Coming to you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts. Good evening, everybody, Welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Feltz here, good to be with you on this beautiful Wednesday night. Here ninety three point three kjr FM, your home for Seattle Sounders FC soccer. Well for the Sounders. An eight game unbeaten run has come to an end. We're gonna talk about it
here tonight, the loss to LAFC three nothing last Saturday. We'll talk about a little bit more about the unbeaten run itself, the fact that it continued through Saint Louis a week ago, and then now what's ahead for your Sounders League's Cup action starting on Friday. In a few minutes, we're gonna chat
with Christian roldan or Here a conversation with Christian rolld On. He and I were out at training yesterday talking about that run, talk about the loss, talking about what's ahead, and talking about his life right now, which has gotten a hell of a lot busier because he just had a daughter, Mia Valentina, born during the Austin game. As he will talk about, so
he'll talk about being a new father. So we'll have Christian rolled on here in a little bit, and then we'll have Ari Lillienwall who will take us around the league and we'll talk about that League's Cup event starting for your Sounders in the group stage. It quickly details on that we will not have a radio broadcast actually for Sounders Minnesota United, but that comes out yet this Friday night. It will be a seven o'clock kickoff at Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at
Luminfield. You can get your tickets SOUNDERSFC dot com slash tickets. Also, I'll tell you that you can watch the match via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TVPP. So that is how you can take in this match. You will not be able to listen to it here on KJAR, but that will be what's going on this Friday for Sounders and at Minnesota United. Ari, we'll talk about that a little bit later on tonight, but really we should start by talking about that three nothing loss and the end of the unbeaten run.
And when you look back at that run, I mean you're facing teams like Minnesota. That's where I believe the run actually began in a win over Minnesota at home. You have the two two comeback draw over Houston. Then you have a wins over a bunch of lower level teams, you know, Chicago, Dallas, New England among them, and really Saint Louis. We were seeing the Sounders do a good job of basically, you know, doing what they're supposed to do, which is, you know, beating up on
poor teams, getting a bunch of points. And they just kept rising up the Western Conference table with all the points that they were getting from all these wins, I mean six unbeaten in a row, and in there obviously does include the US Open Cup win over Sacramento that should be noted. But still they were doing what they were supposed to do and beating up on these worst
teams. So that's why LAFC in that game on Saturday became such a massive test, and really all the headlines surrounding it were all, right, here's the measuring stick for the Sounders. You know, can you get a result against really, for my money, is the best team in the Western Conference. You can say what you want about the LA Galaxy. We've seen them a couple times this year. I still think that they have defensive issues on that team, and I know that they're at the top of the Western Conference
right now. I will remind everybody that LAFC, just two points back, also has two games in hand. So for my money, LAFC is the team to beat in the Western Conference. And oh, by the way, they get Olivier j Rude, the all time leading scorer of the French national team, and injured right now are Christian Olvera and Timothy Tillman, who they didn't even have in that three to nothing win over Seattle. So LAFC tremendous,
tremendous team, and we kind of saw it. Let's just be honest here, we saw that the Sounders are just not at lafc's level right now. And that's not to say that the Sounders aren't a much improved team from two months ago. They certainly are, but I think we're seeing that. I mean, listen, the transfer window just opened up, and this Sounders team needs to do something in order to reach the level of LAFC. And
maybe it's not even possible to reach their level. It probably isn't, but the reality of the situation is that if the Sounders want to get to MLS Cup, either they or somebody else are going to need to kick LAFC out. And you know, I just don't see LAFC loosing before the West Final, which I mean, if we're just set it up again, Sounders LAFC, we've seen in the playoffs so many times. We saw it. In twenty nineteen Sounders got rid of them, twenty twenty, Sounders once again eliminated
them, and then this last year LAFC eliminated us at Lumen. So these two teams, I mean, it sort of feels like the early days of the Sounders when they first joined MLS, where it was the Galaxy, and it feels like LAFC Sounders have this sort of rivalry here. It does feel like a big rivalry. And if we were to meet in the playoffs again, and obviously we meet in the Open Cup here one month from now down
at Starfire, that'll be a very interesting game. I mean, even right now just imagining, you know, Jerude and Hugo Laris of the ep L, and you know, most starts for a goalkeeper in a World Cup over his career ever, thinking about those two and Booga and everybody else getting dressed in the locker room slash bathroom of Starfire for road teams. I mean, it's hilarious and amazing, but still you're gonna have to be a lot better
on those days. If it were to be a West final, you know, going to be the US Open Cup semi final, it's gonna have to be a lot better than what happened on Saturday in that three nothing loss. So this transfer window is now open. What do the Sounders do? Obviously there's the rumors about this Dario Spikich. I'm probably butchering that name, but a player out of Croatia who's coming off of I believe a season where he had something like, well, was it four goals three assists or something like
that. Maybe I'm off on that he was seven goals, three assists. Regardless, you know, a winger who can play on both sides. There were rumors about this Dario guy, and then we saw them kind of get squashed over the weekend where Tom Bogert and others stepped in and said the deal is dead. So okay, if that's not going to happen, then where are we at with adding to this team? Because I fully believe that if the Sounders want to get to an MLS Cup, they need to improve this
roster. And yes, Peter de la Vega getting healthy having him in that's great. He only played forty five minutes. I think he still needs to get his for lack of a better term, see legs under him. But I think that but that will come on as he develops the camaraderie and the chemistry with his teammates, he will look better and he will show that he's an impact player for the Sounders. I also, at the same time, believe that just the improvement and inclusion of Pedro isn't gonna be enough to take
down LAFC. I mean sound They led the Sounders two nothing at halftime in the forty five minutes that Pedro de Levego was on the field. So I think they need help if they want to get to an MLS Cup and if they want to get by an LFC. And listen, you can say in twenty nineteen that LAFC had a better roster. I mean they won the Shield, they were hosting the West Final, they were better than the Sounders. But that game plan that Gonzalo Pinada and Brian Schmitzer and that crew, you
know, figured out to beat LAFC. You know, if the Sounders were to face LFC in that final back in twenty nineteen, ten times, they may only win a few of them, but they had the perfect plan to win that one off game. So it's possible to win a one off game with a perfect game plan. I just think that this team needs something here in this transfer window, and for Craig Wible and company, we'll see what that is, you know. So it's kind of a wait and see approach,
you know, throughout this transfer window. But I think we clearly saw all this to say, we clearly saw on Saturday that the Sounders are a bit back from where they need to be to challenge for a Western Conference title and get past LAFC. Because you know, credit where credit is due, and a lot of it is due. That is a tremendous LAFC team.
Bo woga bogoosh. I mean I was doing play by play obviously you're on kJ R for it, and you know, at a certain point, Steve, Zachkwani and I all that we could say was I hate saying this, but we have to give them credit. We have to credit Laris and Sanchez and everybody else. Because that is a fantastic soccer team and they for sure looked at and you know, for the Sounders, all right, well how do we get by him? And we'll have a share to get buy him
in the Open Cup. So we'll see what happens next month. But for your Sounders, attention right now turns to League's Cup and it's Minnesota coming up here in the group stage this Friday. As we look ahead to this tournament, we'll talk more about it with Ari Lillienwat later on, but for the Sounders, it's coming off of that loss and looking ahead to a little bit of a break in the MLS season for a month. So yesterday at training
I was able to catch up with Christian rolled On. We talked about the break in action and MLS Cup. We talked about his you know, the the interest and the enthusiasm for League's Cup and the lost LAFC. We also talked about him becoming a father and having a daughter, Mia Valentina, born during the Austin game. He'll talk about that, but we did start with Christian by just kind of getting the vegetables, getting the tough part of the conversation out of the way, and that is the lost to LAFC. So
here is the Sounders midfielder Christian rolled on frustrating. Right. You want results at home, especially in front of our crowd, and unfortunately we weren't good enough on the day. Credit to LAFC for coming coming to our stadium with a game plan and executing. Uh. And for us, we weren't good enough on the day, and we take responsibility and we have to move on. Christian talking about that eight game unbeaten run, I'm wondering, you know,
how do you view it looking back? Is it more of this run was going to come to an end at some point? Is it more of, you know, the frustration you just mentioned because it did come with three nothing. How how do you come away from from that eight game unbeaten run? Uh? Yeah, I think frustrating, right. I think I said that earlier just because we felt like we were in a groove, we had
confidence going into this game. Uh. And and I didn't think that we were that far off from from the from the actual result, which was three zero. And so I think the way it happened obviously the most frustrating part, you know, being at home being uh, you know, trying to catch up to two teams like LAFC Galaxy Salt Lake. Uh. And so now we have to turn the page. You know, we got Least Cup League's Cup coming up, and we are focus is now on Leagues Cup.
You're with Christian roll done And before we get to the all the stuff about being a new dad, you mentioned Leagu's Cup there. What is the enthusiasm level for you and the guys about kind of a mid season tournament in the midst of a busy MLS schedule that has seen you guys have successively. Yeah, I think it's another challenge for us. I think it's a challenge accepted.
You know, it's a it's a it's a tournament that we feel like we have the ability to go far in and it's again another another chance to win a trophy. And so that's what this franchise is all about. And and hopefully we can put ourselves in a in a good spot after our first game on Friday, uh and set ourselves up for success. How much of that confidence that you guys can go far is built on the fact that this
entire group stage she Leaks Cup, You're gonna have it at home? Yeah, certainly, I think we we struggled at home at first, and and we we got a groove and you know, we've we've got some wins in a row at home, and so you know, it wasn't too long ago that we beat Minnesota at home. So we got to use, uh, what we did well in that game and tried to avoid the things that we did bad, uh, to get better. All right, Well, let's move on here and talk about the big headline, which is that you were
a new dad, uh mea Valentina coming into this world. What's what's the last couple of weeks been like for you? Yeah, it's been a bit hectic. You know. She came on our due date or her due date, and uh, you know, we were debating whether to go to Austin or stay back, and luckily we we decided to stay back at a at a precaution, you know, just in case she came. And she came right at halftime, and uh thrilled half time literally halftime, you know,
of our game in Austin. So thrilled, thrilled that it all worked out, Thrilled that she and and mom is healthy. Uh and and yeah, it's such as your your whole life changes uh, in a blink of an eye, and uh, you know your perspective on life is just a tad bit different. Not to get too much into the story, but are you are you holding the newborn baby as you watch the team win in Austin? Like set the seat a little bit? Yeah, there was a I put the iPad on and I asked my wife it was okay to put the game
on during labor. But then we ended up shutting it off for a bit and then when I turned it back on, it was literally halftime. So, uh, what a what a funny uh, just story. I think she knew that she needs to come at that time and as she did. How about that? And then you know in this last stretch where you know you're you're out here protessing with the team you're obviously playing in the games Saint Louis l e f C. You know, has it been difficult to divide
that focus or are you able to compartmentalize? Yeah? This, uh come into train is obviously a good uh distraction I think from everything for you. You have lack of sleep, you have uh you know moments where you're not sleeping, Uh, you know in your bed, you're at the hospital. You know, you didn't train for a couple of days, and so being
able to decompress back onto the field is really nice. Uh. And and it serves as a as a nice distraction to get out of the house and kind of go on with your daily life even though your life has changed so much. Last thing here for your Christian, would you give yourself from one month ago any piece of advice based on what the experiences you've had in the last week. I mean, I took advantage of sleep before she came,
and so I'm doing all right in that category. I would have I would have said, uh, you know, just be prepared to spend a lot of money on diapers and wipes and different outfits. But it is, it is a huge blessing. And she's so cute when uh, you know, she's in these different outfits, and even though she's crying at three in the morning, you know you can't you can't help but love her. I'm taking notes, Christian. Congratulations and good luck it's Minnesota. Thank you Jackson,
appreciate it. That's good stuff there from Christian. Rolled on your Seattle Sounders midfielder. Whether he's on the right wing at right back holding your Swiss Army knife there. Good to chat with him, and a big congratulations to him and his wife Sianna for the birth of Mea Valentina. That's a fun story there, you know. I imagine it's something like, you know, you you wait for a good moment to ask your wife if hey, can I
turn on the game after the birth of your daughter. I mean, I've made it no secret I am looking to be a dad somewhat in the near future, and I can only imagine if it's me and my wife in the delivery room and after the birth of our kid, if I say to her, hey can I turn on the Sounders game? Or hey, can I turn on KJR? I'm probably getting slapped in the face. But well done and a heck of a gutsy effort. Christian rolled on to actually ask the
question and pull that off. But congratulations to him and his wife. Joking aside, Just awesome for the two of them and fun to see. You know. Instagram is a cool place too, and I'm sure Christian posting and will post more. So congratulations to them and good luck to Christian. As we said, for the Minnesota game coming up, let's talk about Leagu's Cup ahead, let's take a break and chat with Ari Leenwall at MLS Soccer dot
com. I want to gauge his interest and enthusiasm in League's Cup and what he has kind of heard around the nation about kind of how people feel about this tournament between Major League Soccer and leah MX down in Mexico. Ari Lionwall will come up next, but before we get there, I'll tell you that twenty twenty five season membership deposits are on sale. Now place a one hundred dollars deposit and gain access to benefits you can use this season, including Lumenfield
concert pre sales and mlsstore dot com discounts. Learn Moore at sounderzefc dot com backslash membership. We'll get a break and we'll chat with Ari Lillianwall next on Sounders Weekly on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRF. Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders fc CL's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back Sounders Weekly, Jackson Felt's good to have you here.
Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Just two days from right now, Sounders will be facing Minnesota United first game of League's Cup in the group stage. That'll be Friday at Luminfield. You also watch MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. No radio broadcast, but look forward to seeing everybody out there for Sounders Minnesota for League's Cup. We'll talk about Minnesota here coming up in a moment with our now guest right now Ari lillianwallomlssoccer dot com, who's also
going to take us around the league. Ari. Good to have you back on my friend. How are you? I'm good, Jackson. You know, an unfortunate last Sounders game, but I'm doing well. How are you? Yeah? Well, I had to call play by play for the thing here on KJR, and that was that was tough when Bwanga made it three to nothing. At that point you kind of just start talking about Minnesota. Had you start talking about other storylines because it was it was not fun there
in the three nothing loss. Let's start there, Ari, And I think the question is coming off of eight unbeaten, this was really kind of the test. This was the game that would show, you know, all right, how good are the Sounders now you compare to the top teams in the Western Conference, And at least from my money, I think we kind of got to look at the gap between the top teams your LA, laf CRSL and Seattle. Is that what you saw as well? Yeah, I think
you hit the nail on the head there, Jackson. I mean, if you look at what the national perspective was from those analysts going into this game, they were talking about how, you know, Seattle's been playing better, and that's all well and good, but who have they really been And this
kind of became the measuring stick game to sort of address that narrative. And so it was definitely a letdown performance in that respect, and I do think it kind of showed the gap between Seattle and some of these elite teams in the league right now, Like if you look at LAFC DPS and their difference makers. In this game, you had Bowanga scoring two goals, you had Bogus scoring a goal. I mean, they have these guys that they they
step up in those moments under the bright lights in these big games. And they've got the leading goal scorer in the history of the French national team, Olivi Olivier Jareu to add to it, and they're gonna get even better. So I definitely think that it does underscore where that gap is. Like you said, not to not have Dhrud yet to not have Christian Olvera, to not have Timothy Tillman, and to still win three nothing on the road at a team who was unbeaten an eight. I mean that I think it just
clearly shows. I mean, on that same tokenari Ario Lineal is our guest MS soccer dot Com and the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. On that note, we look at this entire league right now, and obviously you have Miami right now who's sitting at the top of the supporter shield standings. Cincinnati has droppen off quite a bit because of their center back injuries. And I'm kind of wondering, you know, I know the Galaxy right now are above LAFC, but
LAFC have two games in hand. Is LAFC the biggest team who would challenge Miami for the shield right now? Is there anybody else in the league or is it Miami LAFC, maybe the Galaxy two and then the rest? I think I think that is how I see it right now. I mean, Miami is obviously the odds on favorite, and LAFC is right there. Like you mentioned, FC, Cincinnati has fallen off a little bit there. I think you have to mention Columbus in there with the form that they've been in
lately. And as far as the Western Conference goes in terms of shield contenders with RSL dealing with a little bit of a downturn right now too, I think it is the two LA teams who you would have to think are the favorite. The debate between who's better between l a f C and the Galaxy is an interesting one. LAFC won the last l TRAFFICO and they certainly have
been in great form lately. But the Galaxy, you know, you know, I'm a big Galaxy guy, like I think that when their attack is rolling, it's as good as anyone's in the league, for whatever their defensive deficiencies might be. But in terms of the shield race, I look at it kind of as like Miami and everyone else. But I do think that LAFC, the Galaxy, and the Crew will I mean, they're gonna have a say in it before it's all said and done, they certainly will.
Ari let's switch gears back to what we're looking at for Seattle, and you know, this is a league's Cup starting up and before we talk about Minnesota coming out. I just love to get your tech and I know you right for the league. You're editor writer for MLS Soccer dot Com, but you also give a lot of commentary there on your podcast Lobbing Scorcher. So I think you can and give me an objective answer for this, for you and
for writers around the league and folks you talk to around the league. How much enthusiasm is there nationally for a League's Cup in this format in its second year. You know, I think it's a little polarizing at least the fan
response that I've seen a lot of people really don't like this tournament. They kind of see it as a cynical money grab, And I think when you throw in the league's kind of attempt to get MLS clubs out of the Open Cup this year, that sort of added to the polarization of it for me personally. I mean, I covered Seattle's entire run to the League's Cup final
a couple of years ago. I went to that final in Vegas. I was at all those games that were in Seattle, and my feeling on it is that I support anything that gets our MLS clubs as much run against these League MX clubs as possible. I think playing that type of competition and getting a lot of reps against them makes our clubs better. And I think I said this on my podcast, but my evidence to support that would be Seattle's run and how that affected their run to the CONCA CAP Champions League Final,
which they won the following year. Brian Schmetzer has talked about this. The League's Cup games that they played had them very prepared, had them very drilled on how to play against these teams, and it ups their level. And I really think that the more we can get our clubs playing these games against these high level opponents from League to MX, the more it's going to raise their level, the better our teams are going to be from getting those reps.
I think you bring up some good points there, and you know, it's funny. I do love the fact that they shut down the regular season for a month in both leagues so that you can play this tournament. So it sort of isn't a thing where you're just jostling between the schedules and like an Open Cup or you'll face MLS, Open Cup, MLS back and forth, back and forth. So I appreciate that because it allows time and energy
and dedication. And you know, for Brian Spencer, it's easy. You just keep running out the starters because you need them to stay fit, you need them to you know, just keep getting their runs in. For the Sounders, facing Minnesota a team where you know, if you look at it in MLS, they're still holding a playoff space in the space there in ninth
spot, just four points back of the Sounders. Obviously, their whole situation with the man that we had a watch going if he was actually gonna be there, not Emmanuel Renoso, that has ended as he is now finally in the rearview mirror. But now that Minnesota is past that, who is this Minnesota United team who will be coming to town here in two days? Yeah, I mean what I can tell you about Minnesota is that, I mean
they're struggling right now about as much as anyone in the league. You know, the story with them earlier in the season was kind of how well they managed to stay afloat given the whole Emmanuel Reinoso saga and then also their DP striker Timo Pook has been either injured or unproductive for a lot of the season, so they were in a situation where two of the main guys that they're tach was going to be built around weren't there either we're missing or not producing,
and they had to work around that, and they did that to pretty good effect. Earlier in the year, they built their whole offense around Robin bad who's carried the load for them, and they did quite well and they got some good results. But I think it's caught up to them over this last stress of games here. You can kind of only survive like that for so long, and they're starting to feel the effects of kind of where their roster is at, and it's resulted in a pretty big downturn and form.
And yeah, like you said, they have a playoff spot right now, but they are definitely wimping going into this tournament. I think they were winless in ten recently, so Minnesota United is definitely struggling right now. Well, kickoff seven pm on Friday night. Watch the match MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and get your tickets SOUNDERSFC dot com slash tickets to get out there to Friday's match their starting league's cup. Again. We will not have
a radio broadcast for that. And also they are good thoughts from Arion, Minnesota. Tonight's ouponent ALEC was presented by Sharpvision Modern lesa can Lens, the official Lasik provider of Sounders FC ARI. Let's quickly turn to All Star Week. And I know the All Star Game happening tonight. I really don't care
about it. I'm not watching it because it includes no Sounders. And you know, it's a funny situation because the voting for the All Star Game, and I don't know what I'm supposed to say or can say or shouldn't say whatever? Is that the voting happens about a month ago, right or a month and a half, even two months ago. The voting is a little bit earlier in the season, at the start or before this eight game unbeaten run that the Sounders had and this massive run that Albert Rusnak and Jordan Morris
had. Oh, the voting happens before they go on fire. And I'm wondering if there's a flaw in the system here, because for what they've done over their last ten games, it just feels like Jordan and Albert deserve a spot on that roster. Am I off base? Maybe they don't even deserve a spot, but I kind of feel like they deserve a spot because of
this last stretch. Yeah, no, it's not a bad point. I hadn't really thought about it like that, you know, I'm thinking back, and I believe I cast my ballot about a month ago, I believe, and that is right around when Seattle's recent hot streak just started. So I think Jordan and Albert are a little bit of just victims of timing in that
respect. Seattle ends up with no representatives. But like based on how the first big stretch of games of the season went, which is a pretty big sample size, I don't really think that there's all that much of an outrage case to be made as far as snubs go. I do think if Jordan and Albert's recent run of form was taken into account, they would have a good shout there, And if you look at their numbers for the season now,
they're doing pretty well, especially Rusnak. But I think, like you said, it was sort of based on the run of games that directly before that hot streak. So I think it's I mean, it's a little unlucky as much as anything that, you know, a run like that didn't come at a time when the ballots were getting cast. Well, so take this
idea to your boss. Is there at Major League Soccer put in a new mechanism next year where the voting for the All Star Game is for like all but maybe one or two spots, and then once all that voting is compiled, you have your rosters, and then based on the few games leading up to the All Star Game, you have I mean, I don't know who's who's the head coach for MLS. Is it the is it Steve Torontolo. I don't know who's who's going to be coaching this thing. Will for now
that makes sense the MLS Cup winner from last year. So I give Wilfrid Nancy, and give whoever's coaching the MLS All Stars and leg MX All Stars, give them the ability to add a supplemental player based on the recent run and say, God, he's not on the roster, but he's in great form, Let's add him to the roster. Because I feel like a guy like Will for Nancy. I mean, you know, obviously a stacked roster, but if you have the ability to go add an Albert or add a
Jordan, you know in a game where I mean I don't know. Again, I'm not watching and I'm not following it, but it is sort of like we were saying about League's Cup. It's a measuring stick for our league to their league, and you know, chance to have some experience against those players. So I'll check the score at some point later tonight when my head hits the bat and see what happened. But it frustrates me that no Sounders are able to get in and there's no mechanism to get the deserving players in
there. Anyway, All right, Ari, I'm off my soapbox. Good stuff, man. We will talk next week ahead of the Sounders Second League's Cup group match, talk about Minnesota, talk about what's happening around the league. Hey, really quick before I let you go. Obviously, Olivier Jerude coming into LAFC. That's the big one happening for MLS. Transfer window now open for your money. You know, just watching the transfer window open up here Seattle. We were just waiting to see what may happen. But around
the league, is Jerude the number one move? Is there any other huge things that are happening that you were seeing around the league that are coming down the pipe here at the start of the transfer window. I mean, I can't think of any off the top of my head. I'm sure there are some, but like what I will say is that I don't I can't imagine
that there's anything more high profile than Jeru. Like, like I said, this guy is the leading goal scorer in the history of the French national team, one of the best strikers, most productive strikers of this generation, has played for a lot of the biggest clubs in the world. So I mean, this guy coming into the league even at age thirty seven. You know, they did something to a similar effect with Gareth Bale a couple of years
ago. Like I most certainly expect him to strengthen their team quite a bit and be very productive in the league. Rich kid, Richard. It's frustrating, but it is what it is, all right, aur Thanks for taking us around the league. We appreciate it and we'll talk to you next week. That good, Thanks Jackson. That's ari LEENWALLMLS soccer dot com and check out his podcast, Lobbing Scorches wherever you get your podcasts, including the Ihear
Radio app. Ari and No do a great job with that Lobbing Scorcheres podcast and their agenda Watch and various players including Albert Rusnak is one of my favorite segments, so make sure to check out. Lobbing scorchers from around the league. Will now go around the sound some bad news here about what's going on with my favorite Ballad FC club in USL two is. The USL two season is kind of ongoing and wrapping up a little bit. Ballard was able to
make the playoffs. They won the Northwest Division. Actually they ended the season very strong with a couple wins. They had the number one seed going in, but they lost in their first game of the playoffs at home, and that was actually a game at Inner Bay. Actually they switched it back to Inner Bay after the work was being done down there. They're switching back full time to InterBase starting next year, including by the way, their women's team
that they introduced a couple weeks ago. So Ballad was knocked out of the playoffs by Project five ten down in California. The final score was two to one, and it was frustrating because Ballard led two to one and Project five to ten scored two goals in the last I want to say about fifteen minutes of that game to storm back and get a two to one win, So
Ballard is out in terms of what's going on. In terms of the rest of that Northwest Division, Tacoma finished in third place Middle Lakes and fourth place, West Seattle in fifth place, only Town in seventh place. None of them made the playoffs. United PDX was the other team to get out. They won their first playoff game, but they lost in the semi finals of the USL two round, which was what Sunday I believe at Inner Bay.
They lost to Project five to ten five to four. So Project five to ten get out of that side of the bracket, So not good news for our local USL two teams. Ballard is the only local team that made it to the playoffs and they lost there in the first round. Let's take a look quickly at what's going on with rain FC Seattle RAINFC in case you missed it, they are once again now under the Sounders FC umbrella. They played Utah Royals FC back on Friday at Lumenfield and they beat Utah by a score
of two to one. That was not in the regular season. It should be mentioned of what's going on in NWSL. That was in a special NWSL versus Lega MX Summer Cup. So they got that done back on Friday night and for them their next match which is again in this Summer Cup against Lega MX. They'll face Club Tijuana coming up this Sunday at Lumenfield at three pm, so make sure to head out to Lumen for that match. So there you go for around the sound and from there we'll take a break here in
Sounders Weekly. A lot more to get to here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KIDJRFM. I will tell you that Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence, Swedish official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. More up next on Sounders Weekly. Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC cll's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back Sounders Weekly. Jackson felt
good to be with you here ninety three point three kjr FM. Thanks to our guests so far this evening, Christian role Don who I was able to chat with out at training yesterday and Ari Lillian raw all right there. Check out the podcast Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts, including the iHeartRadio app. In case you missed either of them. And in case you missed any of the interviews out there at Long Acres for Sounders FC trainings, I should
say check out my Twitter account at Jackson on Radio. I live stream every single Sounders interview, press conference after training is out there. So for example, this morning, Jordan Morris spoke to myself and Jeremiaoshan and Sounder Heart the two of us were out there and we talked to Jordan about Least Cup ahead and all good things. So check out the Twitter account Jackson on Radio for all of those interviews and press conferences. Well, we were going to have
an interview here. We're trying to fit one in with the Apple broadcaster as we usually do. Unfortunately, Lloyd Sam the former player he was with the Leeds United System for a while, played some years in Major League Soccer as well. Lloyd will be on the call for Sounders Minnesota this Friday on Mlsseason
Pass on Apple TV. He'll be doing it alongside Neil Sika, and you'll be able to actually take them in on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV because we will not have a radio broadcast again for Sounders Minnesota this coming Friday, so tune to those two guys there on Apple for the game if you cannot make it out to Luminfield, but hopefully all of you can make it out to Luminfield SOUNDERSFC dot Com slash tickets will be good to see everybody out there
for the first game of League's Cup. Now, in the place of Lloyd Sam, we're gonna bring in here once again our producer Anders Hurst, who's been our summer tournament correspondent. And yes, I know our tournament between COPA and the Euros ended a couple weeks ago now, but we haven't had the chance Anders to talk since the end of those major tournaments. There's also some more rumors, and I wouldn't call it news, but they are rumors about
the future of the United States men's national team coaching position. So thank you for coming back in here. Let's first start on the United States side. The latest rumor that we are hearing and seeing is Patrick Vieira, who is the longtime player for Arsenal and over in the English Premier League, and of course then he became a manager. He managed for New York CITYFC some years back. Was that about seven eight years ago Patrick Vieira was the manager over
there. He moved on from New York CITYFC, and he ended up kind of taking up some other places as well. He's forty eight years old. Most recently he was the head coach at Strasbourg. He also coached Crystal Palace for a few years, I know, before being fired there. So he's a man who has a lot of coaching experience over across the seas as well
as here in the US playing at the highest level. So Andrews, let's just first get your gauge where are you at If Patrick Vieira is the name and is going to be the one to take over the United States head coaching job. I think overall, I think it's the right thought for a type of manager to look for. He would not be my first choice, though he has the experience kind of on overseas in Europe coaching. Crystal Palace didn't
necessarily have the best tenure there. I wouldn't say it was a complete failure though he's known to be good with younger players, which I think, once again, that's one of the kind of things we're looking for here for the next US head coach. So I think it would be a good choice, but not my first choice on that same token when we talk about a guy who's had experience over there and experience here with New York. Is it important
for you at least? And I'm sure a lot of people out there say share your mindset, they share my They sure everybody has their own thoughts, right, But I'm wondering for you, is it important for somebody to be in this job who understands MLS and also understands the game at the highest level. I can see where people would say that that's important quality to have in the next head coach. To me, it's not I and I wouldn't. I wouldn't go so far to say I'm looking for someone who doesn't. But
to me, it's just kind of a non important factor. I almost want someone who doesn't really have that like initial thought about what US men's soccer has been up until now. They just want to bring in their own system.
They want to make the best team they possibly can with the players that are available, no preconceived thoughts about what this team used to be, how they used to call it players, how they used to develop players, do it their way, and the way they've kind of had success with in the previous places they've been to bring it here to the US, and I think that's kind of the shakeup that this system needs here at US men's soccer. Yeah,
for sure. And you mentioned that Patrick obviously isn't your first choice. Not my first choice either, as we talked about a couple episodes ago, but your overall first choice that you mentioned a couple weeks ago. Jorgan Klopp has reportedly told the United States no, I will not be taking that job. So now that he is out, who is your number one man? There's a couple options. I actually really like your guy Yardo pick from the
last time that you and I talked. I think there's a good kind of mixture of someone who maybe hasn't necessarily done it at the top, top level. He was kind of touted as the next big thing in international soccer management, went to Saudi Arabia, didn't really like it there. He is available now, but again again someone who has worked with younger players. I wouldn't
mind seeing him. I wouldn't mind seeing Thomas Touchell. He would be a little bit more of a high profile manager that would come and like do it his way or the highway. But he's he's done it at the top level. For many different clubs, So he's an option. I like Thomas frank from the former Brentford manager. There's a couple options out there that may not be like big, big names, but I think one of those three is
probably the direction that I'm looking at. Yeah, I love Guyardo, and you know, somebody responded back with like, well, he was fired from this club in Saudi Arabia. Fired, But at the same time, I mean, clubs make statements about releasing people to save face in certain ways. So as far as we know, he wanted out there, and his son is part of the Atlanta United Academy, so there's connections for there. But hey, let's switch gears. Let's talk Argentina, because yes, bad news
lost in in the Olympics today in a shockert. But hey, listen, one copa yeah, and that was an exciting final against Colombia, one that I think. Listen the craziness at the start of the game and getting into the stadium Miami, that's a whole separate situation. But the game itself was back and forth, and for a while there it looked like Columbia had a shot to take it in the first ninety Completely agree and especially in the first
half. I think Columbia really came out and did kind of what I expected them to do. They were a dangerous team all tournament, and to be honest, even though I think Argentina's more talented, they've proven it at the top level for longer. Columbia I think had the better overall tournament in terms
of that we're showing that we're a good team now. Argentina never really kicked into that next year, so I think that it's it's really huge that they were able to kind of even do it against a really, really good team like Argentina. Yeah, I think that was about as compelling of a one zero game as I've ever seen, to be honest, back and forth, lots of chances, lots of drama. Messi's injury, of course, is going to be a huge kind of factor in the second half of the MLS
season. We can talk about that at a later time. But you saw how emotional he was. But once again, I'm happy it didn't go into penalties because that would have been a little bit of a tough situation for me to go through as an Argentina fan. Playing your boy won it. Yeah, exactly, a lot of Tarow Martinez, my guy, he was Golden boot of the tournament. Didn't even start the game, which is weird,
but that kind of just shows the depth of Argentina. Yeah, what a good game to watch, and it was a good one to end it off. Yeah, just tremendous for Oliver Is. It's so funny for Oliver Is. They there was something on Twitter that I saw that showing how his calendar year of soccer was like all but six days and then now Olympics. I mean, we don't even need to get into what happened today or the Olympic life. I just want to just yeah, I just want to mention that,
like for those oh my god, Argentina lost to Morocco. So yeah, these are a lot of the top teams like second or third string guys. Because of what you just mentioned. They've been playing all year round, including extra with the Copa America and Euros. That just finished. This right now is their only couple of weeks they actually get to have off. And there's even some clubs that are starting the preseason now, so there's a lot
of mixtures in terms of like their schedules and stuff. Soccer players do not get a lot of time off, especially at the top level. So yeah that I wouldn't say it's a huge story, but what happened at the end of the game was definitely a good one. We got a minute here, we got to talk Euros because you know, there's a situation where England kept finding ways, kept finding ways, got themselves into the final. It looked like they had found a way again to extend the game. But Spain,
yes or no, best team clearly all tournament. Yeah, one hundred percent. Yes. I think the only team that actually has a chance to take that away from them is Germany. But they played each other in the quarterfinals, so that game, it was an awesome game. But Spain deserved winners. They were they were the ones creating more chances, have a lot of really good players on their team. Uh yeah, I I nothing more to say other than the Spain was deserved winners. Thank god England didn't win.
But thank god it's not coming home. I mean at this point, I mean, they really fought like hell. And now Gareth Southgate's out, he's resigned, and that don't bring him to the US. Do not bring him to the US. So he's so he would be on your not list. No, absolutely not. I would just say I think it's amazing how they fought so hard, little this, little that, just finding every little which way to get into the final and then you go up against Spain. I
mean like at this point will it ever come home? I'm not sure. Yeah, and and really quick. I know we're short on time, but if it's that hard with that good of a squad, there's something wrong and that's why I don't want Gareth Southgate with the US. Well. Well, more on that, we'll keep talking about that. Anders, great stuff. Thanks. We appreciate you coming in today. Yeah, appreciate you having me
well, good stuff. Anders. We appreciate your time as we were able to fit in around the world following our visits around the league with Ari and around the sound as well, so we covered it all here today as well as Christian rolled on. If you missed any of it, check out Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks to all of our guests again,
but that will do it for the show tonight. Want to thank the guests and thank you all for listening, and we will talk to you maybe a while for the Sounders Next time, we'll have a radio broadcast will be back on here for Sounders Weekly next Wednesday. Of course here at seven pm on ninety three point three KJRFM. No radio broadcast for Sounders Minnesota coming up this Friday, so tune to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to watch that,
or of course be out at Luminfield. Look forward to seeing a bunch of people there for least Cup on Friday. So we'll talk to you next week here for Sounders content on KJAR. We'll see at at Lumen. Have a good rest of your week everybody, and Fox Sports video is coming up in that