Coming do you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Saunders Weekly with your host Jackson Felds. Good evening, everybody. Welcome into Sounders Weekly Jackson Felds. Here Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM, every Wednesday from seven to eight pm, talking all things Seattle Sounders FC Soccer. I know we've been off of the last two
or three weeks, some various things. I was on vacation Sounders at a Wednesday match, but we are back this week, back next week talking Leagues Cup action as the Sounders begin their run in the twenty and twenty three Leagues Cup. Will get into that in just a moment. Looking ahead of what we have on the show today, you're gonna hear from both Jordan Morris. I got a good one on one conversation with him after the game against Dallas.
Another thing that we'll get into in a moment. You'll hear from Jordan Christian rolled Don. You'll hear from the Sounders general manager Craig Wible as the summer transfer window is opening up from Major League Soccer, a chance for the Sounders to make a move if they see fit and then we'll obviously finish the show as we always do with some around league with Ari Lillianoell of MLS Soccer dot Com and around the sound with Andrew Harvey. So a lot to get
to here. Tonight. We'll spend a little bit of time talking about the Dallas game, but quickly on Lease Cups. So the Sounders are once again in this new tournament, more of expanded tournament actually Lease Cup, because the Sounders were in it a couple of years ago. They got to the final in Las Vegas, lost that final, but now LEAs Cup has expanded to include all teams in Major League Soccer and all teams in LEA MX, which
is of course the Mexican Soccer League, so MLS versus LEA MX. The way this works is that both Lease get shmushed together and then groups are created, just like the World Cup. So the Sounders group of three teams includes Seattle, Real, Salt Lake, who the Sounders face this coming Saturday, and Monterey from Mexico. That is the Sounders group and the first group stage match will be this Saturday. Monterey will be coming to Seattle the following Sunday.
That's going to be on July thirtieth, But for this Saturday, Leaks Cup begins here with the group stage and hopefully this Sounders can then get past the group stage and we're looking at knockout round games in Leagues Cup action, and we'll see about those matchups and schedules and all that ahead. But for this Saturday, first Lease Cup match, provid and Swedish premat show will begin at six o'clock right here on Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Keeley Dunning will actually have the pre half and postgame shows because for the first time I'll actually be doing play by play myself and Steve Zachawani will have the call for Sounders RSL from America. First field kickoff will be at six thirty here on ninety three point three KJRFM with myself and Steve. You know, so watch them on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and listen in Spanish legos on Lay thirteen sixty. So League's Cup beginning this Saturday, we will talk
to you for that. In terms of the Dallas match, let's spend a couple of minutes on that before we hear from both Jordan Morris and Christian Roll Don. This was a match where you get Christian back in the starting lineup. Jordan starts on the bench. Christian played fifty one and fifty seven excuse me, minutes for the United States men's national team a week ago on Wednesday, when the Sounders, who actually had a game down there in San Jose.
I'm not even going to mention or bring that game up. It should not be talked about. It was just a completely forgettable to nothing loss. But for that Dallas match, Christian coming off fifty seven minutes, gets the start for the Sounders. Jordan, who played forty five for the United States, starts on the bench, and unfortunately what looked like a really promising lineup. I saw that and I kind of said to myself, man, this
is a lineup that should absolutely score at least two goals. And you'll get one and it's an own goal. And credit to Leo Chew to put that ball in Christian roll Don to force the defender into a tough spot where he creates the own goal. But at the same time, that being the only Sounders goal, it's a tough pill to swallow. This attack has too much talent to only be scoring one goal against the Dallas team that I mean, listen, this is a Dallas team that it only had one win in their
last nine games. You know, they were on a rough stretch of four losses in the last five and coming in I kind of wanted to see Seattle just take it to him, score a few goals, bury him and utilize having Christian back. And listen, he was good, he was the player of the match. But at the end of the day, I just need to see more from the attack, more movement. I one't need to see more from Rawal Ruy Diaz. And unfortunately for the Sounders, you know,
it is a draw, not all three points. And you know, it's really kind of hammered home these bad feelings by the fact that the goal that Dallas scored right before halftime was just a massive mental mistake. You know, I suppose you can credit Dallas, but I'm not going to. I'm gonna look at Seattle on this one. That is a play where it looked like
the Sounders just turned off for just a quick second. And as Brad Evans and I talked about it on the halftime show, it only takes one moment of turning off to you know, make three points go to one point, and that's exactly what happened. As Dallas get the goal. It's Kimungo with the header and the actually Stephen Fry got a hand to it as Fry returned
from his concussion. Fry gets a hand to it, but it still goes into the back of the net on that header, but no pressure there on the cross d and he's able to, you know, work some bad communication from the Sounders back line and Kimmungo gets the header for the goal. So listen, it was a bad goal to give up, and I think offensively they should have done more. So it is a frustrating one one result where I think the Sounders absolutely should have gotten all three points going into Lease Cup
action in terms of how the players felt about that game. Let's first here from the Sounders Loan All Star the All Star game actually going on right now. I haven't been able to watch a single second of it running shows here on KJR, but I know Jordan Morris is the loan representative from the Seattle Sounders. I think a few players were snubbed by the way. Maybe we'll get into that later, but Jordan the loan representative in the All Star Game
and before he headed off to Washington, DC to face Arsenal. There for with the MLS All Stars, had a chance to talk to Jordan in the locker room, not only about heading off and being an All Star, but expecting a son as well as the game against Dallas. So here was the conversation I had in the locker room with the Sounders returning star Jordan Morris Jordan one one final against Dallas. What are your initial takeaways for from this match?
Yeah, I mean, I think it's frustrating. I thought we dominated the game and had a lot of good chances and story of the last bit of our season as things aren't going in for us, so you know, it'll turn around. I thought we had really good moments and just gotta keep billing on that. Obviously starting the bench, but to get integrated back on the squad there, What did that feel like after spending so much time away?
Felt great? Yeah, miss being part of the group. Miss You know, I was injured before too, so I hadn't played at home in a while, so that felt great to be back in front of the fans and um, you know, my friends and family. So yeah, just looking forward to the rest of the season. You mentioned the friends and family before I forget congratulations. By the way, I saw the announcement for for a kid coming up, so do you have you have a dude date and
everything set out early October. I have a little boy on the way, So my wife and I are super excited. Congratulations. Now, now early October, that's like near in playoff time there a little bit, so you gotta kind of, you know, play play both sides. Yeah, definitely. I mean, well we'll get into that. We'll get into the rhythm and figure it out. But now where we're super excited and she's doing great,
that's awesome. Then we'll looking at the soccer game right here. So obviously one goal goal was in um but when you come onto the field and when you join the attack, there was a matter of just not getting the finishing ball or was it a matter of something else, just not not being able to score for you guys, M no, I think you know, at that point we were kind of dominating the game. They were sitting in
a low block. It makes it difficult. They have two big center backs, so you know, I had a good chance to score a goal, and there were some other good chances, So I don't think it was necessarily the Yeah, maybe things could have been a little bit cleaner, but we create a lot of chances, which is not easy to do always, especially against a low block, but they were making it difficulty. I think.
You know, obviously the game is different. If we don't give up the goal, maybe they have to open up a little bit and we can get another one. So just little things to keep working on. And now you guys have League's Cup coming up, so that's a whole different ball game now in terms of this tournament. You played in Leagues Cup before, but this is a much more expanded How much emphasis for you mentally goes into making sure
that that you guys give one hundred percent towards this tournament. Yeah, it's important, of course, I mean it's this club is obviously our goal is to win trophies and and this is another opportunity to win a trophy, a big trophy against great competitions. So, um, we put the season on pause for a bit, put that behind us and just focus on what we can do to get results in Least Cup and try and one another trophy. For you mentally, is it any different preparing for the game against all Ustell
next. I've already been preparing. Let's see if the Rstell game was an MLS game. No, I think it's similar similar. Uh you know, maybe once you get to the knockout stages it's a little bit different. But I think it's a similar type of game. And uh, obviously that's a tough place to play. They're good, they're good at home, they may get difficult, so, um, we gotta be we gotta be up for that one. But again, it's just not to to win a trophy and
we're excited about that. And you have the All Star Game as well coming up as well, so you're in for a lot of frequent flyer midels I imagine definitely. Yeah, a lot of a lot of travel, um, part of the sport. Obviously, it's a big honor to be be selected for that. So I'm looking forward to to the game this week. You're
the only Sounders All Star. You feel like a few your teammates got snubbed, absolutely, I mean there's always there's always snubs, um, and I think definitely there's some guys on the team that deserved it as well, So um no, but it'll be good I have some friends there. It'll be good to get there and get to play with them for sure. Really quickly a couple more here for Jordan Morris in the locker room. You're not United States men's national team action. Um, not the result, but certainly you
guys wanted there in the semifinal of the Gold Cup. But overall being with the United States for that tournament, what was that? Like? It's amazing. Um, you know, it's always such an honor to represent your country, especially at an international tournament like that. You know, obviously not the results, see if I'm obviously not the result we wanted, but um, I think the whole group knows that and knows that our goal is to win
a trophy. Um, but that soccer sometimes, especially losing them in PK's like that. Um, it's kind of a you know, can be can be a toss up, A proud of the group, proud to always you know, represent my country. And there's you know a lot of good young players coming through that are going to be exciting to watch. And obviously Greg Burholder back the adding communication with Greg since he's officially back, No, you know, I just messaged him saying congratulations and He was obviously super nice,
and I'm really happy for Greg. He he deserves that. He's done such an incredible job over the last few years, you know, building this this program, getting us you know, the camaraderie within the group on and off the field. It's been really special to be a part of and special to see, and he absolutely deserves, deserves the job. So I was just really excited for him and really happy for him. He's gonna do He's gonna do great well. Jordan, good look at the All Star Game next week
and we'll see on Saturday. Appreciate it. Thanks man. Good stuff there from Jordan Morris in the locker room after the game there against Dallas, and we wish him the best of luck in the All Star Game tonight. Again, I haven't been able to watch any of it, but hopefully he has made an impact for the Sounders facing Arsenal. As long as mlsb's Arsenal, I'm happy anytime Arsenal loses. As a Tottenham fan myself, I am happy
whenever they lose. So go MLS. From Jordan Morris. We look at the other player returning to the Sounders from the United States men's national team that is Christian rolled On. Christian rolled On returning to action, played fifty seven minutes for the US last Wednesday, then started for the Sounders on Saturday. We got his two cents on not only what he saw in that game against Dallas, but the opening question was how Stan's feeling coming off of playing so
many minutes here this week. Yeah, obviously, just just frustrated, Um, you know, last two games for for me in particular. Um, but it's good to get a start, good to play ninety um, good to be back and hopefully we can get back on the winning train. Christian, you guys got a lot of possession, a lot of corners tonight. So what wasn't working to get that second goal in the back of the net. Yeah, I think, uh, you know, having a little bit
more guys in the box. I think that's something that we lacked. Um, you know, the we the couple crosses that that we you know, we were unfortunately and unfortunately didn't go back in the back of the net. We have guys in the box, you know, and and that creates a lot of havoc. Like I mentioned, so for US, I think committing
guys forward right when when you play a line of five. You need to get guys in the box, and when you're putting in a bunch of crosses, you need to uh, you know, make darting runs to to be able to get on the end of things. So it's looking at the time with you Ued States Men's national team. Certainly not the ending that any of you guys would have wanted, but overall of you from three to five thousand feet, how do you evaluate how how about your time went with them?
Yeah, it's a it's you know, it's it's a it was a frustrating ending to it, but I felt like I had a good impact up until the end. Um. You know, that's how foot he goes. That's that's how that's why we love the sport, right um, because there's there's good and bad moments. Um. Um. You know, hopefully you have more more good moments in your career, but it's it's part of the sport. And you know, I stepped up to it with confidence and unfortunately I
didn't go my way. Um, But you have to move on and you have to uh you know, Luckily there's there's games to be played, right uh, And so for me, it's about getting back back here playing with confidence and hopefully making an impact here with the Sounders. Greg Berhalter rehired, is the head coach of the national team. Have you had a communication with him about it when since he's been brought back. I just congratulated him.
You know, it's short and sweet. You know, he's a He's a guy that cares a lot about about the players and wants the best for the players and wants to see those players grow and if he can help in any way, he will. Christian rolled on there, you're Seattle Sounders midfielder who started on the right wing. Forced that own goal for Dallas there in the first half, but unfortunately that was the only goal for the Seattle Sounders on
Saturday in that one one game. And now for Christian and Jordan, Jordan, we're returning from the All Star Game this coming Saturday. We'll see if he is able and what he's able to give the Sounders down in Sandy, Utah, America First Field as they are in Least Cup action facing Real Assault Lake in the group stage. They'll face Monterey back here at Lumen Field coming up the following Sunday, August thirtieth. But we'll see what Jordan Morris can
provide for the team this Saturday against RSL. We'll preview that match in our Sharp Vision Opponent outlet with Ari luin Wall. A little bit later on tonight, but hear in Sounders Weekly. We'll switch gears a little bit and we'll talk to the Sounders General manager, or we'll hear from the Sounders General manager Craig Wible, who held a press conference at the end of last week. As the summer transfer window opens up in Major League Soccer, what could the
Sounders add? How much flexibility does this team have to add new pieces? We're gonna hear a bit from the Sounders GM, Craig Wible. That's next on Sounders Weekly Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back to Sounders Weekly. Jackson Felts here Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM, Rocking and Rolling, talking all things Sounders Soccer, seven
eight pm on Wednesdays. Good to hear from both Jordan Morris and Christian rolled On in the locker room. That last segment which Jordan the best of luck in the MLS All Star Game tonight. We'll talk to Ari luen Wall in our next gonna take us around the league. I'll ask him if there was some All Star snubs from Seattle and also go around the sound with Andrew Harvey
Well. Sounders FC and Bowing are teaming up to support the Washington Youth Soccer Community Corner on match days this season, join us in stadium as welcome Washington youth soccer players and coaches to cheer on the Rave Green courtesy of Bowing Well. One thing for the Sounders as leagues begins. Also, we have the
opening of the MLS Summer transfer window. And if you're new to MLS, if you're new to how this all works, there are windows in which you can go buy players, sign players, trade players, transfer players, all
that stuff. There's windows and the summer transfer windows. Here in terms of what the Sounders can do financially and what they will do, Craig Wible, the Sounders general manager, had a chance to sit with some of our media this last Friday and we talk to him about all these different things and all these different aspects about what the Sounders can, should, will do. So I thought we need to hear a little bit in terms of what the Sounders
roster will look like going down the stretch. Will it look the same, Will they be able to maybe add the extra piece to get them over the top to go win an MLS Cup. But here was our conversation between us the media and Sounders general manager Craig Wible this last week. There's nothing impending. There's a lot of expectation now that we're actually getting to our first time in the season having a full roster and selection. So no announcements yet,
but the windows open for a little while. So who knows where are the Sounders right now? Just in terms of your flexibility able to make a move given what's happening on the other side of the coast, I think you're kind of asking, do we have money to go out and do something? Kind of everyone's audience, So that's the kind of sort of question. Look,
we committed and that kind of went over this in January. We committed at the beginning of the year adding a significant reserve striker and spending money at the beginning of your give this group a chance to stick together and perform and perform. Well, Unfortunately we haven't seen the entire group together for the majority of the year. I think we had twenty minutes in the fifth game of the
year something like that, So we're trending back to healthy. I'm excited to see where this group goes because now that Jordan and Chrishner are back, coaches are going to have a really nice challenge on how they balance minutes and the
selection on the lineups. And I think it'll allow you guys to ask a lot more fun questions post match to Brian in terms of adding players, look where we're at in order to add I'm only interested in adding if it makes us significantly better because I really like this roster, and I really think with this roster getting healthy three points out of first place at this point of the season with eleven games left, we've got a really good chance to do something
special down the stretch here. And this group believes it. It's pretty evident when you spend some time around him that they understand that they've got the potential to do something. So if we can make a team exponentially better, we'll do it. In order to do that, it is going to be a challenge, without a doubt, so significantly exponentially better. Let's dive into those
words right there. Does that mean starting player that is better than the players and options we have is what we're looking at, because when you look at this roster and you analyze the roster when healthy, which we're trending towards at any given time, there'll be three or four players not selected to start that
would start on almost every team in our in our leaguers. He was one of the players that you obviously you know, had the transfer with with Colorado, and we're going to reevaluate at this point is he going to stay there or what's the decision? There's it's a two way deal. So I've got pretty open dialogue with Porig. We speak weekly about Danny, and so it's it's open right now. We've we've agreed that they've got till the end of
the window to make their decision. We've got till the end of the window to make our decision. And he's in a good place right now in terms of how he's been doing there and perform I mean, and we'll we'll see over the next two weeks what moves they make in the summer window as well. But he's done exactly what we hoped, which is he's played a lot more minutes there than he would have played here, and so we'll make sure
we do what's right. And in terms of him playing soccer with kind of how happy you are with Danny, is there a chance that you look at other young players doing a similar move? Uh? Yeah. Young players are are an interesting developing players because age is a little bit of a tricky thing. Now, what what is young? It's you know, young is different now than it was four or five years ago. But developing players need to play, and so we're always trying to find the right solution if we can't
provide or if we don't anticipate those games coming. So we've had a few conversations with some international clubs about a couple of our young players. But again, unless it's a better situation, meaning game time is nearly guaranteed, which it's never guaranteed, and no coach in the world will tell you with guaranteed. But if if it's a group that definitely needs a player that we have and we we feel that their opportunity for minutes is there, where we'll consider
everything. Because we've got a lot of young talented players and it's really hard to get them all minutes. Interestingly, we've played every single field player this year and small tangent, but I need to stop and compliment our staff and our group because I'm not sure any other MLS team has played every single field player. There's only two players on a roster that haven't appeared in an MLS
match, and that that would be our Andrew Thomas and Jacob Castro. But every field player, including you know, stef and staff have been on the field and we're We've done it with a massive amount of injuries. We've done it with call ups, We've done it with some unexpected things. I'd be remiss not to take just a second to compliment the players and the staff for where they are again, three points out of first place with eleven left.
It's a it's a heck of an achievement so far. And uh, since I'm on camera, I'll just make sure to on the back end of the complement is the expectation is to be a lot better than we've been. Speaking of step and Steph, we're seeing some good performance out of Cleveland, especially last week aginst Vancouver. How do you evaluate both of them looking forward? Twenty twenty four and beyond, you know, considering their contracts, considering where
they want to go with their futures. A new twenty twenty four would come up at some point. There's there's there's a lot of decisions to make at the end of this year, um, but specifically with the Steps four five, Yeah, four or five different decisions that are all difficult. With the Steps, it's uh, it's it's not a one or the other. It might be both. But there's a lot of conversations. They're they're both wonderful humans and a lot of it comes down to the roles they want to play.
And you know, Steph Cleveland tested the market last year to find a starting spot and frankly, we if if Steph Fry is going to continue to be the starting goal for the Sounders, then we have to be fair to Steph Cleveland the work he's done and make sure that he has the options like he did the year before to go test the market, but also make sure we maintain and we will maintain that we like him, we want him here. Have you had conversations with with Frying of where he wants to go from
from this point on? No, in my world. It's it's not it's not really wonderful to distract your players in the middle of the season. Um, some of these conversations need to wait to the end of the year. Some of them are with agents and not necessarily directly with the players. But you know, I am the type of person that I've got no problem sitting down with a player. We've got a good rapport with with all the guys,
and they can come in my office. I always warn if you come in my office, I'm I only go one direction, and that is my truth. And I have a lot of tough decisions to make, So don't come in my office unless you want my truth. But these are this a great group of people, and and those conversations will happen, and they're they're straightforward and honest. How do you evaluate just in terms of where the club finishes or how the club finishes, given what you just said about trophies and
things like that. So I do want to avoid resulting and getting to the end of the year and going, oh, because of X, it made sense or it didn't make sense. There's all the there's fun narratives to talk about, but the result doesn't change the preparation. You know, we didn't We didn't lose in San Jose because of poor preparation. They scored a heck of a goal. You know, we got we had a penalty call. You know, the result doesn't really dictate how we prepped and how that everything
happens. So a little bit's going to depend on it's continuity. It's how do these guys get on. It's the balance. You know, players have an opinion too, and when you have a roster like ours that I believe is really deep, you're gonna have three, four or five players that might not really be happy with the role they're asked to have, and that's got to be taken into consideration as well. So ults are part of it. Results are a big part of it for me, that's what our fans react
to. But but also the personal side of it. You know, we don't want to force the guy to be here and be unhappy, right, So we'll take all those things into consideration. And that's why I say that this time of year is a difficult time to have those conversations, because you know, one injury can change the lineup and all of a sudden, a player like Leo Chu because of national team call ups, takes another step in his maturation process on the field. For US training staff learn more about concussions
this season than any of it. I think. I think we're constantly learning about it and the dangers of it. And I will say what I'm one thing I'm really proud of is we have not taken a long time to transition into how serious we treat it and take it. I think we're at times more precautionary than the players now, which is a huge shift in sport. And I think the Sounders have been open minded about it. Our medical staff has been really good about reminding the rest of us that they're the ones who
dictate the timelines and they're they've been treating it appropriately and conservatively. So it's been it's been highly educational, especially when it's not head to head like Christians. Christians was ground contact a situation, so it um. You know, we've learned a lot and some of them are you know, some of them, they're all scary, but some of them confuse us more than others.
Craig, when you're making these decisions and having these internal conversations about players, futures and all these things, right, and maybe it's a few months out right. How how difficult is it to balance a what a player has done for you over the course of the years, be what they want out of their next deal, and see whether you can actually fit them into the lineup.
There's a there's the hardest part of that question is what I'll address, which is the human nature of a player who's given a lot to the club. And there's a there's a lot of ways to look at it. The club has given a lot to these players, and the players are getting a lot to the club, and they really have a lot of sacrifice from time away from family and giving back to our fan base and everything, and we try to take everything into consideration. We try to be as human as possible.
My job is to make difficult decisions, and I have to make difficult decisions on budgetary budgetary decisions, roster decisions, coaching decision, all sorts of staff decisions as well, So it runs across the organization, not just with players. The players are just the most exposed to the fan base and the most obvious conversation to have, So we treat everything as best we can, as as honest as we can, and as upfront as we can, because
that's what we owe our players. The goal with the Sounders has always been and will remain that no player leaves without the truth. And I think in time that covers, that covers a lot of what can be emotional today can be digested later as at least honesty. Good stuff there from Sounders general manager Craig Wible. So it certainly sounds like, listen, the Sounders would have to go make a big move in order to actually make a move at all,
this roster does seem fairly set. On the interesting comments there about Danny Lava, we'll see what happens there, But to overall, this roster does feel like the bones and even just the skin is there both, you know, in terms of a starting formation and in terms of backups in depth at a lot of positions to go make a run at this thing. I will say what I've said pretty much every single year going back to doing these shows, and that is that it's all about being healthy. Just be healthy come
playoff time and this team can get to MLS Cup. I mean, look back to twenty sixteen through twenty twenty, the team only missed one MLS Cup in that stretch twenty eighteen, and I think the only reason they didn't go to MLS Cup that year was because Chad Marshall and Christian rolled On got hurt in the first leg down at Portland of that playoff series. If rolled On and or Marshall don't get hurt, I think the Seattle Sounders are through.
And I think we are talking about five straight MLS Cups from sixteen to twenty. So for me, it all comes down to health. Be healthy. I mean, look at twenty one RSL right and that playoff loss Rudiaz was not fully healthy. If this team had a healthy team, then I think that twenty one is in the cards as well. So be healthy and good things can and will happen. So we will see exactly what breaks down.
But good stuff there on the summer transfer window and everything going on with the Sounders general manager Craig Wible, Well, it is time to take a look around the league with Ari Leanell and around the sound with Andrew Harvey. I'll quickly tell you that Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence Swedish, the official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Will go atl and ats both Andrew and are
our next on Sounders Weekly 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. Jackson Feldts here Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM talking all things Seattle, Sounders FC Soccer. Good to hear from Craig Wible, Sounders FC General Manager in the previous segment.
Also Jordan Morris Christian roll Don previously. In case you missed any of it, check out the podcast nine three three KJR dot com, the Sounders onto band page, and also Sounders Weekly on both the iHeartRadio app and wherever you get your podcasts. Well Sounder fans. Bud Light was brewed to be a delicious and easy to drink beer. Bud Light easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Pick up bud Light at your local retailer today. Please enjoy
responsibly joining us right now. Before we go around the sound with Andrew Harvey, we must go around the league with Ari Lillienwall, who is a writer of course for MLS Soccer dot com and host of the podcast Lobbing Scorchers Are Good to have you back on the show, My friend a good podcasts recently. How you doing, I'm good Jackson, thanks for the words, and yeah, good to be back. Well, we have a fair bit of things to talk about right now. The All Star Game, see has it
ended? I don't think it's ended just yet. It's about too I haven't been able to watch any of the All Star Game tonight doing the show obviously and then previously with the Softie and Dick Show, so I haven't even seen a second of the All Star Game. Are I'm sure you've watched the whole thing, but I won't ask you about any of the game aspects. We'll talk about that next week. But overall, in terms of the All Star
I have to ask you something with the game taking place right now. Jordan Morris is the only Seattle Sounder representative and for the best defensive team in MS ARE for my money, with a back four of Alex and knew Who Gomez and Drade Jackson, Reagan Frying Goal leading the league in clean sheets are do you feel like any of those five were snubbed by not going to the All Star Game or any other Sounders for that matter. Yeah, I think you
could argue that at least both the center backs had a good case. I think Amar and Jackson Reagan are both having great years both by the eye test and statistically, So those are the two that jumped front of mine. But I mean I would even drop another name that you didn't mention right there, which is Jo Polo. Yeah. I mean, he hasn't stuffed the stat sheet as much this year as he normally does, so maybe that's why he
got overlooked. But if you look at all his underlying numbers, he's up like in the ninety eight percentile and pretty much every statistical category that matters for a defensive midfielder. So he's still really haven't about as good a year as he always does. He just hasn't been rewarded for it with goals and assist as much. Yeah, that's a great shout. I just think that Seattle only getting one and that being just Jordan was a little bit of a travesty.
But I'll take a look at the stats and see what the All Star Game and we'll talk about that next week. But Ari Louian Wall is the guest. He is the writer for MLS Soccer dot com, host of the podcast lobbing scorchers. Ari, Let's now get to our sharp vision opponent, Alec. Maybe you can lob some scorchers about real Salt Lake. As Lee's Cup begins for the Sounders and for all of MLS and all of LEA MX this new tournament going on. The Sounders are in the group stage with Monterey
and RSL. So let's quickly take a look at the Sounders opponent this week in Rial Sa Lake. They got a three to one win over New York Red Bulls at home this last weekend, and they're gonna be hosting Seattle here this Saturday. What do you think about the new third place team in the West RSL. I've been saying for the last few weeks actually that I think
RSL is very much a club on the ascent. They made a big splash a couple weeks ago signing Kecho Orongo, who most people know from his time with LAFC, and he was one of the better number nine in MLS. When he was with LAFC. He was a big reason why they won the Sporter Shield and MLS Cup last year, and it was a big loss to them when he went to the GOMX, so RSL adding Chichio Rongo, that was like exactly what they needed that they've always had a solid base Under Pablo
Mastrione. He gets them playing as a team that's hard to break down, but they're not known for being a team that's very dynamic in attack. So having a true number nine like that, approven MLS goal scorer, I think that's that's a huge boost for them. But then you know, the other intriguing thing they have going I think is Diego Luna has an interesting US youth national team prospect, and he took kind of an different path than a lot
of the prospects coming up. He was with the Earthquakes Academy, but then he went to the USL with Opaso Locomotive and they moved him on to Rialso
Lakes, So he came in from the USL. But he's made a lot of noise on the US youth national team circuit and it seems like he's just starting in the last few weeks to find his footing in MLS, and I think the prospect with a lot of upside if they hit on Diego Luna in a similar way to say Seattle has on a guy like Leo cho or some of the other young twenty two guys or young youth prospects coming up, and
he starts producing for them. I mean, all of a sudden, you've got a high tier MLS number nine with Chico and then a potential breakout young prospect with Diego Luna, all on a roster that already has a pretty solid base. I mean, I've been saying that I a c RSL as a potential serious threat and contender in the West this season. I just really like what they've done with that roster. Yeah, you have to Diego Luna, the player of the match day this last week in that three to want to
win, so certainly have to watch out for him. Tonight's opponent, Alick, was presented by Sharp Vision, Modern Lasic and Lens, official Lasic provider of Sounders FC. Are you really quick, because I know we're tied on time here tonight, so really quick. Do you think we've heard Brian Schmitzer say Sounders are gonna take this seriously. I think we're gonna see top level
lineups for Lease Cup action. Do you think that every team and MLS we'll take this seriously and start, you know, their their top choice lineups. I mean, I'm sure you'll see varying approaches depending on where teams are at with injuries and their rosters and all the rest, but you know, I expect teams to take it pretty seriously. Yeah, I mean, I think it's the first year of this expanded edition and there's a trophy on the line, and I think anytime you're playing League MX, you want to try and
show out and show what you can do against that competition. I mean, the whole league's on break for it, so it's not like you're juggling games from the league season with the tournament. So I think maybe hopefully that will
incentivize teams to go for it a little more. And you know, I think for a lot of teams too, it's probably a chance where if their league season isn't going well or maybe they're falling out of playoff contention, it's a big opportunity to give you kind of a jolt jolt and either get your league season back on track and with an eye towards the playoffs, or if you fall in kind of far out of the playoffs, it's a chance to
win trophy. So any team in that situation should be taking it very seriously because you can salvage some vibes by doing well in this tournament and winning a trophy. Well, one of those teams that is very far down, I mean their last place in the entire league right now, who may be taking this seriously to get a trophy Miami, Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi, some Argentinian number ten, who knows what exactly he's gonna do, but Messi Busquets
now with Miami officially introduced this last weekend. Ari, I'm not sure if you got a chance to watch the festivities in the rain down there in Miami with Rge Moss and David Beckham and everybody out there for the massive celebration, fans breaking security lines just to see Messi get unveiled. Would love your two cents at the at the I guess the Hollywood aspect and just the lights and the pomp and the circumstance that has come with Messi's introduction as he has officially
joined into Miami. Yeah, I saw the highlight of it. It looked like quite the spectacle. It looked like they did it up right. I think you have to in that situation when you're introducing Messy. You've got to make it a spectacle, and they did so, and you know, credits all the fans down there for braving elements, braving the rain and sticking it out, and it looked like they had it pretty electric in there, even even given the weather, and it looked like an exciting event. So yeah,
no, I'm seeing that. It kind of drove home like, Wow, this is this is really happening. He's really here. He's gonna be playing in games soon, and I think he's expected to debut in the in the League's Cup. So yeah, I think it's just exciting to finally be at the point where we're gonna get to see him playing games. That's what I've been waiting for. I just want to see what it looks like on
the field and how he fares in MLS. It's I mean, we talked about it on this show of Jackson, but this is gonna be a different kind of level, a different kind of spectacle on a game to game basis than we've ever seen in this league. So it's exciting to be at the point where we actually are finally now going to get to see how it plays out on the field. There's been all this build up, all this hype, and now we get it. We get to see what it looks like.
I can't wait for that. Miami plays Friday at five pm. They're hosting Cruis Zool in Lease Cup. So that's the first chance everybody will have to see to see Messi there in Miami and in Lease Cup action. I'll ask you next week what you think are realistic numbers for Messi moving forward in MLS are We got to wrap it there. One more thing and that is
some smack talk. New Mexico United U twenty three's are Ballard FC hosting a playoff game New Mexico United, which obviously your squad, the U twenty three's facing Ballard in the leaves the USL TOO playoff. I'm not sure exactly what round, but listen, man, New Mexico, you're going down. You're going down on Friday, my friend, Yeah, okay, yeah, well so, And for anyone who doesn't know, I'm from Santa Fe, New Mexico, hence why I have that loyalty to New Mexico United. I'm a
religious, diehard fan of the USL club that we have down there. But yeah, I saw that on the schedule, and I was like, Okay, I don't know who to root for. You know, obviously I root for Ballard FC in most circumstances, but I got the hometown connection here, so I'll be keeping tabs on that closely. And you know, I think I do have to root for the new Mexico United U twenty three is here and stay loyal to the hometown. So that's when I'm gonna be keeping close
tabs on. And uh yeah, I'm rooting for the upset no offense to Ballad FC, but I got I gotta stay loyal to the hometown. Up the bridges and hopefully we'll see a good game on Friday. Go Ballard. Ari, great stuff is always my friend. We will talk to you next week. Thanks Jackson, appreciate it. Good stuff there from Ari Leinwall mls sucker dot com and host of Lobbing Scorchers. Make sure to check out that podcast well. As we switched gears and Ari and I ended by talking about
his new Mexico United squad facing Ballard FC. And it was great to be out there on Sunday afternoon for the Ballard match. And it's now time to hear more about that Ballard match and take a look around the sound here about what's going on with ol Rain and to come at Defiance. We hand things over for around the sound to our Puget Sound soccer expert and voice of Ballot FC. Here is Andrew Harvey. Like you said, playoff time already for
one of our Puget Sound clubs. Jackson Ballot FC officially finished the regular season as champions of the Northwest Division following Sunday's win over United PDX. They finished ten wins, one draw, one loss over the twelve match regular season, meaning they've both punched their ticket to the playoffs this year and the twenty twenty four Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. More details on that early next year.
Ballot's hosting two playoff games this coming Friday at in your Base Stadium. They'll play against the New Mexico United U twenty three's at seven thirty pm Pacific time. Don't wait, tickets are going fast on goballotfc dot com. If they win, they'll be back in action on Sunday in the second round against the winner of Park City Red Wolves and Olietown FC, who play at two pm
Friday at inter Bay. All those matches air on ballot FC's YouTube channel to come A. Defiance played to a one one draw on the road against La Galaxy two on Sunday before Low's dose took the bonus point and the penalty shootout. Defiance is back in La this weekend, taking on LAFC two on Sunday at five pm. That matchual air on Mlsnextpro dot Com. Ol Rain has been off for the past few weeks for the FIFA International Break. To'll be
back at it on July twenty eighth. In the meantime, they've announced that they are expanding their capacity for the remaining home yatches due to increase demand and the big headline Megan Rapino, one of the greatest to ever do it as an now she'll be hanging up her boots at the end of this season. Speaking of Rapino, she and four team mates are in New Zealand as the
twenty twenty three Women's World Cup gets underway at midnight tonight. Ol Rain had five players named to the US women's national team roster, Rapino, Rose Lavelle, Alona Cook, Emily Sonnet and Sophia Aguerta. They also had Jordan Heidema and Quinn named to Canada's squad for seven total. The US begins its campaign for a fifth World Cup title against Vietnam, who are appearing in the term for the first time. Dey'll face off at Eden Park in Auckland this Friday,
July twenty first, at six pm Pacific time. That match will air live on Fox. I'm Andrew Harvey and this has been around the sound good stuff there from Andrew Harvey, our Puget Sounds soccer expert and voice there of ballad FC. Glad He mentioned the Women's World Cup starting midnight tonight and then for the United States coming up a much easier hour there for viewing their six
pm good stuff there and once again ballad FC playoffs beginning this Friday. As Andrew mentioned, go balladfc dot com slash tickets to get in to Inner Base Stadium for this Friday. I'd tell you from being there on Sunday afternoon there was Steven Eggan of Radiocascadia. Such a massively fun atmosphere, seeing the people on the field, you know, rushing and not rushing the field, but coming onto the field after the final game of the regular season, and just
the family and community atmosphere that Ballad FC develops. I tell you why. You know, if you are a soccer fan in this area, you just gotta go to experience it. Yeah, you may not even adopt Ballad FC as you know, your club as I kind of have right below Sounders FC, but you know, you just gotta experience what that kind and a community game is like. It really is like a game at Starfire for the Sounders, you know, back when you know, many many years ago, but
they has it for a level of soccer. And there's these college kids and they're putting on a show, whether it's Stoss, whether it's you know, die like Danny Roblays who formerly played down there with S two to come a defiance. Peter Kingston's a hell of a player for Ballot FC. They have a really good squad. So listen, get out there on Friday night, seven thirty pm playoff game. As Andrew mentioned their goballotfc dot com slash tickets. It is a really fun time, trust me. But looking our attention
back to the Seattle Sounders. It will be League's Cup starting action in League's Cup. This Saturday game is gonna be at Royal Salt Lake. We will have a six thirty kickoff. It's actually gonna be as I mentioned earlier myself
on the call, alongside Steve Zakawani. I'm excited my first ever time doing Sounders FC play by play, so wish me luck and as I am preparing and taking my notes from Danny Jackson into Andrew Harvey unfortunately who are both unavailable this week, but that'll be fun alongside Steve doing the play by play kickoff six thirty. Provident Swedish PREMATCHO will begin at six o'clock here at this Saturday
for the Sounders at RSL in League Cup. It's America first field. By the way, I also mentioned that you can watch the match on Apple TV MLS Season Pass and listen in Spanish language on l Ray at thirteen sixties. So Keiley Dunning will have the pre match show. She will talk to you at six pm this Saturday. Steve Zakiwani and I will talk to you at six thirty. All of this, by the way, right here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM four Sounders Real saw Lake as League's Cup
action begins this Saturday. It is RSL this week and then Monterey in the next group stage match next Sunday, the thirtieth and twenty twenty three Leagues Cup tickets are now on sale. Support the Rave Green as they face off with CF Monterey of LEGA mx AD EQC pitch at Looming Field July thirtieth, six pm. This right here, another chance here for regional domination. So join us for the quest to lift another trophy. Learn more at SOUNDERSFC dot com
slash tickets. But for this Saturday's match, Sounders RSL. We will talk to you on Saturday six o'clock pregame six thirty kickoff. We'll see you on Saturday, but for right now, Fox Sports Radio coming up next