our guest. He's of course broadcaster for MS Season Pass on Apple TV. He'll be on the call for Sounders l A f C. And yeah soon so interesting to watch Chief Arundelo they're at l A f C. And then just all the way going back to Bradley too, and just how the systems, you know, being kind of like a sit back counter team now, you know, being more comfortable in possession and kind of you know, you just wonder what the next wave of l a f C is gonna look like,
you know, given the immense roster change that just constantly happens with that team, and you know, we'll probably not have a full view of it until maybe it was six seven more matches into the season of what this you know, roster itself and this iteration of LAFC actually behaves like. But we're hoping just because we know we'll probably rotate a little bit for Saturday, just that they'll they may rotate too, and what that looks like. I know, I know it was a play by play voice and
prepping and all your boards and everything like that. It's gonna be It's gonna be really interesting going into Saturday, just kind of figuring out who's in, who's out, what are the changes from Wednesday.
I love that Jackson.
My favorite games of the year used to be when the Timbers would play the Sounders in Tucson on like January thirtieth, and then actually there'd be like three there'd be like three thousand people in those they could be so yeah that you know, it was like a high school of football stadium, is what it what it kind of felt like, and I go down there and I'd do it with Steve Zachawani and it would be like a joint Timbers Sounders broadcast, and you'd prep for forty
least players, right, I mean it was it was Timbers, it was Sounders, it was T two.
It was S two at the time.
Defines now and the Academy guys and you you know, and you go really cheap, and then you'd see thirty guys in the game and they're fun, and you know, I have a little and make sure trying to have a little nugget. And then seventeen year old that was coming on and got to see you know, guys that at early age, whether it be like a Josh at ten shieldright obviously in Colorado, you know, or Obed when
he was when he was really young. You get to see knew Who when he was on S two, right, You get to see these guys at the very beginning of their careers, and and then you know, now I'm ready for everybody.
That's what I'm trying to say.
Brian can throw anybody he wants, and see if you can throw anybody he wants at us, and we'll be ready for him.
On and we will all be ready to see what happens on Saturday afternoon between these two clubs. Jake, you had a very, very busy last weekend. First it was the San Diego FC inaugural home match. Then it was Miami's big four one win over Houston. Obviously, you see so many clubs from around the league, and I wanted to just quickly get a quick thought on what has stood out to you two weeks so far into this season, after seeing you know, four new or four more clubs just this last weekend.
Yeah, the headline number one always from a league wide perspective into Miami continuing to be no Messy, no problem. They smashed Houston last night four to one. I mean they crushed him and m Messi stayed behind in Florida. They've not won twelve of their last fifteen games without him after I think only two of their first thirteen.
It was such a problem for them in twenty twenty three and even the beginning of twenty twenty four, and now it's just like doesn't even matter as far as results are concerned.
So that's number one.
Number two a couple of surprising surprising starts, but ie opening starts Philadelphia Union new manager Bradley Carnell surprised everybody that they parted ways at Jim Curtin. They've won both their games. They scored four goals in both of their games. That have eight goals in two games. Tyber Rebo has five goals in two games. Bradley Carnell's off to a great start in Philadelphia and then now coming out west the San Jos arts Quakes. Bruce dina Man is done
and again you'll play same results. Two wins in two games for Bruce Arena. Who is you know bringing that trying to bring the earthquakes back?
Jake, great stuff. As always, it's a pleasure to have you back on the show. Hope that you get to call a bunch of sounder games this year so that I get to have you on my show, just purely selfishly, and I hope that get you up. You have to loom and field many many times. But I look forward to seeing you on Friday out at Long Acres ahead of the game on Saturday, and have a great call this weekend.
Can't wait to see you this weekend and to get up to Seattle and as always, at any conjects.
That's great stuff there from Jake Zivin. He will be on the broadcast MLS Season Pass on Apple te for Sounders and LAFC this coming Saturday. That's where you can watch this Saturday afternoons match.
Our minder.
We will have Saturday's match right here sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM, and we will of course have that about a one fifteen Providence, Swedish pre match show roughly one five kickoff for Sounders LAFC this coming Saturday afternoon right here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. But before that game, Sounders are in action on Wednesday one more time. No radio broadcast for Wednesday's match against Cruise A Zool. You can watch that on
FS two this coming Wednesday at seven thirty pm. This is the first leg of the Round of sixteen in CONCA CAFF Champions Cup, and if the Sounders can just grab a lead and move forward point that would be great going into that leg two next Tuesday, a week
from tomorrow down in Mexico. So we will talk to you on Saturday for Sounders LAFC, we'll see it in the building on Wednesday for Sounders Cruise A zool everybody, have a very good rest of your week and we'll all be watching together on Wednesday, So go Sounders.