Coll me. Do you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Saunders Weekly with your host Jackson Felds. Good evening, everybody, Welcome to Saunders Weekly. Jackson Felts here, good to be with you on this beautiful Wednesday evening here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Here for the next hour talking all things Seattle Sounders FC
soccer. Busy show ahead. In just a few minutes, you're gonna hear from Saunders young midfielder Ohbed Vargas after the two two draw against the Poland Timbers from last Saturday. We're gonna be joined from Jason Farrell, he is the former head coach of Ballard FC, now assistant coach at Seattle University. Towards the bottom of the hour, we're actually comm of going about twenty minutes or so, and then we're also going to go around the league with Ari Lillianwall.
So busy, busy show ahead here on Saunders Weekly. Tonight we will open and I will quickly mention that the Sounders do not play this weekend. The next match will be on Saturday, September sixteenth against FC Alice out there at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. So no match this weekend for the Sounders, but we'll spend a couple of minutes talking about what happened against Portland
and listen. I think our postgame show spelled it out quite simply. I think it's a very frustrating result, the fact that, yes, the team defended well while they were down a man for the final forty some odd minutes of the match after Leo Chew took that red card. But I point to kind of this blame pie, right, And in any sporting event, soccer or not, you can look at a blame pie for why a result happens and why you may take a loss or a draw. And there's a lot
of different things you can look at. Specifically, when it comes to a Spree as first goal, you know, the marking on that throwing was not very good. I think the second goal for a Vander was really a well taken goal. But you know, overall, the two big things I look at is Leo Chew, you take your jersey off after scoring. It's an automatic yellow, Dude, you can't do that. It's so early in the match. Why are you doing that in the thirtieth minute, taking and just
saying give me a yellow. That was a terrible mistake from Leo Chew. And then you know, even to have if it was a fifty fifty or even it was a harsh call to then get the second yellow there. Just bad from Leo Chew. Its certainly a learning experience for him. So that's a large slice of the blame. Pie goes to Leo Chew for taking the jersey off and just welcoming that yellow card. It was a great goal,
it was but terrible to take that yellow. And then Brian Schmitzer, I mean, listen, he's explained why he didn't take Leo Chew off the field, and the logic makes sense. But I look at it as Leo chu is an offensive player. Right now, you had Jordan Morris and Leo Chew both on the wings. That does not have great defensive balance for your wings. You're up two goals. Leo cho just went eighty four minutes on Wednesday
against Austin. Take Leo Chew off the field. I get the logic, and I understand that in some ways it does make sense to keep the kid out there, but he's on a yellow card. He's played a bunch of minutes. You're up to nothing. Take Chew off and also send a message that if you're going to take your jersey off after scoring a goal in the thirtieth minute, you don't deserve to see the field in the forty sixth minute. That would be my case for not keeping Leo Chew on after the half.
But listen, that's just me. I'm frustrating on both fronts. I can see both sides, but personally and what he talked about, you know this with Chance Fry at the halftime, show would have taken Leo Chew off the field or the half lee Brian Schwencer doesn't. He stays on the field, He gets the second yellow and Portland scores two. We're often running to that two two draw. It's a frustrating result, but listen, at the
end of the day, it's not a loss. I guess there's that five points in three games over the week and the Sounders second place in the Western Conference. We'll talk about more with that Western Conference with Aria Luinol coming up later on tonight, but in terms of the games specifics and what happened in it had a chance to catch up in the locker room with Obed Vargas after
the game. Obed took fault for both the goals. He'll explain why, but we started by simply talking about the emotions involved with that for many frustrating two two game. Here was my conversation here with Obed Vargas, which is frustrating. It's really not good to give up a lead like that, and I don't know, especially in a rivalry game, and you know, we haven't been able to beat him in a while, so having a tie like that is just self frustrating. You mentioned the fact that they haven't you know,
you haven't beaten them here. I mean goes back all the way to make twenty seventeen. I mean that's many years that you weren't even a part of. So, like, how much do the veteran leaders who've been here for a long time and still that you know in the communication, you know ahead of this game of of we gotta finally beat them here because we haven't done it in a long time. I mean I feel like they don't really
like say, like, oh, when you to beat him? I mean I think we all know that, Like, you know, no one has to say we need to beat him because you know, ever since you joined the academy, you know you have to be Portland, like no one has to tell you you're just something. You're It's engraved in us and we know no one has to say it, and you know, not being able to do it for a while it's hurting us. It really is. So in terms of the two goals that Pearland scored, they're in the second half.
You know, do you look to anything and specific is it is it being down to man not having the right positioning, Is it just a couple of good goals out of Portland? What do you chuck that up to? Honestly, I take my fall in both the goals Auspria. The first one, maybe I kind have done better following him. You know, it's a good
play by their center by flicking it on. And then the second goal is just a second ball, I think, and I passed this straight to us for again, I don't know, maybe lie of concentration, maybe being a man down. But you know, take my fun and saying goal to giving them ball away in the south area and you know that went down the field and score. I can hear the emotion your voice like when you when you're going through that right now and taking fault for those goals is a veteran thing.
I mean, like you know, in terms of that, how do you then learn from these two moments and not let them get you down when when you clearly are blaming yourself a bit for these I don't know. I feel like I need to take outs a learning experience and I try to get too down on myself. But obviously, like in such a big game, it's really hard not to. And all I want to do is, you know, get that chance back, you know, and to do it differently.
But I can't. So all I can do is try to learn about it and keep training hard, you know, try try to move past it, because if I keep focusing on that, it'll bring me down. But yeah, like I'll apologize to the fans for for that those two goals, and I'll try to do better on that point of the fans. I mean, it was a heck of a crowd tonight. Did you feel that energy in the first forty five minutes when you guys were up to nothing, even when we walked on for the beginning of the game, I mean, we
felt in I'm pretty sure they did too. You know that first half was amazing atmosphere and you know they pushed us that that whole game. So even when we win a man down, you know they the guys fought hard and way able to you know, keep the one point. But yeah, for sure you can you can feel every game. You know, Sounders come come every game and the show out. So I'm not having another game for two
weeks now. It is a little bit weird because you just said you you want to get back on right, so you know, what's what is your next two weeks look like? Do you want to just be on the field as much as possible training? Yeah, I mean right now, I feel like I wish we had another game coming up soon, you know, try to move past this. But you know it's also good to have a little
break and try to mentally recover from from this long week. You know, we had three games in a row, and you know, if it'sically a lot of travel, a lot of training, well not a lot of training, but you know a lot of physical defend demand from the game. So you know these three these three days will be good for recovery and then try to get back as good as sponsible. You know, I think we we
kind of picked it up a little bit these three games. You know, I feel like we could have gone seven points at least, but yeah, we have something to build off of and keep going. Well, you did get the big three in Austin, and I can't let you go without talking about that Austin game because I mean from the late game dramatics and just the
nature of winning on the road like that a place that. I mean, you guys have had good success in Austin, right, so like, talk to me about about that that went on Wednesday in Austin and the emotions that you guys had coming out of that. No, I mean, I think the celebration was hanging goal speaks for itself. You know, we're all so excited to win the game and that stay. Yeah, that stadium has a special place in my heart. He knows where I made my debut and we
were able to get the three points. Also, I don't know, like I feel like also we rotated the squad and the guys gave gave all everything. You know, everyone that played gave everything everything they had, and that's like all you can ask for when when things go your way and you win like that away from home, you know, it just unites the team more and more. You know, it just it's a reward for all the all
the work we've been doing lately. We haven't been you know, getting that that result we wanted, So when it finally happened and we were able to win, it was just a very awarding feeling for everyone and all the players. Last thing for you here, and you know, you talk about your debut all those years ago, right down in Austin. How do you feel like you've grown since then in terms of your playing on the field, and then what are you still working on? There's a lot of things. I
think. When I'm in my debut, I was playing a slightly different position. I was playing more of a pocket player higher up the field. Now I played more as a pivot. I don't know, I feel like aware and this speed of the game. I remember when I first came out. I mean, the game felt so fast for me, and you know, I was just trying to keep up with the game. And I feel like now my awareness and in the game has has picked picked up a bit better.
I pick picked up a bit and now it's not as fast, you know, I'm not chasing the game anymore, I feel like, but there's also a lot of things I can get better at, you know, like the games today, you know, just staying sharp every every every minute of the game, no matter where the ball is, no matter the situation. Just trying to stay focused as much as possible and win every duel that I can. You know, if if I beat my opponent nine times out of
ten, then most likely we're gonna win the game. Because me and me JP, you know, whoever plays in the middle, like, we can win or lose games. So that aspect is something I try to can work on every day with the coaching staff and and get better. Awesome stuff. I've got to look forward to see the two weeks thinks so much from that's good stuff there from Obed Vargas Signers FC midfielder, and you know, I would just say it's really cool to hear him take fault for both those goals.
I actually spoke to head coach Brian Spencer earlier today out of training and asked him about Obed taking fault for those and he talked about Obed's high characters that a lot of guys you know will do that but it's the impressive for a kid. I would say that young to do that. And I also asked him is he at fault for those apparently not on the second but on the first the throw in. Brian Spencer did say, yeah, he is it at partial credit he and knew who were marking aspria and let him go.
You know, got caught ball watching, so you know in a moment where he was at fault for that, you know, him taking ownership of that. I think it's great to hear from Obett Vargus and overall just great comments there from the young midfielder from Obett Vargus. Before we shift gears completely, I'll quickly tell you what the Sounders have coming up in terms of international
absences for the break ahead. Three players are going to be away on international and duty for this break and it's kind of a question of what a couple of guys could give. So three players away knew who with Cameroon, Alex Roldon with El Salvador and Rollo red As with Peru. Alex Roldon plays his last game with El Salvador on September tenth, so he should be back and
available for the team coming up against Dallas on the sixteenth. But when it comes to Roll and knew who both of them have games on Tuesday, September twelfth, So assuming that they travel and knew who's in Cameroon Rawls in Peru, assuming they travel, then on Wednesday the thirteenth, the question is how much they could actually be able to integrate and get in, et cetera with the team to have meaningful performances and meaningful contributions there on Saturday in Dallas.
So we'll have to see about both of those. But it would not surprise me if both those guys maybe were bench players coming off the bench on Saturday against Dallas. But again that's up to head coach Brian Spencer and the coaching staff. We will see. But those three guys, they're on international duty for the next week or so. Here on Saunders Weekly, we're gonna take a break, we'll come back and we're gonna be joined from Jason Farrell,
former head coach of Ballard FC, now assistant coach with Seattle University. We're gonna talk to him about the Sounders because of course he played with, played under and then coached with head coach Brian Schmesser. So we're gonna talk to Jason about his two cents on the Sounders and a bunch of other stuff. This is part one of a two part conversation you're gonna continue to hear next week. Some really good stuff here from Jason Farrell Battle Gump next on Sounders
Weekly. Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Saunders FC, Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back, Sounders Weekly. Good to have you with US Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Sounders off this coming weekend, no game. They'll be back in action coming up on Saturday, September sixteenth, where they're going to be heading to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas to face
on FC Dallas. It's gonna be eight five o'clock Providence prematch show and five thirty kickoff over on Sports Radio nine fifty kjr AM there on Saturday, September sixteenth. You can also watch match via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and listen on Spanish language l Ray thirteen sixty here locally. So Saunders off this week back there against Dallas on the sixteenth. Well earlier this week, yesterday, I had a chance to sit down for a nice long conversation
with Jason Farrell. Jason is the former head coach of Ballard FC. Ballard who won a national championship just a couple of weeks ago down there. I'm sure many of you were there, a star fire for that spectacular atmosphere. So he was the former head coach of Ballard FC, and then mid season
he had an opportunity to go join Seattle University and Nate dalakon staff. Nate who took over from our broadcast colleague here on KJR Pete Fewing, Fewing goes into the administration, Nate takes over, and Nate brings Jason onto his staff.
So that's where Jason's at right now. But you know, Jason and I Tex, you know, and we've texted about the situation with with that with youth soccer in the area, and we spoke for more than twenty minutes or so, and we don't have the time to play all of that conversation today, but I did want to start with part one and we'll play part two, I believe next week. And Part twol consists of the youth soccer element and we'll talk all about that coming up next week, but I did
want to start with part one here today. Before we get to Jason Farrell, I'll tell you that Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence, Swedish official
healthcare partner of Sounders FC. So here in part one of my conversation with Jason Farrell, we talk about his thoughts on the Sounders coming off of a two two drug against Portland where Brian Schmitzer, somebody who Jason has coached with coached under played with where Brian has his team right now, also talked about his move from Ballad FC two Seattle University, and then also talked about of course Ballad FC winning the national Championship. So let's get to Part one of
my conversation with Jason Farrell. We cover a lot of things local soccer here. So here is the former head coach of Ballard FC, now assistant with Seattle University. Here's Jason Farrell. Thanks so much, Jackson. It's it's always awesome to be able to chat with you, and a highlight of the
day for sure. We have so many things to talk about Jason before we dig into you know everything in Ballard FC's national championship, and you at Seattle University of course have to get your quick two cents and your thoughts on the sounder situation. You know, now sitting second place in the Western Conference, the two two drag inst Portland. Use your thoughts on where Brian Schmencer has his team. Yeah, I mean, first and foremost. I will always
give Brian the benefit of the doubt. Obviously, he's been doing this a long time, a great, great soccer mind, a ton of experience. He's got a great staff around him, so you know, I know that you know, he's probably more frustrated with some of the results lately than than any of the rest of us. But at the same time, like you said, they're they're sitting in second place. I think that, you know, if we can get some guys back off the injured list, things will
start to look up even a little bit more So. I have, I have the utmost faith faith that you know, he's got a plan, the staff has a plan. There's they know what they're doing, and I think I think, you know, we'll start to see some of that reflected in the results here here shortly. I think it's absolutely right. You know, Christian rolled on status and getting him back from injury in that concussion situation. You know, that could just change everything, you know, and this team
already's you know, second place in the West right now. Yeah, LAFCF game in hand, but a couple of games in hand, so you know, we'll just kind of see where things in. But I'm kind of bullish right now on the Sounders coming off of this these last few games where you got five points that Jason Farrell is our guest. Jason, as you all know, is the former head coach of Ballard FC, and and Jason you
now are under Nate Dalacon's staff at Seattle University. You know, Nate takes over as Pete Fewing departs and joins the administration, and Nate brings you on as an assistant coach. So talk about that transition and joining the Seattle University RedHawks staff. Where are you're at now? Yeah, So, so you know, I'm thrilled to be working with Nate. I've known Nate a long time obviously. He he and I cross paths at SPU back in the day,
as well as with the USL Sounders many many moons ago. A guy that's you know, I have a lot of respect for He's been an assistant coach in the college game for for quite a while. And you know, it's always tough to replace somebody like Pete Fewing. But I think Pete's or sorry, Nate's got a great soccer mind. And and you know, he's a workaholic, just like a lot of us are. And I think he's
he's certainly off to a good start here at CLU. But I'll tell you, yeah, leaving leaving Ballard FC with a few couple games left in the in the regular season and not being there, you know, in the locker room for that playoff run, and certainly that the championship game was was a tough decision, There's no question about it. But at the same time, you know, the Seattle University opportunity just kind of kind of came about and
was was too hard to say no too. So, you know, left a great situation in Ballard and and and in a great situation here at SLU. Well that is great. Then you know, you got a good staff you guys are building up there at Seattle University. And you know, obviously the history program there from the days of fewing and now you know Nate's staff, so best of wishes, and I'll tell everybody you don't head up out
there. It's a fantastic environment for a game. Championship field. I mean, you know, these these late summer nights, you know, when it's still nice out I mean, my gosh, few places are better than championship It's just so intimate and so much fun. I'm sure you've you've been there in the championship field before your time coaching now at Seattle University, but you know it is. It is quite the environment. So I head on up there if you I have a free summer evening and you see that the Seattle
University RedHawks are playing, head on up there and support the program. Well, Jason Farrell is our guest, and Jason, you mentioned they're departing Ballot FC. You know, there's two parts to this next question. The first part is what was it like leaving the team and your kind of communication with them after the parting and if you were kind of still involved with the Ballot FC program. And then the second is just overall your thoughts on the national
championship. So let's start with that. With that first part on what it was like, you know, as they finished their season and you were no longer the head coach, what was that like for you and your involvement. They're still with the team. Yeah, it was, like I said, it was a very difficult decision. I mean, the Ballot FC just based
on the level of play, you know, the USL two model. It was a you know, it was a part time gig for me, and yet it you know, and Sale University is a full time gig, so so you know, you would think that it would be a kind of a no brainer. But as you know, even though even though that was the case, it was very, very difficult to make the change because of how much, you know, I put into the Ballot FC club and how awesome
they've been to me, the amazing roster that we had. So once once I left, I wanted to make sure that the interim coach Ethan and then Sam the GM. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't a distraction, So I kind of stepped back quite a bit, you know, in terms of being around the team. But that being said, I had a lot of contact with the players pretty pretty regularly, where the phone calls or text messages or just a you know, a random piece of advice or a word
of encouragement. So I was I was kind of connected, but but non officially connected. And I think that's that's the way that I think if I was to step in as an interim coach in a situation like that, I think that would be the way I would prefer it. So I wanted to make sure and respect everybody's everybody's time and everybody's effort that they were they were
certainly putting into it. Well, that philosophy certainly worked out pretty Darnell Jason, because the team goes on and wins the National Championship and you know, wins it at Starfire, which was just brilliant. I do wish I could have been there, but you know, from the flares going off in Kingston, scoring the added time goal, and you know, just even to get there, that the games over there and what was it Michigan I think it
was, or Iowa? You know where where the where the team has to go and beat you know, the squad that took them out in the West Final last year, Ventura County. I mean, the run to this National Championship was just incredible. To come back Stoss taking over hat trick, et cetera. I mean just watching it, Jason, I imagine it was. It was an absolute thrill to be able to see them bring home the whole trophy, There's no question, and it was. It was surreal being there,
you know, as a as a fan in the stands. I may or may not have watched the games from the beer garden at Inner Bay and beautiful. It was. It was surreal and and just it was one of those experiences that I wish, you know, Netflix had been had been following the team, you know, doing a documentary or something, because it would have been an amazing story to tell to a lot of people that might not have been able to experience it, you know as as a fan. So
yeah, it was. It was super special, an amazing group of guys, an amazing club that most definitely has bigger, bigger and better things in the future, I'm sure. And that's kind of the last thing I wanted to talk about with ballad FC is just your perspective on, you know, where these guys are at. Because as you know, as as I and you know and other people watch ballot FC play, you know, you watch Stass make the places he does, A big, powerful striker who has some
good pace to him. You watch Peter Kingston and his ability. I mean, you and I have spoken about about his tremendous abilities as well. I'm wondering, you know, if you know of these guys now that you're out of a head coaching realm, I think you can I can really get an honest answer out of you of these kids, you know, who do you think really have big potentials to go play in in MLS and have careers at the top level in this country. Well, first of all, Jackson,
I will always give you an honest answer about any player. You know what, I think that that team is, that roster will look significantly different next year due to the fact that there's going to be a handful of players that that take the next step. I mean Peter Kingston is certainly one of them. I feel, and I've told I've told Schmetzer before that I think he
could play for the Founders today. There's no question. I think his skill set is just something that is quite unique and and you know he's off to a good start at you dub and I certainly wish him, wish him the best. Their Stoss obviously as an old school kind of number nine that you don't see two often, you know, he's him. And actually there's a guy, Logan Farrington, that was the USL two Player of the Year that I thought Stoss probably should have got it. But this other kid is also
a big number nine. He plays at Oregon State. Sha Less plug Clu versus Oregon State on Thursday night. But uh, yeah, I think Laura's obviously our our goalkeeper at Ballard has been picked up by the Colorado Rapids.
You know, Alex Maheia is playing professionally in Honduras. Danny Roebliss is now back in the USL Championship, so you know this this uh you know, by design this roster will look different, and you know, I think I would say that there's probably a handful of other players that have a legitimate shot at playing, maybe not in the MLS, but certainly at the pro level.
There's part one of my conversation with Jason Farrell, former head coach of Ballard FC there as he talked about winning the national and championship, now assistant coach there with Seattle University, and again they played tomorrow there against Oregon State. So good luck to Jason Farrell and the RedHawks. There. Part two of the conversation will comp next week, and we're really going to center that on youth soccer and talk about the state of youth soccer here how it can
be improved. You know, the overall there's a lot of dynamics when it comes to where we are at with local soccer in terms of you know, whether it's you know, we have a ten year old, thirteen year old, fifteen year old, and you know, we were talking with with Greg Bell a couple of weeks ago about the situation with kids and how parents are basically told like, listen, all right, you're forced to jump into a situation where you have to spend a thousands of dollars on a whim to make
sure your kid has a certain opportunity. So I'll tease it by saying, you know, Jason Farrell says the system is broken, and he has a lot of interesting thoughts on that system. And this isn't the start or this isn't you know what you're here next week isn't the end of a conversation. It's an ongoing one that we do intend to have here on Sounders Weekly.
But I will say fitting Lee before we take a break. Sounders FC and Boeing are teaming up to support the Washington Youth Soccer Community Corner on match days this season. Join his in stadium as welcome Washington youth soccer players and coaches to cheer on the Rave Green see of Boeing. We'll take a break here on Sounders Weekly, and coming up next, we're gonna talk about the Sounders two two drag ins Portland. We're gonna talk about the break ahead, where
the team is at and go around the league. Ari lillianol of MLS Soccer dot Com and Lobbing Scorchers. Ari will comp next on Sounders Weekly Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. All back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Saunders FC, Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back
Sounders Weekly Sports Radio and ninety three point three KJRFM. Sounders are off this weekend back coming up on Saturday, September sixteenth, where they're headed to Frisco, Texas and Toyota Stadium to face FC Dallas or repeat that one more time here that coming up here and just about a week and a half. It'll be a five o'clock Providence, Swedish prematch show over on Sports Radio nine fifty KJR AM and kick off right around five thirty there on Saturday the sixteenth.
You can also watch the match via MLS Season Pass on the Apple tv app and listen here locally in Spanish language on l Ray thirteen sixteen. Well, before we get to our next guest, I'll tell you that Sounder Fans bud Light was brewed to be a delicious and easy to drink beer. Bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Pick up bud Let at your local retailer today, Please enjoy responsibly. We'll talk about the FC Dallas match
coming up on next week's edition of Around the League. But joining us right now is the post of the podcast Lobbing Scorchers and writer for MLS Soccer dot Com Ari Lillian Wall Ari. Good to have you back on the show, my friend. How are you hey, Jackson? How are you? I'm good? Ari, I'm good. Not as good as if we had held on to all three points and a two nothing lead last weekend for Sounders Portland,
but you know, such as life. I suppose as a sports fan let's start there Ari before we you know, talk about the festivities of Miami Leonel Messi versus LAFC and the Wild Western Conference. Will start locally here with the Sounders and just get your two cents on what happened there a looming field over the weekend where the Sounders were leading to nothing, Leo Chew sent off on a second yellow and they give up two goals and the final goes to
two with the Portland Timbers. Yeah. So, you know, we've had to watch a lot of frustrating games this year, Jackson, and I gotta say that might have been the most frustrating out of all of them. It really might have been. And you know why. It's because in the first
half they looked amazing. That's kind of the team that we've been waiting to see for the last I don't know how long it's been two or three months now, and it finally looked like they were breaking out of it in an important setting because we all know that Portland is at the upper hand and this rivalry for the last you know, six or seven times that these teams have played now, and it looked like that narrative was finally come to an end. I mean, did you see that they put up two expected goals?
To you how to put up two expected goals in the first half, Okay, I've been waiting to see them put put up two expected goals in a game for months now, and so you know, it felt like the tides were finally turning and they were breaking out of this and it might be the start of a new path. Uh. And then they come out in the second half it's looking much the same and then Wayo Shoo gets a red card that basically chocks the whole thing. So I think there are things to be
encouraged by as we get away from it. You know, it was great to see Rowolver Ideas get on the score sheet. Wayochi was playing amazing before the red card. He scored the second goal, and so those are all positive signs. The fact that they put up to expected goals and a half
is an encouraging sign. But the final result itself was unbelievably frustrating and felt like a blown opportunity to get Portland back for the results that they've taken recently and to get some separation on the Western Conference table, which is a log jam. So you know, that was a frustrating one. It definitely was. It really is frustrating and unfortunate that the two words we're kind of centering
around here. Ari Lelliona was our guest. He writes for MLS Soccer dot com and hosts the podcast Lobbing Scorchers, which was very good, a nice episode coming off of the Austin win last week. We won't spend any time looking ahead to the sounders next match against FC Dallas. We won't do a sharp Vision opponent Alex, but I will tell you that our opponent Alexs are always presented by sharp Vision Modern Lasic and lens official Lasic provider of Sounders FC.
Ari. We will kind of and you mentioned it a little bit in your first answer, but talk about the Sounders offensively, because for so long we were really kind of just talking about the frustrations about the issues offensively. But now is you kind of look at it overall here. The Sounders have
scored two plus goals in three of the last five matches. They looked pretty good against Minnesota, a match where you could technically say they scored two goals, just one of them was for the other team with the Amargomazanrade but you know, overall, right now, I think the question I have is when this team is hell even without Christian rolled on, because they haven't been with you know, with him he's still out with the concussion. Of course,
are the major offensive issues with this team in the rearview mirror? Where now we're kind of just looking about little things here and there, and they aren't major concerns like it was, say a month ago. Yeah, I don't know if I'm ready to say that they're fully solved, but I will say that I was encouraged by what I saw in the first half of the Portland game. I'll say that ruy Diez needed to get going. I don't think that's a secret. His scoreless drought going into that game I think was up
above seven hundred minutes. That's not going to be a sustainable way to pull results from year ten million dollars number nine. I mean, he needs to be scoring, and he needs to be getting those chances that we all know he can finish, and that just hadn't really been happening in recent weeks. So to see him get that goal, I think that's a positive sign that, you know, if he gets hot, I think that makes a huge, huge difference for this team. They really there hasn't been enough production from
the striker positions for most of the season. Brian Schmithz himself has acknowledged that in recent weeks that they needed to be getting more production out of that spot. Ruy Diez and Abart have combined for I think you know that Goalf and Ruid has brought it up to seven goals between the two of them this year. So if you want to break down the biggest issues with this team on
offense, I think that's where you have to start right there. So seeing Ruy Diaz get that goal, I think is a really good thing, and I just want to see it over a little bit more of a sustained sample here over these final few games of the season before I declare them out of the woods on it, because we've seen a very large sample of offensive utility leading up to these last few weeks. But I would agree that there have been there have been signs of life. I think. I think the Austin
game wasn't as good as the Portland game, but it was better. It was better, and signs of progress is what we're looking for at this point because they going into the playoffs, they need to show that they're capable of scoring, having multi goal games consistently, otherwise they're not going to make or
run. So I think the biggest thing to look for over these last few games is whether that sustains itself, and if it does, I think the chances that they could do something the playoffs are I would say they're higher than
I would have taken it a few weeks ago. Well, and when you look at the Western Conference, this is a perfect segue to talking about, you know, around the league part of our conversation, where you look at the Western Conference right now over the last week, and we can go back to last Wednesday and talk about how Portland beats Real Salt Lake and how LA Galaxy beats San Jose. And then you get to the weekend and you have results like Kansas City beating Saint Louis or at the top of the West.
Right now, you have what it was at a draw between San Jose and Minnesota. You had the LA Galaxy picking up a point against Houston Dynamo. So you're seeing results right now, and I know we'll get into Lafc's loss as well, and hearing a little bit You're seeing the Western Conference about as
open as I've ever seen. It just seems like when the playoffs start, are it won't matter what the numbers seeds are, It'll just matter the matchups, because it seems at this point like anybody in the West can beat anybody else at any moment. Yeah, I think that's true. It's definitely a log jam. I mean, you've got eight points separating Seattle, who's still in second place at this point, from Austin. FC are in tenth places
below the line, so a lot could change with seating. There's still a lot to play for for every team really that's below Saint Louis, Seattle, in LAFC, in Salt Lake, and even Houston. They all have an outside chance of catching Saint Louis. You know, a lot, a lot would have to go right for them for that to happen, but it's theoretically possible. So I still think home field advantage in the playoffs is really important.
You know, all these teams are close on points, but whoever gets these home games, which is the top four seats, that really matters, and the top two seeds get to buy so that really matters. So it's definitely going to be interesting to watch down the stretch here. It feels like no one in the West really wants to step up and kind of solidify those spots for themselves. It blows my mind that Seattle sitting here in second place, given you know, the results that we've had to talk about over the
last two months. Here. Every time I look down, there's still in a top two to three spot, and the way people talk about them, you would think that they were below the playoff line. So it's up to them to really take advantage of the fact that no one else has stepped up
and overtaken them. You know, for as much as they've struggled, and for much as as much as we've talked about how how much this offense is underperformed, they're still in a position where they could get I mean, they're competing with LAFC for the two seed right now, so that's that's not a bad place to be when you talk about it like that. It's just a matter of correcting their form going into the playoffs so they can actually do something
when they get there. LAFC, meanwhile, who played Portland I believe coming up this weekend in Portland, so the Timbers could help the Sounders out a little bit here and keep them in second place in the Western Conference. Are Leuian was our asked MLS Soccer dot Com podcast Lobbing Scorchers and Ari talking about LAFC. It's a great and you know, segue into talking about what happened just this last weekend where LAFC plays hosts to Miami and Lionel Messi, and
let's start. We can talk about the game in a moment, but I want to start by talking about how hilarious it was that lafc's PR staff sends every single person who's in the press box and has a piece of paper printed out for every media member that has like the fifty celebrities listed who are at the game that day. It's saying, look how important we are. We have players from the Dodgers, Selena Gomez, Owen Wilson, Look who we
have an attendance. It's just hilarious to me that a PR staff would supply the media members with the fullest of the celebrities at the event that day. I can't remember ever seeing anything like that in MLS. Hey listen, then Messi mania. You gotta capitalize on it however you can, I guess no, but you're I mean, I saw reporters tweeting out the pictures of that of that list too. I thought it was pretty funny. I have also never seen that. Uh it does kind of just underscore what a circus all
this messy stuff really is. You know, ONLYFC they they pull celebrities at a lot of their games. I mean, Will Ferrell and Owen Wilson along with like twenty other names are part of their ownership group. So it really it shouldn't be like that special of an occasion for them to have a bunch of celebrities at their games. But you know, everywhere Messy goes, it's it's like that. It really is a circus, and it's it's fun.
It's definitely been fun to watch, but that kind of shows the spectacle of it all that No, it was very funny and yet the viral clip of Selena Gomez reacting to uh say from LAFC on a messy strike and it's it's kind of just like I think Christian Polisics said it as well on an Instagram story, like, uh, you know, all of you celebrities are welcome to come to other games too, right, But it really is just all
about Messi mania right now and talking about the game itself once again. Ari, I mean, Lionel Messi just showing why he's the best to ever do it. As Miami are just continuing to roll. They had a draw as Nashville, but back now against LA and it just seems like this Messi train and this Miami train is not stopping, and it's sort of is It's hard to see them losing at this point in the regular season. It's hard to see them not making the playoffs and not just running all the way because of
how well that team is executing right now. Yeah, that's why I've been saying that I like their chances of actually digging out of this hole and making the playoffs. The Nashville game had me questioning it more than I had previously, because you know, I think that showed that a lot of it does come down to gas in the tank. And I do still think there's valid questions as to whether they're going to be able to get the Barcelona trio playing
enough of minutes to sustain the type of form that they're on. But I mean, when this team is on, I mean I'll say the same thing that I've been saying on that too, which is that it's just about the
most lethal team in attack that I've ever seen in MLS. When they get going, it looks like kick Barcelona out there, which makes perfect sense because you're talking about three former Barcelona superstars, one of whom is the greatest player of all time that's ever played the sport, and the other two of which Bousquets and Jordi Alba, who are arguably top two to three, if not
the best of all time at their respective position. So when you put all that together, it doesn't even matter that they're all, you know, thirty three, thirty four years old. They don't really look like they've lost all that much. You put them up against MLS defenders, this is kind of what you get. So and but I do think the fact that they can go on the road to lasc and still maintain that level that really shows what
kind of team we're talking about here. You know, most teams, there have been great teams MLS teams in the past that we've seen that can still struggle in cross country road environment. It doesn't seem like that type of name effects in your Miami They went to Frisco, Texas, a notoriously hard place to play on the road, and they scored four goals. Yeah, so they're just kind of playing a different game than everyone else in the league right
now when they're on their game. So you might see a couple more games like that Nashville game where they struggle to get it going just because of the mileage they're accruing right now. But on the whole, if they keep playing like this, I mean, they're gonna they're gonna make the playoffs. And I don't know who I would take to beat them when they get there, exactly, don't exactly. I mean right now, you just you can't pick against them in any game. But I will say, I mean, they
host Sporting Kansas City this coming Saturday. It's during the international break, so they won't have at least, you know, one or two stars. So there's that. But you look at the PUER numbers right now, Miami currently sitting eight points below the red line. They have twenty five. DC United, in ninth place, has thirty three. There's nine games left to go,
so twenty seven points available. I'll cut that by one conciderning this Saturday, so eight games left there with twenty four points available and they're only back by eight points. I mean, you just do the math. They're going to be able to pick that up, and then once they get in, it's just gonna be absolutely insane. We saw what they did in Least Cup winning the whole thing, and it would not surprise me if Messi goes and
just wins that trophy as well. So we'll definitely stay talking about that as Messi mania continues. Who who knows, maybe the next team they face on the road will send another PR staff note about all the celebrities here today, Ari, until the next laugh and until the next game. We'll talk to you next week about FC Dallas ahead for the Sounders and all the action from the weekend ahead. So have a good one, my friend, have a good podcast this week, and we'll be tuning in. We'll be reading your
stuff there on MLS soccer dot com. Take good care, buddy, that was good, thanks Jackson. Chris. Stuff there from Ari lelin Wall MLS soccer dot com, and make sure to check out his podcast, Lobbing Scorchers, which is available on the iHeartRadio app. Just search Lobbing Scorchers. You
know also listen to this podcast. In case you missed the show tonight, search Sounders Weekly here not only on iHeartRadio, but also wherever you get your podcasts, and you can listen to not only this show Sounders Weekly, you can listen to our postgame shows from Sounders matches like the two two drug inst Portland last week, and entire full game broadcasts. We're now podcasting those as well, so the podcast channel for Sounders Weekly has everything on it. Make
sure you check that out as well as Lopping Scorchers. But we thank Ally lean Well for joining us. We thank Jason Farrell here. Make sure to hear part two of that conversation coming up next week with myself and the former head coach of Ballard FC who's now the assistant head coach with Seattle University. Some really interesting comments I had on next week's show about the state of youth soccer here locally and nationally, and then good to talk with Obed Vargas in
the locker room. Check out the podcast. In case you missed any of our show tonight, well, no Sounders game coming up this weekend. I'll also quickly mention what we have going on. Usually we have Andrew Harvey, who takes around the sound talking all things local soccer. Congratulations to Tacoma Defiance. Defiance beat Timbers two by a score of four nothing back on Monday night, and with that four nothing win, they have clinched their division and also
clinched a spot in the MLS next Pro playoffs. So congrats to Wade Webber. Saw great social media post where he every time they get a shut out there with Defiance, Wade Webber has to make a loaf of banana bread for his team, so they gave him a chef uniform after the four nothing win. So congratulations to Wade. I hope that banana bread tasted good. We're going to try to get Wade Webber on Sounders Weekly at some point soon, so make sure to check out that here coming up in the next few weeks
or so. That will be fun to have Wade on. But congrats to Tacoma Defiance. I know Andrew Harvey certainly would have mentioned that. I believe ol Rayner actually playing right now. I think I would think I saw that on Twitter a little bit ago, so I want to make sure to check that ahead to ol Rain's social media accounts. You'll be able to get in up there on that. I'll see if that is correct here in a moment. And then all also I'll mention because I know Andrew Harvey texted me to
say this as well. Tacoma Stars they have set the date for their first game of the year. Their home opener will be December ninth there at the Showwear Center, So make sure to check out the Tacoma Stars coming up here in just a few months back in action there at Showware. So that's what's going on around the sound We'll have Andrew Harvey on back soon and that will do it for tonight's show. Again, check out the podcast in case you
missed any of it. Again, no Sounders game coming up this weekend, so we'll talk to you back on the sixteenth and next Wednesday for another edition of Sounders Weekly. So until then, have a very good week everybody, have a good evening, and we will talk to you next Wednesday for another edition of Sounders Weekly. And Fox Sports Radio is coming up next