Coming to you live from Orelliot Avenue Studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Good even everybody, Jackson Felts here, good to be with you here, Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. We're talking Sounders soccer for the next hour. Lot coming up here on tonight's show. We're gonna hear from Jordan Morris, had the chance to talk to him just a few hours ago after Sounders training.
Today.
Also we're gonna talk to Ari LILLENWALLFMLS sooccer dot com. And then later on tonight you're gonna hear from the newest Seattle Sounder, Georgie Manoongu, the young twenty two year old winger, the attacking winger from Ivory Coast in Africa. Long chat with him coming up later on tonight. So a couple players Ari, of course, to explain what the
heck happened last weekend. Because this is a celebratory Sounders Weekly, we're gonna be spending a lot of time talking about the four nothing win in Columbus and what the heck happened that ultimately resulted in the four nothing win. We'll get to that in a moment, as I always do. I'll tell you about broadcast details ahead for the next game. We'll talk about the Sounders game against Sporting Kansas City with Ari as well. But the Sounders will be facing
Sporting Kansas City this Sunday, not a Saturday game. Sunday at Lumen Field. We will have a provident Swedish premat show of four o'clock kickoff of four to twenty five, and that will be over on our sister station of Sports Radio nine fifty kJ AM this coming Sunday. You can also watch the match via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TVP and listen in Spanish language on l
Ray thirteen sixty. So we'll talk about the Sporting Kansas City game coming up a little bit later on tonight, but listen, we have to open up by talking about the wild four nothing winn in Columbus, where if you've been under a rock if you haven't heard, the Sounders won, will playing more than forty five minutes against a midfielder
in goal for Columbus. Now I have to ask Ari the full details, but the way I sort of understand it is that Columbus's three top keepers were all on international duty or injured, so they were on their fourth
guyably third or fourth guy, which is Abraham Romero. He was their goalkeeper and because of some roster rules when it comes to their lower level team, Columbus Crew two, like the Sounders have Tacoma Defiance, Columbus have Columbus Crew two, they weren't able to bring up another goalkeeper, so they.
Only had one on their roster. Abraham Romero.
He had one job not to get ejected, and he failed in that job because he got ejected right before halftime and then right after he's sent off, they have to put a midfielder in goal. That midfielder the first shot, he faces a free kick from Albert Ut into the back of the net, and clearly he was uncomfortable, discombobulated, didn't exactly know what he was doing in goal, and
the Sounders took advantage. They took advantage from the first second he was in there with that free kick from Rusnak, and then they followed up with three more goals in the second half. A congratulations to Rusnak for his hat trick, a third hat trick all time against Columbus. Weirdly enough, Blaize Koufo, Lamar Nagil, and now Rusnak all have hat tricks against Columbus, So congratulations to Rusnak. It was his first ever hat trick ever in his entire soccer career,
so that's outstanding. Just up to eight goals twelve assists on the season, he's been fantastic. Jordan Morris also scored. You're gonna hear from him in just a minute. So for the Sounders, and they could have really honestly scored two, three, four more goals. They took the foot off the gas and you had moments where you know, Josh Atensio could have slipped a ball to Georgie Manungu, who will also be on the show later tonight. Georgie could have had a goal, but a ten year took a shot and
it hit off the bar. Leo Chu had a couple chances. The Sounders could have easily won this game six, seven, nothing or more. But the foot did come off the gas in the second half once they were up for nothing,
and it was just an easy route of Columbus. Who listen, when you're playing a midfielder in goal, you're not expecting to win that game, and for the second half, for long stretches of that second half, what Wilford Nancy, the head coach of Columbus did was he put the midfielder that they put in goal out into the field when they had possession to just give them another field player and basically, as if it's a hockey team pulling their goalie,
played without a goalkeeper for stretches in possession. It was a mess for Columbus, understandably, and the Sounders did what they needed to do. They took advantage and they made it a blowout win. And you know, some Columbus fans are mad, but at the end of the day, we are going to be happy. We are going to take
those three points. And for the Sounders, it's fifth place in the Western Conference right now, and right now looking at the last six three in a row at home coming up here starting with KC on Sunday, it is really about taking advantage of the final run of the season four to six at home and getting as many points you can to get up the table and get hopefully a top four playoff seed. In terms of a man who scored against Columbus, it wasn't Albert Rusnak with
the hat trick. It was Jordan Morris And we talked out at training earlier today about the weird winning Columbus and got his reaction to just how unusual it was playing against a team without a goalkeeper.
Yeah, it was strange obviously.
I mean we didn't know that he was the only goalie on the game day roster, so was obviously kind of confused when he got the right card and they put a field player in. But I mean, I guess earned that red card and deserve to have the you know, eleven versus ten, and I'm glad we were able to take advantage of it.
When did you find out that that they didn't have another goalkeeper put in?
I just saw his Oscar putty on the gloves and I asked, I think I asked Camacho like no, like note on the bench and he said no.
So, yeah, it was. It was an interesting one. I mean, fair play to him.
That's not easy to jump in goal like that, and you know he did all right, So it's a it's a it's a tough one. But I mean for us, it was a good performance and to get a win against a team like that is important.
Does it take you back to the youth days over on Mercer Island or the East Side at all? Like playing like a ten years old were Like, you know, if you're not an elite player, like you know, we has a specialized position, you're facing your random kidd in goal, Like, does it take you back to those days a little bit?
I remember I used to jump in goal sometimes back in the day, like kind of fun to do something different. I'm sure he wasn't a feeling like it was fun at that at that moment, but yet.
Took it back a little bit.
Well, it's a great win obviously, and now Kansas City ahead and they've had this club's number for you know, over the last couple of years. It feels like, you know, how do you turn it around and get a resulted at them at home on Sunday?
Yeah, you know, it's a it's a it's a massive game for us to start of a three game homestand where you know, we need to continue to climb the table and then they're fighting for you know, to try to get up into the playoffs bot as well, and like you said, they've kind of had our number the last few years. And and so yeah, it's a it's a it's a big one for us to to keep climbing the table.
They're a good team, we know what they bring.
But I think that we're you know, riding some confidence coming in in the last game from from the last game, and.
We just got to put that into this weekend.
So it'll be it'll be a fun one, but we know that they're gonna come out and and and be ready for for the challenge.
Now obviously you know they've had number a few times, but you obviously the four goal four us this game obviously, then you know that's obviously there as well. And in terms of numbers, I mean numbers wise, got a very strong twenty twenty four, you know, as you kind of we're obviously tail end of the season, six sixteen plucks. When you reflect back here on this season that has been so far. What has clicked for you this season
so well? To get all of these goals and be nearing career marks In that regard, I think more of an extended time at the nine. I think that helps to play in one position for you know, the majority of a season. And obviously that was kind of you know, my goal at the end of last season moving into this season was to be the nine, and different circumstances, how we're getting injured in the first you know, before the first game of the season, those first ten to twelve games,
it just wasn't quite there. And I think since then, kind of getting that exterior, you know, extended period of time in one position, really being able to focus in training on, you know, learning those different skills of being a good number.
Nine has been super helpful.
And obviously just playing with more comp It's the first part of the year I wasn't scoring goals, and as a goal scorer, it's it's hard in those moments, but I knew that eventually I would come out of it.
And and once you get a couple, you kind of get on a roll.
And now I'm you know, I'm playing with confidence and that that you know, I feel like I've built a really good relationship with the guys. Are the attacking guys around me, Albert obviously having an incredible season, Paul Pedro coming into the mix. You know, I thought Christian had a really good game back in the middle there, and I love playing with with him, and he always looks, you know, looks to playing me on.
So a lot of it comes down to my teammates with with the're you.
Know, the the ability for them to give me the ball and in great positions. And but yeah, I think a lot of it comes down to the confidence, playing with confidence, right know.
Yeah, obviously a lot of confidence there and then I go won this game for sure, Vibe forgot in that game. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't know least ask yet to quickly end here, there was a report last week Rollridiez said this is his final year in Seattle.
Did you see that?
Have you talked a Roll with all about you know, his future here into Yeah, I didn't see the article.
You know, obviously I haven't spoken to him.
Either about it, you know, a little bit here and there. Uh, but yeah, I guess it's it's.
Final coming from from him, and I mean, he's been an incredible player for for this club, the you know, for me watching him obviously playing playing a little bit more out wide, but learning from him how to you know, he's such a good finisher inside the box and you know, just learning those those little movements from from him and watching you know, watching some of that film back. He's obviously had an incredible career here in Seattle and helped us win a lot of trophies, win a lot of
important games. So, you know, if it is his last season, obviously everyone in the fans and the teammates are are are grateful for for what he's done because he's been a you know, helped us win win a lot of stuff, and it's been a really really good, good player for for for the club. But I didn't, you know, I don't read a lot of that stuff. I didn't see
the article or anything like that. But obviously, if it is the end, we're grateful for what he's done, and I know he's going to keep giving us all the rest of the season.
So hopefully you and him can connect on a few more times down the stression in the playoffs. So thanks for this good luck on Sunday against Kansas City.
Yeah, I appreciate it, man, Thanks buddy, Thanks good to see you.
Good to chat there with Jordan Morris. You Sounders forward eleven goals this year, nearing a career high in that mark. Obviously, scoring against Columbus in that blowout their last weekend wrapped up the question there by talking about the situation with roll Ruy Diez didn't mention that in the first few minutes of the show. In case you didn't see it, there was an article from Sounder Hart last week that had roll ruy Diaz saying that this is his final
year in Seattle. I don't think that comes as a surprise to a lot of people this and this is the guy who was at the end of his contract on a designated player deal right now. Obviously he hasn't gotten the playing time that he's wanted this year.
I think that's pretty obvious.
And the reality of this situation is that I think that Rawle might be done in Seattle. It would have been tough, just like Nicholas Ladero last year, to envision him coming back on a small deal. So listen, I think I would echo every thought there by Jordan Morris that he's been an outstanding part of this club for so many years. But you know, like all good things, good things come to an end, as will rawlri Diez his time in the Rave Green, it appears, so I
wasn't so too surprised by that. I will say that there was another part of the article about the locker room being divided. I would just refer to Brian Schmitzer's comments last night with Softy and Dick. You can listen to that on the Softy and Dick Interviews podcast page on the iHeartRadio app where he just kind of, you know, goes against and denies any sort of locker room divide. Josh Attencio talking to him out at training denied it
as well. Almost everybody we've spoken with have denied that. So that's all we have to go off of is publicly what's been said from all the players regards to the article. So that's that situation. But for Raoul last year in Seattle, hopefully he finishes out with a good one. He is back, he is healthy regarding the injuries, and on that injury front, Rollridy Az is fine. He was
out at training today. Joel Paulo out another couple weeks per Brian Schpencer last night, and then Stephan Frye sounds like he's still in concussion protocol, but last night was Softy and Dick. Brian made it pretty confident sounding that Steph would be back and off concussion protocol this coming Sunday for the KC game. But of course if he isn't Andrew Thomas Ngol, who I think is very, very capable, and of course the air apparent when Stephan Frye eventually retires.
So there's the injury report, there's this situation for Raulridiz. Great to chat with Jordan Morris there after training today we'll get a break here in Sounders Weekly and we'll talk more about the unusual, weird situation in Columbus and why it happened at all.
I know I gave a stab at it, but.
I'm sure that Ari Lillianwall of mlsoccer dot com has the full answers on why Columbus only dressed one goalkeeper last weekend. Ari Lillianwall comes up next on Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders fc CL's Sports Radio ninety three.
Point three kjr FM.
Welcome back Sounders Weekly, Jackson Feltz here. Good to be with you here on this Wednesday night. Sounders FC Soccer is presented by a Providence, Swedish official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. A reminder coming up later tonight, We're gonna do something a little different here. I'm gonna post in play out for pretty much the entire press conference we
had last week with Georgie Manongo. There's sometimes we do in these interviews out at training with myself and Jeremiah O'shanna Sounder Aheart and we caught up with Manongo last week, and I have to play it this. This kid is electric on the field, but he might be even more electric off the field. An incredible interview and an incredible story you're gonna hear coming up later on here in Sounders Weekly. But joining us right now as he always does.
And I have, as I mentioned last segment, about a million questions over what happened this last weekend and the Sounders win. Our good friend from Mlsoccer dot com and the podcast Lobbing Scorchers Ari, Lillian wall Ari. Good to have you on, my friend. How are you.
I'm doing great, Jackson. That was I think my favorite game of the season so far and one of my favorite wins in a long time. I loved every second of it and I'm excited to talk about it.
Well, let's start off with I assume, undoubtedly why it's your favorite game in a very, very long time, and that's because of how unusual it was by the fact that a midfielder had to play end goal for Columbus for the entire second half and the very end of the first half. Let's start off with there's so many questions here. Let's start off with the first question of why this happened. Obviously, we know only one goalkeeper was on their roster. Why was there only one goalkeeper on
their roster? I took a stab at a the previous segment. Maybe you can kind of expand a little bit. Why did this situation come about where we ended up seeing Sean Zovatsky have to be in goal for Columbus.
Yeah. So, I think the simplest way to explain it is that Columbus had They had three goalkeepers on their first team roster. One of their backups, Evan Bush, had an injury, so he was out. The other two both got called into international duty. Schulty got called into the US and Hagen got called into Guatemala, so none of
those three were available. They had this other guy, Abraham Romero I believe, who they had signed and were starting in this game, but they were not able to call up the second goalkeeper because they had already used their allotted amount of like emergency hardship call ups, which is the mechanism that the league has in place to in
a situation like this. They had already used all of their call ups, so they just didn't have a number two goalkeeper, which wouldn't have mattered if they if their goalkeeper that they had started had played the entire game, but as we now know, he got a red card right before halftime, meaning that they had to go down a man and plug a position player in the goal, which turned out to be Sean Sawatski, and the content from there.
Delivered it certainly did.
Okay, I'm glad I got all that correct there in this insane situation. So the natural follow up question was, okay, well, if you are out of these short term agreements and you can't bring up a goalkeeper from Columbus Crew two, then why didn't you just go sign somebody off the street, like if the Sounders were in this similar situation. Our host here on kid j Ian Ferness, asked me this
earlier this afternoon. Wouldn't the Sounders just go sign you know, a Ballard FC keeper or anybody off the street to be a backup goalkeeper. Why didn't they just do that, and you know what, there used to be that goalkeeper pool, right. I don't know if that's still around, But why didn't you just sign anybody to be a backup?
Right? I think that's the question. There is any number of ways they could have addressed it and at least had someone who plays the position available to sub in there, and it still wouldn't have been ideal, but at least you wouldn't have had to put Shaan Zawatski back there.
But you know, Wilfrid Nancy, who gave one of the most legendary MLS coach press conferences I have ever heard after the game, he was going off about why he didn't take some of those other mechanisms that he could have used, which is that he didn't I guess he said was saying that he didn't want to bring someone up from MLS next pro because a player that that young and inexperienced maybe isn't ready to feature in an
MLS game in a scenario like that. He had he had some sort of justification for why he didn't do it, but none of it really made all that sense to me when you take into account the final outcome, which is that you know, they went into this game without a reserve goalkeeper, thinking that they were gonna be able to make it through it, and you know, they kind of they did this to themselves. Jackson Forever, Wilford Nancy
and their fans want to blame the league. If you're not going to take the recourse to address the situation and then your goalkeeper gets a red card, I think that's kind of your own fault. Like, I don't really know how else to see it.
Yeah, completely, So, I mean, first up, there's the you know, the the meme that can immediately be inserted for Abraham ra Merrow of you had one job, and your one job was not to get ejected, and you did. But also the other side of it, for Wilfrid Nancy, is complaining about the lack of mechanisms. Dude, you had, you could have just signed somebody, and to say the reasoning was we didn't feel like the MLS next pro guy was ready. Well, I'm sorry, but it's there for you. You
don't get to complain about both sides of it. Speaking of Wilfrid Nancy and that press conference, I know you heard it, so I didn't haven't heard it at all. What else was there from that Wilford Nancy press conference in however long it took, and he I know what didn't take questions right, what all happened that that led to or not led to? But what all happened in that wild presser?
Oh, it was a lecture, Jackson. I mean, he got up there and I think he had already he had already been upset about this issue all week, he even said at the end of this press conference leading up to the game, because I get it seems like there had been a lot of dialogue back and forth about the fact that the league was not letting them use the waiver to get a second goalkeeper on the roster.
So he was already upset about that. And then when you take into account how it ended up working out with their with their goalkeeper getting ejected and them having to put Sawatski in goal, that really set him off even more so. He was about as mad on the podium as I've ever seen an MLS coach. And I've seen a lot of angry MLS coach press conferences. I've been on some Peters. For me, his zoom calls, okay, so I know how that goes, and Wilford Nancy kind of seems more like a mild manner guy, but he
was popping off. He was basically taking issue with the whole setup. The reason that this rule is in place is actually because it's part of the CBA, which that the league negotiated with the players union. And the reason that they have that rule in place is because they're trying to avoid a situation where you're calling up in MLEC next you're kind of abusing the system to call up an ML's next pro goalkeeper repeatedly on the hardship waivers as opposed to at a certain point they should
just be given an MLS contract. So it is meant to protect the players in that way. So it's not like the rule comes out of nowhere or is totally incoherent, like Wolford Nancy was saying, there's a reason that the rule exists. And I do think, you know, like there's an element of this that if you if you make an exception on a rule like that, you're kind of opening up a can of worms that you might not want to open. So that's at least the thinking behind
why they denied it, and as entertaining as Wolford. Nancy's press conference was I'm really not so sure how much of a lag he has to stand on in this situation.
Okay, so I want to go back to it once again. Ari Leen was our guest mlssoccer dot com and check out his podcast Things Scorcheres, where I assume you and know are talking a lot about this situation and more so, Okay, that rule there then, because my next question was, does MLS needs to adjust the current rules? But it sounds like it's something that's negotiated with the CBA and the players Association. So what what does happen now? Where do
we go from here? Is it something that's just kind of a one off and we, you know, throw out the hands and say, you know tough, you know what? Or or is there going to be some sort of fallout that forces a rule change so that this doesn't happen again.
I think it's such a freak situation. We could follow this league for another twenty or thirty years and probably never see this happen one time. I've never seen it happen before. I don't think I've ever seen a team go into a game without a number two goalkeeper. I mean, Seattle was in this situation when Alex rolled On went in goal a couple of years ago, but that was because of injury and substitutions getting used up. There was
another goalkeeper on the roster. So I just think it's such like a it's just like a rare thing that I don't really know how much you need to accommodate it, because this is not I don't think this is gonna happen again for a long long time, if.
Ever that makes sense. Ari.
The last thing we'll mention but from this game is something that I'm just kind of seeing over these last couple of days, and that's the apparent anger from Columbus fans that we are at all just I don't even know if taking credits the right term, but Columbus fans are just angry at Sounder fans for what reason, I don't know. Are we not supposed to at least smile from a four nothing win?
Are we not supposed to at least take the three points?
Like?
What are Columbus fans angry about right now?
Yeah? I mean they're not happy because the way the game panned out as soon as their goalkeeper got the red card, Seattle beat ever living daylight out of that, which you know, that was fun for all of us back here, but I don't think that was fun for
them to watch. And they were still very upset about how the whole situation came about, you know, and so they were saying stuff like you shouldn't be proud of scoring four goals on a midfielder in goal, to which my response would be, whose fault is it that the midfielder was in goal? You know? So that is sort
of that's sort of the dynamic right now. They're very unhappy, and you know, I would not expect them to be happy or after watching their team get their goalkeeper ejected and have a midfielder and goal and lose four nothing at home. I think the negative response is to be expected to an extent, but I've certainly have been enjoying the comedic value that's come from it.
It's very laughable their reaction, and if if their thought is don't be proud of it, I wouldn't. I don't know if we're proud of it, but we're happy about it. And if you're mad that we're happy about it, maybe sign one of your MLS next pro goalkeepers next time, especially.
Get wrapped three points to Seattle, like three points that Seattle kind of needs fighting for playoffs seating right now. They put it in the little package with the bow eyes said here take these three points.
That's pretty much what they did, and a hat trink for Albert Rusnak. Quickly on Albert Rusnak once again, Ari lun was our guest. Albert Rusnak right now playing the option on this deal that he signed a while back before that concer CAF title. This is the option your Sounders picked it up next year when he's out of contract. Eight goals, twelve assists this season. That doesn't even include what he's done elsewhere like League's Cup where he was
great in the League's Cup as well. Do you, if you're Craig Wible, give Albert Rusnak a designated player deal for twenty twenty five and beyond.
My ideal world would be to see if you can get him on CAAM money. But you know, I don't know how much that's going to be possible. But you know, for me, I'm a bit of a Roosnak truther. I think he's been pretty excellent this year. Like you mentioned across all competitions. I mean, this guy, he has twenty goal contributions in league play and way more than that if you include League's Cup and Open Cup and everything
in there. So I think with him running the offense, it's actually looked quite good at times, and and Jordan have really formed a formidable one two duo. I really don't think that position right now is the problem with this offense when it tends to struggle, you know, I think what you need is more around that, do a more production from those wide areas, and also, you know, maybe a little less easy to play through in midfield
on the defensive side of the ball. That's where I would allocate the resources more than worried about at number ten, who has over twenty goal contributions across all comps and has been running the offense quite well all season.
I think I completely agree.
Ari.
Let's move ahead. You mentioned Peter Vermez a few minutes ago. Peter Vermez is coming to Seattle this weekend Sunday match Sounders hosting Sporting Kansas City. And Sporting Kansas City one of those teams where it always feels like they give the Sounders a lot of trouble no matter where either team is in the table. What are you seeing from this match? And what do the Sounders have to worry about with Casey and Town this Sunday.
Well, they're going to have to worry about the fact that this is a club of professional wrestling enthusiasts. You never know what these guys are gonna do on the field. They they might hit you with the suplex, they might hit you with the full Nelson. I mean it just it could go any type of way. But you know, Sporting Kansas City has been struggling quite a lot this year. They're way below the playoff line right now. They have a couple of dangerous players. I would watch out for
Johnny Russell. He always seems to score against Seattle and Allen Pledo's had a bit of a down year. He's struggled with injuries for a lot of his time in MLS, but he is a dangerous forward. So you know, they have a couple guys. Daniel Shalloway is pretty good, So they have a few guys that can hurt you that you always have to be wary of. But you know, Seattle should be able to beat this team at home.
With the forum they've been in this year. They were one of the worst teams in the league for a really long stretch of the year, and they've been a lot better lately and they're kind of getting closer to the playoff line. But like this, it's not like some juggernaut coming in here. This is a team you should be able to at least take a point and ideally three points against.
Oh, you're a bit about the professional wrestling enthusiasts. That is one of my favorite bits that you and Noah have on lobbing scorches. So that will continue this weekend. Let's wrap it up, Ari by taking a look, as we always do around the league a little bit in terms of results, a lot of draws. THNK DC was the only other team in the Sounders to get a win because not too many teams played on this international break.
But do you have any takeaways from the weekend that was in Major League Soccer?
Yeah?
Not really.
It was a kind of boring slate, like you said, score line wise, other than the Seattle game. I mean, the Seattle was really the Saale Columbus was the main character of last night's slate. But the one thing I will say is that as red hot as Wilford Nancy's press conference was after the game gave a porter for New England gave one that was actually equally hot, if
not hotter. He was deemed about a missed penalty kick call in that game, and he called the referee a coward as part of a ten to fifteen minute diatribe about how the reps have been dropped by the official or the reds have been jobbed by the officials fifth year. So really, I can't recommend enough to anyone listening. If you want to see some good content, pull up the Wilfrid Nancy Post Seattle presser and the Caleb Porter New England ReBs pressor they were both going off.
Who gets find more Caleb Porter or Wilfrid Nancy.
Oh, that's a good question. I don't know. It might be a uniform number for both of them, but you know, I have a feeling it might be Nancy. You see coaches go off on rest sometimes, but you don't really see a coach put the league on blast in that stark of terms, as Wilfrid Nancy did as often tremendous.
All right, ari, well, no show next week, because of course the Sounders have another midweek match. They'll be facing San Jose on Wednesday, September eighteenth, one week from tonight. You'll also be on nine to fifty KJR AM, just like this Sunday's match.
So I'll see you out there at LUMAN.
Will laugh more about Wilford Nancy, and we'll see if we get another wild press conference in MLS this weekend. I have a good week, my friend, enjoy the games and we'll talk soon.
That was good, Thanks Jackson.
It's good stuff from Ari Lellionwall MLS soccer dot com and check out his podcast, Lobbing Scorchers. I believe he did tweet, by the way, the transcript of Caleb Porter, so you can go check out his Twitter account Ari Lillionwall l I l j E n w A L L there on Twitter and read out what Caleb Porter did. I'm gonna go do that here soon because yeah, both
head coaches there, what a week for them. But hey, for the Sounders, it's a four nothing win and it's all smiles and to the anger of Columbus fans for some reason, we're gonna keep smiling. But once again, Kansas City coming up this Sunday, for your Sounders Good thought there from Ari And on that note I should mentioned a few minutes ago that's our Sharp Vision opponent Alec.
Each week, our opponent Alyx are presented by Sharp Vision, Modern Lasik and Lens, the official Lasik provider of Sounders FC.
We'll take a break here in Sounders Weekly.
We'll come back and we're gonna hear from Georgie Manongu. Georgie is the newest player signed to the first team, a young from the Ivory Coast, and he has been a tremendous talent, that raw talent that we see on the wing. And he has an amazing story because he only has vision in one of his eyes, and that has been an amazing story to follow and kind of
hear him talk about. So we're gonna do something we don't usually do here in Sounders Weekly, and we're gonna flat out play a full press conference, or at least most of the press conference, however much we can play because Georgie Manongo's story, as he tells it, is pretty darn cool and he's a player that I think we'll see is a part of this organization for quite a long time in the future. Because as they kind of bring this raw talent and harness it into something really good.
I think we're gonna see more of that from Georgie. So you're gonna hear from Georgie Manoingo next here on Sounders Weekly on Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC Ceedle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly.
Good to be with you here Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Wrapping up Sounders Weekly tonight. We've been talking all about the Sounders four nothing win over Columbus last weekend. The game where forty five minutes the entire last second half as well as the end of the first half, we're played with a midfielder in goal
for Columbus. In case you missed the last interview previous segment with ARILILLIONWALLOMLS soccer dot com, he explained in full detail why this situation came about the rules, specifically that win against Columbus. A really good info there from Ari in that previous segment. Well, twenty twenty five season membership deposits are on sale now for your Seattle Sounders place a one hundred dollars deposit and gain access to benefits you can use this season, including Lumberfield Concert pre sales
and mlistore dot com discounts. Learn more at soundersfc dot com backslash membership. Well right here in Sounders Weekly. We know we kind of bounce around and we do lots of different things. I want to go a different route, and that's play kind of a full almost full press conference with Georgie Manoongoo. Georgie Manongoo is a young player from the every coast in Africa and a few years ago he came and he made the change to come
to Tacoma Defiance and he joined the Sounders organization. Well just a little bit ago he signed a first team deal with the Sounders. And we've seen him throughout this season at Little Spurts here and there. We know he is so fast and so raw. I think with that talent, and it's about harnessing that raw talent and turning it into something really special on the wing for the Sounders. The question of what's next for Georgie is an interesting one.
And last week myself and Jeremiah O'shanna Sounder at heart. We were able to be out at Sounders training and kind of caught up with Georgie manoongun. Asked him all these questions about his story and his life from growing up on the Ivory Coast to joining the Sounders, and I asked him a question of what's next, what are your career aspirations, as well as his amazing story about
only having eyesight in one eye. This is an amazing young kid with an amazing story, and it was it's really cool to be out at Sounders training and talk to him about his experience in his life. But we'll start here with his first answer, just talking about the experience being on the first team, having a first team deal, and the big transition that has come here in the
last couple of weeks being a first team player. Here is Georgie manoungu who I'm telling you, this kid is electric both on the field and in the way he talks. This is not gonna be the last time you're gonna be hearing from Georgie Manoinga on Sounders Weekly. But here is the first time right here with the kid from the Ivory Coast.
He's exciting, you know, especially for me. I come from Ivor Crest, you know, far from here, and my dream was like to to be the highest liver and I always tried to push and get that liver.
And I'm very started to sign.
Like when I was signing with the first time, I was like, oh, yeah, now I'll make it. That's the moment to show up, as a moment to give everything. And like I'm very sited. I know, like U is a privilege to be here, you know, if no everybody gets here. So yeah, I'm very excited.
You've been here now for a couple this is your third season, yeare season? What has the transition been?
Like?
It's not easy at all because at the same time, it's like I'm getting twenty two, twenty three, you know.
You know, I'm not that that's that's young.
You know, young you can say sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, you know, but like as long as you get twenty two, you know, you got to know a little bit about your.
Future, you know.
And like I was like, ah, what is going to happen next, you know, and it's step by say, you got to show up with Tacoma. You got to prove yourself with Takoma, and everybody will to make.
The first team.
So it's a lot of chat challenging, but I think with the staff of the first the Tacoma defining stuff way Weber from twenty twenty two, he has been pushing it from day one. Now we have every DC it was it wasn't easy from day one, but coming here in this environment first team, highest level player train every time, my level is gonna get like better, heavy every day.
You talk about how way Webber has been a big influence on the field or what players about the first team, and then also what the comment had been and a big influence with.
You, especially new Toller. Yeah that's my guy.
No.
Toller has been from day one, like you know, coming from Cameroon, Africa's like kind of the same country, you know. And since the one I came, it was like Joji you like in all the league like it was a compliment, you know, but for me, like I take it like, oh yeah, if this guy say that to me is something because he's one of the best defenders in the league on one on one.
We know all knew, but he told.
Me to a Jogi, you're the only one like we can really get me in one on one and I struggle every time you play against me, and I was like, yeah, I'm gonna push. So he pushed me every day. He helped me tactically because I wasn't good. Even now I'm trying to push myself again tactically, and he helped me every day. Come to my apartment, I come to his apartment. It's like a big brother for me, and like we
do everything together. We hang out together, and like he helped me a lot, a lot, a lot a lot, and I have Piki Reaky since day one.
I remember the.
First training when I trained the first team twenty two one training.
Was like, oh, Georgie, your your special player. You remind me.
You remind me when I was a young player, like exciting player and you have great future.
Keep working and I always listen to him.
Even Michael Murray's assistant coach. He helped me a lot, like tactically, like a lot of people have me a lot here, so like I feel.
Like everybody loved me here.
And yeah, when I play, that's why when I play on the field, I tried to give everything for me.
Every game is the final and I go every I give everything.
When you knew one on one and how how often does he went how often are you?
And I mean like most of the time you win because his experienced. But when I get him, you know, he's a whole because all the coaches like, oh, Georgie gets you today, So it's in trouble. So even when I was with Tacoma, the coach is Brian and like Crecky, that was like they called me just to push a letter. Know, like when I was about to play against ALFC, like first winger the coma, they say, hey.
No George is here.
You have problems.
So yeah, it's kind of Chinese. He say, no, Judge is a chicken and we're gonna get him, you know. So he's trying to push them a little bit. You know when I go like, it's not there is not like you're my big brother. I don't care you want to try to go against you. I don't care my big brother, you're my dad. I just go because at the end of the day, it's a final for me.
So what's the like having knew who is sort of a big brother And what do you guys like to do off the field.
It's not big brother.
We eat like Tiakey, we do we do many things together, you know. We we love to hanger together. We talk about like how we were, how we grew up in in like cameon avercause because I've been in Cameron too when I used to be kids with my dad because my dad is a good So we ang at every day we go. We come to the to the training facility together. You know, we do many things together. We had a lot of fun together. So yeah, if it's not my home, I mean his home.
So you're obviously a long way. I really close to Takoma. Now the Sounders, what are your career aspirations? What do you what do you see from yourself over your career but.
My career, you know, every payer want to play in the ice level at high highest livel Like I'm not talking about like just ie to the high size. So I'm seeing for myself like going to the biggest club. Soundles is the biggest club, you know, and I want first to prove myself here first and then like going to I don't know what's gonna be the plan, if it's in New York, if it's anywhere else, but like prove myself here because people love me here.
I really want to and I love people here, So I really want to.
Prove myself here, you know, like try to get some goal, try to get some ass if like past that level where you just have like two ices three, you know, past the level when I have like fifteen a sis like stuff like that. You know, like prove myself here and then I don't know what's gonna be next, because playing the highest sized level like the dream of all yourn kis won't play soccer, you know, So that's my my dream.
If you can just tell us a little bit about your journey from Ivory Coast, you know, I think you played in Chichia first and then you came here. What was like did you speak English when you came here? When did you leave home?
So I grew up now the course having a play you you twenty everything in alvercase, I came here, I came over.
I was nineteen and like six months something like that.
Growing up in Avacase there was a lot of talent, play a lot and especially with my one rewe ability. You know, over there we just like train like on the street, you know, we just play on the street. It's like street football, you know, and like you just enjoy you just tribblo.
You know, there is no rules, you.
Know, so that's how I get It's like kind of the same in Brazil. Agent that you know, you just get the born the street to get your guy. There's no rules, no refew, you just play in my area. I was like one of the best, like and people like was like, oh, Georgie, you have a great future. But I was just playing on the street, you know, and I didn't know, like my my future will be in the MLS.
You know.
When I first was supposed to come in play with Tacoma, I remember my agent told me, oh, Georgie, look if you play with Tacoma, maybe you can be in MLS.
As around with Jazz I check on the works. I was like, oh this. My name wasn't even on Google, so I was like, whoa, I'm gonna play with those guys. What now, media, there's my teammates.
So I'm proud of myself and I know, like I can I can impact this team.
I can help this team, and that's.
What I want to do on the field, marrying the styles of street ball and then also kind of you know what the standards are teaching here. I've been kind of working those styles together, you know, from growing up now to here.
Yeah, at the beginning, it was hard because I told you, like playing on the street, there is no rules, you know, so tactically basically, when I first came with Tacoma, I was bad. I was very bad tactically, and I remember John Johnny Johnny work with the staff, the first team stuff like it wasnt Tacoma at that time twenty two.
So he's the one. It helped me a lot.
Every day I come to his after training, like no, not even game day or before my day once one, No, every single day when I came at the facility after training, I go to Sophie. He showed me to show me everything. I go to Wait to show me tactics. If I'd been doing that for like one year, because I don't know anything about soccer, about tactic, I don't know.
Like I was like, yeah, I just.
Want to play, give me the war one on one. I'm gonna do myself, create a watunity and then we scored. But like here, I guess, like soccer is, it's not only like playing one on one is more tactically, it's more like everything position every So I learned it was hard one year, like I was like, oh am, I already.
Playing soccer because like that's hard.
I just keep working watching video, watching video. Even now, I keep watching video, and that's how I get better.
I get better.
And now I'm not go super good on tactically, but like I'm getting better and I will get more better again.
You've also had some physical challenges since you're an issue with your eye last year.
Last season was one of my hard season.
Like I don't know how to splain, but like it was frustrating because first I went to PRA seasons with the first team and I show up, I proved myself and like that was an opportunity to get the first team contract.
And then like I don't know what's happened.
I just got my training after training, I don't know, like my eyes starts like I don't know, like some issue and I don't know what's happened.
He was hard for me.
It was a hard time, but I remember Wade was with me, got me every time, all the coaches, staff, everybody was on my back. That's why I really loved this club because like there was with me that the hardest moment knew was every time, Like in my room tried to see Georgia how you know. So it was hard moments, very hard, and now like everybody knows, I can't see with my left eye. Like even there was some saw my team date as Georgie, how do you play.
With one eye?
Do?
All that stuff was on eye? But like, I mean, it's got grace. You know, you can call it whatever you want, But for me, I think it's got grace. And I've been working a lot, you know, Like, so now this thing doesn't affect me at all. People ask like, maybe that's why it don't go. I'm not sure that's that's not why.
You know.
I have one eye, but I can do better than those who have even too high, So that's my mindset.
Georgie Manungu, what a tremendous young man that is your new Sounders winger. As he was signed to a first team deal up from two home defiance there and as he talked about that I mentioned young man. I mean he says he's not young at twenty two years old compared to say the sixteen year olds, but listen, in the grand scheme of things on the Sounders roster, he is certainly a younger player on this squad and we
can see that ross kill. He talked about his one on one ability going up and being the only one who can actually beat new Pretty cool story there, and the fact that he only has eyesight there in one eye and coming from Ivory Coast and making his way all the way to Tacoma and then now to the Sounders. An amazing story. And you can clearly see and feel the energy in this guy and what he's going to
bring to the club on and off the field. So really cool to talk to him, and it's gonna be fun to watch him develop here with the Sounders over these next months and hopefully years, but a long way ahead for him to turn that raw talent into lots of goals and assists on the field. So really fun to talk to him and play that full conversation there that we had last week after he signed his first team deal. Well that'll do it for Sounders Weekly this week.
Want to thank all of our guests, including Georgie Manongo right there. If you missed any of tonight's show, check out the podcast Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts, including the iHeartRadio app. And now attention turns to Sunday not a Saturday game this week, a Sunday game at Lumenfield. We'll have a four o'clock Providence, Swedish prematch show, a four to twenty five kickoff there from Lumen. It's gonna be over on our sister station over on Sports Radio
nine fifty KJR AM coming up this Sunday. You can also listen in Spanish second on John L. Ray thirteen sixty and watch it on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app, and of course key your tickets SOUNDERSFC dot com slash tickets for Sounders and Sporting Kansas City this Sunday. We'll talk all about it at four o'clock on Sunday. They're on nine to fifty AM. Have a good rest of your week, everybody, Buddy, and Fox Sports Radio is coming up next