He's a tough kid. Welcome to 2025 and welcome
to Sounder Scuttlebutt. This is our first episode
of the new year and I guess we will call it our
first episode of season four, our official fourth
season. We're getting older. I am Aaron Lingley
and I am joined tonight by your Alliance Council
Secretary, Cameron Collins. What's going on,
man? Hey, not much. Just living that new year
life, you know. going to bed early and, I don't
know, getting ready for soccer tomorrow. Feeling
hopeful? Nah. Anything? Nah, we had elections
and stuff. The world's awful. What is there to
be hopeful for? Well, I'm hopeful for a successful
podcast. Sure. And I'm hopeful Notre Dame or
Texas win the national championship, because
watching Ohio State and Penn State lose would
be glorious and fun. Ohio State did his job and
beat Oregon and now I don't really care what
happens except for Ohio State losing and Penn
State losing. Anytime the Big Ten can lose I'm
happy. I guess I'm always like a UW adjacent
even though I didn't go to school at UW. I was
born there and I didn't really go to school anywhere
so I don't really follow college but if yeah
arrival of UW hits the floor I'm happy with that.
Yeah it's good. It was funny. They get their
butts kicked. And now Oregon continues to have
a giant zero on their helmet, which means the
number of national championships they've won
zero. It's funny. I'm going to open something
but you know, it's a new year. This is not a
beer. This is not a beer. It is a poppy. Oh,
that's funny. Wild Berry. What I brought is similar
to poppy but different. Poopy? No, but that's
what they both do. That's the point of poppy.
It's all about your gut health. They're so good.
Yeah, I have a good shot is what I brought. Oh,
really? Yeah. Times good times. Yeah, we're raging
on this one. So 101 we're raging. I got my we
got our probes. I brought these for our poopies.
Yeah, no, I've been, I've been doing good overall.
I just had a doctor made a bunch of tons of doctor's
appointments to figure out stuff and I got a
brain scan and nothing's wrong with my brain
and my A1C, which is, you know, having is under
diabetes levels now. So I have to maintain that,
but I am the healthiest. I don't know what that
is. That's like your I hear it on the commercials.
Yeah, it's it's your glucose levels. So basically,
it's my blood sugars back to a normal person's
blood sugar. So I'm I can get it to go into.
What's that word like remission? There you go.
So I mean, it's new, right? I got to keep it
up for a year plus. But things are going well,
health wise. Oh, except for I keep getting dizzy
and almost passing out on the soccer field. But
Yeah, it's only when I like run indiscriminately
as fast as I can so we got to figure that out
But otherwise, yeah, look things are looking
up this year. There is some positive things Keep
playing soccer and I'm not gonna stop. Yeah,
I'm gonna keep going even if I get dizzy. I just
sub out and take a break What what what soccer
you playing right now we're in between public
seasons, what are you doing? No public Publix
year -round are you doing pops? Yeah. Yeah, we're
you doing pop the pops then the bull yeah but
it's just practice with the same people it's
the same as it is otherwise so yeah yeah totally
i i have not been partaking in those especially
for the last few weeks with the holidays and
everything like that and uh the two kids doing
all the the funzy stuff but i am kind of relieved
the holidays are over slot slot going on so anyway
yeah and i don't know if you heard me i'm going
dry january i've never ever done anything like
that that's probably gone Smart you days without
a single beer before most of the week most people
go dry February and I feel like that's cheating
because it's the shortest month What and what
do you think they do because of that or because
your start usually January with a drink I don't
know but but yeah, I think it's cheating when
you take this the shortest month So you have
a nice long 31 day a month to not drink really
that's a lot of drinking man Yeah, I know the
Costco run was all LaCroix, poppies, and what
else did we get? Spindrift. That means we'll
have a lot of placebo. I probably had as many
total drinks last year as you did days where
you didn't drink. Oh, 100%. 100%. I mean, I don't
drink to get swammered, but you get the final
kid down. And it's 930 and there's a beer in
the fridge. I'm going to sit down for 15 minutes
stare at a wall and have a fucking beer. That's
the thing though. I would be. That's kind of
the point. It's kind of kind of the point. Need
need to just like crawl into the crevices of
the couch. Anyway, soccer, soccer, soccer. Do
we have any soccer news out there? They released
the info, and I don't know why this is an article,
but on the 10 biggest MLS stadiums ranked, the
Sounders are third with 68 ,000, which is also...
Clearly, this is where the stadiums peak. Yes.
We have 68 ,740 is our total capacity, but we're
also third in attendance at 30 ,727. Charlotte
is second in attendance, but first in size. They
have just under 75 ,000. And Atlanta United averages
almost 50 ,000 people, 49 ,351 for their 71 ,000
capacity stadium. Ooh, you forgot to do share
your screen. Remember that fun tool we discovered
the last couple of episodes? Because I'm on the
website too. Next thing. But yeah, I mean, you
know, I'm not, it shouldn't be hard to look that
information up. I could have told you we were
near the top. Um, I didn't realize Charlotte
was bigger than us, but also attendance in the
MLS is of course, tickets distributed, not actual,
uh, people through the gates and the Sounders
are not getting 30 ,000 plus and per game. Although
I think people underestimate they're, they're,
they're making it a Sounders issue and it is
largely outside of the Seahawks. It is largely
a sports issue in blue states, is what I think
it is. But I don't think crowds have recovered
to the point that they did in pre -COVID times.
I think money's tighter and people don't want
to go out and do stuff like that to the same
degree that... See, because it's... I mean, if
you've been to a game, it's all red state people.
They boo anytime the governor or mayor is there.
for the wrong reasons. Yeah. Well, and also,
like, for a lot of people, Seahawks game is a
rare, a rare feat to be able to go to one. I
mean, it's been a lot more reasonable in the
last few years, just because of their performance.
I mean, 10 years ago, it was impossible, right?
I was one of those people waiting two days, you
know, to get one of the allotted 1000s. No $75
tickets. Yeah, like wait in line get a wristband
come in with your wristband. They go pick your
seat That's about the time that the fan base
got completely unbearable once we won the Super
Bowl in the 2013 season and They stopped being
the 12th man and went to the 12s. Whoo boy I
do not enjoy going to games anymore and I used
to live for games. I went to every single game
from 1989 every regular season game from 1989
to 1997 and now If I can sell it at a profit
to Seahawks fan, I'd rather do that. To a Seahawks
fan. We should go to a game though next year
together. Yeah, that'd be fun. Yeah, I can be
your buffer. Yeah, I like games. No, I mean,
I have fun there. I like the people around me
because they've been the same people for the
most part. It's the son of the guy that I really
liked who sat behind me for years and years,
but he passed away in 2020. And it's a good example
where, you know, here's a guy that I only see
on Sundays. If you look at, he's same age as
my dad, but was significantly older. Like in
his way, he carries himself everything. He was
like an elderly, elderly man. And he's definitely
a Republican, you know, but there was those moments
where you don't care about politics. You don't
care. Sports brings people together. And there
was those moments where we could be together
and celebrate together. And it's sad that he
passed. I know that his first game after his
wife passed back in probably like 2017, that
was a rough one. He cried a lot and we all hugged
him. Cause they'd been good. We started sitting
next, we're right in front of them when we moved
to the new stadium because we didn't, we had
at the Kingdome, we had 45 yard line tickets.
They were freaking amazing. And then they wanted
the $10 ,000 seat license to sit the PSL, to
get those seats. So you have to pay for the tickets
plus your $10 ,000 per ticket. And so we went
to the five yard line, which is the first section
where you didn't have to pay a PSL. So we lost
our amazing Kingdom seats. So there's probably
one of the reasons why I miss the Kingdom is
that. Yeah, you had primo seeds. Oh, yeah 45
yard line last row of the lower section of the
100 level so you could just hop over the yeah
Easy escape. Yeah. Yeah, it was so great That's
awesome. Yeah. Well, I mean back to like Sounders
like I think I'm I'm I'm one of them right? I
was a season ticket holder. I went to As many
matches as I could even when I wasn't a season
ticket holder, which has been actually for most
years. I haven't been one. Yeah. But I was, you
know, buying tickets and going to as many games.
Obviously, kids have something to do with that.
But a lot of people have kids and are at the
games, including the people that would sit behind
me. Tor and I, they raised I saw their child
get right, you know, from basically two months
to two, three years until now Tor doesn't go
to the games anymore. But he moved to he moved
further away. So I feel like, yeah, I think there
might be just we all had a taste of just focusing
internally at home, being at home, being stuck
at home, family stuff, obviously money. I think
money is a major factor. Tickets are more expensive
than they've ever been for all sports. The groceries
are so expensive. I mean, everything's more expensive
and it's largely to do, well, there's two things.
It's the, what do you call it? when COVID happened
and the way that we get food and clothing and
items for sale. You know what I'm talking about
though. I do. The path with the logistics. Yeah,
it's the logistics part of it. There's issues
there and it's like, I don't eat eggs so it doesn't
affect me. I know a lot of people are complaining
about eggs, but we have the avian flu which has
made eggs. non -existent, which has raised the
prices, supply chains. That was going to kill
me. That was not the first time I've struggled
to come up with supply chain in the past. And
it's freaky. Avian Flu is passing to humans now.
There's been bad cases in Louisiana, California,
somewhere on the East Coast. It could. It's got
two of the three factors right now to become
an epidemic, or a pandemic, excuse me, which
could. be the next COVID type thing. So hopefully
does not. Hopefully they figure that out. But
yeah, I'm wearing my mask again when I go to
crowded places just because of norovirus is up
RSV is up COVID is up flu is up. I mean, I've
got shots for COVID and flu but H5N1 is spreading.
I'm like, yeah. And I think there's some people
that don't like that. I think also Sounders Sounders
home performances. hurt them too. I mean, there
was halfway through the season. They in the previous
year, so it was half of last season and the first
half of this season, they had one point per game,
which was the second lowest in the MLS. Obviously
that changed on the stretch, but I think that
all played a factor for sure. And I think that
when Tim, when we get to Tim's question a little
bit, I think that will be interesting. Just kind
of say me and him kind of touch this again. Any
other news? You see the new soccer ball? Yeah,
Sounders for life. MLS official match ball unveiled
for 2025. It is rave green and blue. Yeah, it's
of course the original MLS logo colors, which
I love, but so it is win win for me. Now they
don't. I feel like it's not the same ball for
every game. Should be every match should be yeah,
is it really yeah? If it's snowing you get the
orange ball, but otherwise you'd have that ball.
Yeah, that's true. OK. I feel like so I feel
like this is the. At least second, I know for
a fact is the second time, but three or four
times there's been a match ball that has been
like that's a Sounders ball. Yeah, I mean that
I know I don't think there's anything behind
it. I think it's. Yeah, if it's blue and green,
it's because that was the original MLS. So probably
10 years ago and five years ago. I think the
only other thing is a quick look around the league
at any big moves that have been made, because
we have some big Sounders moves we can talk about,
plus non moves that create very interesting potential
conversations that I think we need to start having.
Uh, but you can see like Atlanta lost a ton of
players here and brought in a few, nothing, nothing
real exciting. Uh, the big, the big thing we're
talking about right now with Austin losing what
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven players,
uh, is it looks all across the field. Yeah. It
looks like they're bringing in, uh, United States,
us men's national team, uh, forward Brandon Vasquez,
who seemed like a lock to go to San Jose. And
be a part of Bruce Arena's team is looks like
they're now going. He's now going to Austin.
So that's I think that's the biggest news that
we've seen outside of, you know, draft picks.
Jack Elliott to Chicago is pretty big because
that that guy was a superstar for homegrown for
Philly. And he went over there. And outside of
that, we've got some just some transfers in Kevin
Denke to Cincinnati from Bruges. And then they
purchased the option from Vasco da Gama for Luca
Orellano. We saw other than re -signings, the
only other big moves outside of Sounders, because
we don't really care about in league trades,
unless they're huge players. I think someone
big is signing with LA, but it's not official.
Same with Miami, they did bring in Fafa Pico
and they got rid of a bunch of players. Some
of the younger players, Leonardo Campana traded
to New England Revolution, I think is the big
one because he's pretty good. And then of course,
CJ Dos Santos getting traded to San Diego FC
from them, even though I said we were going to
mainly talk about other non -trades. Those were
pretty big. Outside of that, You know, Nashville
got a guy in from Rosenberg, which is an interesting
move. And a player, of course, we would have
never heard of. New England Revolution transferred
in a few players from teams overseas or I don't
know where they're from America. But, you know,
again, not impact players that we would we would
think of. James Sands getting loaned to St. Pauli
was pretty cool for New York City FC. I like
James Sands and I love St. Pauli. They're of
course in the Bundesliga now. So good. Hopefully
they'll be successful in the Bundesliga. And
yeah, I think that's about it. Fancudo Torres
leaving Orlando City to go to Palmares because
that's their top player. And Philly got a guy
from Newell's old boy, Ian Glavinovich. on loan.
Yeah. So that I think that is about it. Of course.
Wow. San Diego. This is San Diego. Oh, you scrolled
quickly and I didn't see the team. It's all new.
It's all new players. I don't know anyone on
this roster, except for the players who come
from LAFC or Miami. I don't even know the Red
Bulls or DC United player or Philly player on
their team. So should be noted that Sorry, no
Sounders. Nope, no Sounders or previous Sounders
either San Jose bringing in Mark Anthony Kay,
I guess would be another one because he he's
a big Player and in the MLS and then of course
Nick Lima returning to San Jose is pretty big
I know that was a player the Sounders were interested
in the past We will skip The Sounders for now
we can we can go back to that. So no other no
other big big moves obviously there was a draft,
but Uh, that's about it. So, uh, do we want to,
uh, move on to something else or do we want to
just get into sounders transfers right now? Yeah,
maybe we should just get into that. Cause I was
just thinking around MLS website, just seeing
what's out there. They basically, if you have
next time you're sitting on the toilet and want
to watch something for a few minutes, they have
a bunch of kind of end of year, um, videos, you
know, wackiest moments, best goal celebration.
Excuse me. St foes but saves the idea to yada.
So there you go your end of year typical Compilations
nice. So yeah, we can get into sounder stuff.
I I think we we talked about who's gone before
right, but I think I think it's worth Rementioning
we need to revisit just kind of what's happened
so far in the office. Yeah, sure. Yeah, so We
declined options on Sota Kitahara Nathan and
Dylan Tevez Nathan, of course, surprised me because
of his quality of play, but he did make a lot
of money, so I could see us doing better, I guess,
money -wise, opening up money for more players.
Out of contract, we're Jean -Paolo, Raoul Roudis,
and Albert Rusnak, but... Oh, we'll get to those
guys. So we know the official signings, Leo Burney,
homegrown player out of Ballard FC and Penn.
University of Penn, four year, all Ivy League,
I think it was, whatever their conference is.
Trevian Souza signed, came in from MLS Next Pro,
another local Sounders product. So we talked
a lot about him and we talked about where we
think he should go last time. I think the moves
that have been announced as getting done but
not officially announced by the club are the
big ones. Yeah. So, uh, I guess before that,
we should say that these Sounders ended up with,
uh, over 4 million in GAM, general allocation
money. They think they were second or third highest
in the league in terms of how much GAM they got.
So, uh, that plays a huge factor in what came
after, which would be number one. And how much,
why would they, so can, how much GAM they got?
They got over 4, like 4 .6 million, I think.
Um, I don't - From what? I don't know. It's magic
Garber Bucks. You know, some of it is players
leaving as part of trades, maybe, and they got
it from other teams. Some of it is just. Yeah,
yeah, I don't know. It's it's Garber Bucks. And
you have every team has a certain amount. But
then as you spend it, as you. You get you can
trade it and also When players leave, it opens
up some money, potentially, in theory, I suppose.
So the first move. What the hell? All right.
The first move that apparently has been finalized,
although we have not seen a signature, and at
least in a contract was agreeing to it hasn't
been signed, would be Albert Grosnak has resigned
as a designated player. We have no details on
that other than it's a multi -year deal. Nico
Moreno. Reporting on that, Joe Paulo has signed
a one year contract with the club option for
a second year. No idea on money. If the money's
right, I think that's a great signing. We'll
get back to Russnack. But what do you think about
Joe Paulo? Yeah, when did when did that happen?
Oh, two days ago, maybe. Okay, because I did
some like spark notes when we were going to record
two days ago. And I don't think I had caught
that yet. So okay. How much was it reported we
don't know we don't have any um but guess is
there a guess no we have no zero information
we just know that he was signed for one year
with an option for a second year okay i'm happy
with it um one continuity um more for the attitude
of the of the locker room the he's a leader he
is the leader of the locker room yeah Exactly.
Uh, and I think, especially without Raul and,
and obviously, um, Nico from a couple of seasons
ago, I think to lose Joao right now, I don't,
I don't, I just don't see Albert as the, the
guy that take that role for this team. And you
kind of need a field player to be there. Christian's
probably the closest one. uh, that could be that,
but I think you need both. Yeah. Right. Yeah.
So, I mean, Albert is the leadership. Albert's
the leader on the field at this point for sure.
Uh, and he's the, the, the, the father of the
locker room, I guess I'll say he's the one who
goes and speaks on behalf of everyone else when
he needs to. Um, but, uh, he doesn't, he's not,
he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to get fired
up. And, uh, yeah, I guess that's, yeah. I see
Christian with what do you call it? Like cotton
swab stuffed up his nose and blood and getting
choking out of a Portland player. And I seen
the zombie Joe Paulo, right? We've seen that.
So that's that's kind of their character. They're
the tough guys. But yeah, I think we I just still
still think we need that for continuity. I'm
pretty excited about it. And one, he's going
to have the opportunity to play what a photo.
Yeah. So I think that's pretty awesome. Yeah,
totally That's gonna be a really special game
for my hope. I mean, obviously hope they all
stay healthy He's obviously been on the decline
with father time. So I hope he is healthy enough
to Start at least get some minutes but start
that match. I know we please well, maybe he's
still got some juice. Maybe still got some juice
Yeah, yeah, I mean we he down the stretch. He
started a few games and look good I mean, I don't
think he's an everyday starter but he definitely
can bring a lot to those young players. I mean,
you saw the pairing of him and Obed and how good
they were together. I mean, I know that's Obed's
preferred partner. And he's talking, at least
the beginning of last season, he talked about
that. Who knows what it was down the stretch.
Totally. Well, I think for Obed, he's got, you
know, implicit trust. Like he knows everything's
going to be okay. I'm with Joe Palo. Yeah, he
lets him move forward. yeah and he's the more
but if you have any other midfielder there other
than maybe Christian I guess Albert but it's
all the other youth midfielders he's kind of
the more experienced out of all of them and I
bet he's still a young guy and having that leadership
with next to him on the field is absolutely more
preferred I would agree that's what I want Yeah,
so okay, there's that. Yeah. Albert. And then
of course, here, I'll, I'll take away and I will
share a different screen with you. This has not
been officially announced by the club, but Tom
Bogert has reported that the deal has been done
to send Jesus Ferreira from FC Dallas. to the
Sounders in exchange for 2 million in general
allocation money and international roster spot
of which we still have, I believe, four after
this. Maybe it's five. I think we have a ton
left. And Leo Chu, he has agreed to a new contract.
So they just have to sign the paperwork, essentially,
and it's get approved by the league. So This
is an incredible trade because the understanding
is he's not coming in as a designated player
and with as much game as we had, it really upgrades
the offense. You know, Leo unfortunately was
not having an impact and now you've brought in
a player that can start any position on offense.
You can start on the wings, you can start at
the 10, and you can start at the nine. And not
only can he start he can score right he was hurt
this last season But the year before he was phenomenally.
I think he's the fastest player to 50 goals in
the MLS history So this in and I believe he might
be Although maybe the guy in LA Galaxy is faster
now, but there was a time where he was the fastest
player in MLS. Oh But like speed yeah So, huge
upgrade. This is something that other people
outside of Sounders land, meaning fans, are arguing
that the Sounders are getting favorable trades
because the league wants us to do well in Club
World Cup, which I thought was nonsense. But
after some of the news from this last week, maybe
not. We'll talk about that. That's what we know
that is supposedly done and for real happening.
We will see, obviously, things can fall apart.
We have had other deals done that have fallen
apart before. So until we see the official announcement
or that the paperwork has signed, I'm not going
to get too excited. But of course, we did also
have potentially another FC Dallas player coming,
which would be very Ola who we had news on mid
December and we haven't heard anything since
Was that he was coming to Seattle in a trade.
He would not be a DP So Dallas would be covering
at least 1 million of his salary and Sounders
would need to sign him to an extension that brings
his future cap it down a ton we don't know what
they would be giving up, but You know this potentially
along with for would be crazy good for the Sounders
offense. He also can play at a wing back position,
so he could play on the left or the right, preferably
the right based on, I think, his positioning.
He usually was coming up at right back lately
for Dallas, I believe. But yeah, I mean, I think
bringing him in would be another huge upgrade.
And he's not a DP. For me, that's the big thing.
Sounders fans are on the internet. getting real
angry about these moves. But if you're bringing
in superstar starters that are not costing us
a DP spot, like, that's huge. What are we talking
about here? We still have GAM based off of the
Garber Bucks you were just talking about if this
is including that 2 million that was just spent,
right? I don't I don't I mean, we would spend
a lot on him. We'd probably have to spend some
on him as well. And like, depending on how it
worked, but. That's what, that's what I'm thinking
because he is a designated player. Yeah. Right.
So he'll have to, if that's the report then,
and it happens, then you'd have to be bought
down with that game. And I don't think he's a
designated player. As far as I'm going to go
with MLS Money Talk. He's not a designated level
player anymore. Designate player level player
anymore. I don't think. Uh, I think he's really
in the last two years. Uh, like play wise, I
think he's dropped more to a Tam level player.
Uh, meaning he, he should be getting paid in
that spot between, uh, like 1 .5 and 2 .5 million
or between 680 and, and, and 1 .5, depending
on how you. I mean, he was on pace to have pretty
much a 10 goal, 12 assist season. Coming off
of the bat out of the back. So. Uh, he's just,
no, you're talking, you're talking about Paul.
Paul. Yeah. Okay. I was talking about Jesus because
he is, Oh, that was two years ago. Last year
he had five goals and three assists or something
like that. Three goals and five assists. I'm
not sure what it was. Jesus had a rough year.
Cause yeah. And, and 13 and 1300 minutes where
the season prior, he had 2 ,200 minutes and 12
goals and six assists. So he already matched
his assists and already had nearly half of the
goals he had in a thousand less minutes. Sure.
Yeah. No, he is a superstar. I'm talking about,
uh, Ariel. I mean, and, uh, Ferrer is only 23
years old. Like he is younger than Leo Chu, and
a significantly better player. That's a big one.
It's a big one. I'm super excited about it. Yeah.
Yeah. So that's exciting. We'll see what happens.
Obviously, they're not done. Unfortunately, the
folks at Center Heart are reporting that it looks
like and I don't know where this comes from.
Jeremiah O'Shaan in the past has just made assumptions
that are true, that are not true. just based
on something to say, but the assumption is that
we're going to just have Jordan be the third
DP because the amount of money he makes, unless
they pay him down, that's what he would be. I
think that's a huge mistake. I think they need
to bring in a young designated player like Gabriel
Peck or someone like that. I've been saying this.
But there was internal talks. Between the Sounders
and the MLS. Do you know about this? Do you know
what I'm talking about? No It was revealed this
week That and this is funny because when people
were saying this before it was complete nonsense
And now I'm on the edge of my seat and now it
is no longer complete nonsense Get this The teams
that appear in the Club World Cup are getting
40 to 50 million dollars Well, there are players
in Europe that are unsettled and the MLS wants
that the MLS teams in the Club World Cup to show
out and so There was internal talk to the Sounders
and presumably with the league to bring in Marcus
Rashford From Manchester United Now He's been
he's gonna get him and get him on an MLS team.
Yeah he's he's of course, unsettled right now.
And and like he didn't appear in their last match.
27 year old. And it would be an incredible rumor
has it that the MLS would be paying part or a
major part of that transfer fee. So the MLS is
like, yeah, we want you to look good. So that's
why I said before, like, I think it's nonsense
that that they're saying these trades are to
make the sounders look good. I don't know. Maybe,
maybe it is. So if that's the case, I mean, come
on, Marcus Rashford is a forward for Manchester
United and the English national team. So far
this year in 15 games, he has four goals and
one assist, but like things have been weird there
this year. So it's not really representative
of him. Last year in 33 games, he had Seven goals
and five assists. The year before, though, 17
goals and six assists in the league. He had six
goals also that year in the EFL Cup and nine
goals in Europe. So that year he had 30 goals
and 56 appearances. This year he has seven goals
and 24 appearances. So pretty incredible. 17
goals for the national team. I'm not holding
my breath, you know, obviously. that kind of
move would be insane. Rashford watch that would
be fun if they could do that actually happen.
Yeah, so I think it's more likely he will probably
go somewhere else in Europe. He he there was
some rumor that he may go over to AC Milan, somewhere
like that. So I could see that more likely. But
Yeah, he's been dropped. I can picture him physically
in Seattle. That seems like it seems like a Seattle
guy. He dropped. He's been dropped from four
matches this season. Not getting it not even
being on the rock like in the 18. Which, I mean,
I guess I could see why you'd want to leave his
current market value is 55 million euros. So
it's like a Jimmy Butler situation. Yeah, yeah.
So just give me the fuck out of here. I think
it's gonna happen. No. But that does give me
some hope that potentially something else maybe
a little smaller could happen. What do you what
do you what are you thinking about all that?
Well, I'm, I'm loving the efforts to make the
club World Cup a thing. That would be really
especially since we're involved in it not just
as a club, but as a city I really hope it's successful.
I mean these these will be It's obviously not
the World Cup and the effect that that's gonna
have like every match in and of itself as a Super
Bowl The that's the economic effect that they'll
have on the city, but the club World Cup will
still have I mean I'm doing business and hospitality
with tour groups that are bringing people from
Brazil and you know groups of 30 rooms and that's
happening throughout the city. So there's going
to be a lot of culture, visiting culture and,
and excitement and happening in our cities that
are hosting this. Um, it's going to happen. These
people are coming. So I'm Club World Cup was
like a nothing tournament until this. So it looks
like this is actually going to happen to be,
you know, and I just potentially successful and
I, and it looks like the MLS really wants to
make sure that happens if this is true. if I'm
understanding you correctly with all that. I
mean, that's the hope. We'll see. We'll see.
I don't know when the transfer windows freeze
this year. Last year, the primary transfer window
was January 31 to April 23. And then the secondary
transfer window was July 18 to August 14. So
something would have to be done in the primary
transfer window. uh because which is only four
months long right i mean something could be i
think there's something could be done now obviously
but but things change in terms that other window
but uh the hard part is that means players are
leaving um mid season or not just mid season
but not even during a break just like mid The
second half of the European season whereas a
player coming in now could leave during the break.
You're seeing a bunch of transfers now on New
Year's Eve and January 1st like in the Premier
League and the championship and stuff like that
because It you know, everyone was on a winter
break for the most part championship played on
the on the first they had a whole slot of games,
but So now is the time that usually you would
try to get those players and we can't wait till
the summer transfer window if we want to have
an impact for club World Cup now. Well, I mean,
it doesn't sound like restaurants playing much
anyway. So for stocking specifically of this
happening, I don't think well, but we're going
up against European clubs. So he would have to
it a lot would have to fall in place. I wouldn't
get my hopes up, but it is an interesting discussion.
No offer was even made. So I wouldn't look at
it as Rashford potentially could be coming to
Seattle. I would look at it as there could be
a potential big move in the works if the right
thing falls in the Sounders lab. That would be
crazy. He's a fun athlete to watch, like he glides,
you know, when he runs. Kind of a gazelle. I
don't like Manchester United, so I'd prefer a
different player, but if he wants to come here.
Well, neither does he. Good point. You guys get
along. I will say that, interestingly, we are
receiving offers, we being the Sounders, for
Ovid Vargas right now. I don't think they're
probably high enough, not even close to high
enough. But I would be surprised if they'd sell
them now. We've talked before about how selling
them in the summer after the the summer window
after the club World Cup makes more sense because
his value goes significantly up. Yeah, at the
earliest at the earliest, if not the end of the
season. But yeah, the summer I think the summer
window is we can land somewhere where you would
also get the most money. Yeah, because that's
that's when they're shopping. That's for the
big money. So right now a team and I don't have
it in front of me but a team in Mexico has has
made an offer for Ovid Vargas. Do you think they'll
inform Obed of any of this for his, like, does
he not like a say in it, but, or will he just
be? Oh, I'm sure he knows all about it. It all
goes to the agents, right? So the agent definitely,
uh, would be talking to him about potential transfer
fees and, uh, stuff like that for sure. So I
wouldn't, uh, let's see. weird position for like
a 20 year old. Seattle Sounders Craig Weibull
said that Weibull said the team was not interested
moving him in the winter. But he's a hot commodity
for league MX teams. Some pundits believe he
could attract an eight figure transfer fee. So
he's number seven on the MLS 22 under 22. I don't
know where that information came from. So if
it was from one of your articles out there, reporters,
I apologize. That is an AI overview from Google.
Uh, but, uh, yeah, there, there is rumors of
offers coming in now for him. Yeah. Well, I bet.
I bet. So crazy off season. Uh, let's, uh, Tim
did it for us, but let's quick look if we stay
in the same formation, where that puts us roster
wise, uh, Jordan Morris and Jesus Ferreira potentially
up top. We're not going to go through the bench.
Left mid, you've got Pedro, Jordan, Paul Rothrock,
and Rebecca Whiting can play there, and Ferreira.
At the 10, you've got Rusnak, Pedro, Jesus Ferreira,
and I guess Christian. Right mid, if we get Paul
Arigola, you would have him. Arigola, you would
have him. You have Pedro, you have Christian.
You have, I guess Alex could move up. Georgie
plays there. Jordan has been there a little bit.
And then Obed's played on the right. And so has
RVW. So that could happen. Of course, CDM. You
have Obed is of course the guaranteed starter,
followed by Giappallo, Christian, Danny Leyva,
and Josh Atencio. And we saw Rusnak play back
there a little bit. Left back, Neuhoo, Reid Baker,
Whiting, Cody Baker, and Bell. Center back, you've
got Reagan, and Bell, and Neuhoo, potentially.
You've also got, oh, Yamar, of course. And then
right back would be Alex, Christian, Cody Baker,
and RBW. And Goalie's the same right now. fry
Castro and, uh, Andy Thomas. I'm happy with it.
Yeah. It looks good. I still, I still want a
big, a big name DP, but, um, yeah, I'm happy
with this and that there's room for a splash.
Yep. Totally. So should we take a break? Yes,
let's do that. Let's take a break and listen
to your voice. So our show listen to me Hey everybody,
this is one of your hosts Cameron Collins now,
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-M. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Okay, welcome back. Welcome back. Let's let's
get into it's the beginning of the year. We call
it you can call it a New Year's resolution. I've
never actually done one and saw it through. Have
you made them and then tried and then just I
don't know. Probably like, you know, at the party
drunk and, you know, when you're just doing all
the cliche shit, but I mean, I haven't like celebrated
New Year's Eve, like celebrated it in a long
time. So I guess I don't put much thought into
the fact that it's a turnover every year. I was
like, you don't, you have kids, would you? And
then I was like, well, my parents always did.
We stayed up. I do recognize that it's kind of
like, oh, okay. It's kind of a big day. There's
shit going on. People are on TV. So we watch
and drink. But yeah, we're not clubbing. But
anyway, I can't think of any New Year's resolutions
that I've actually done for myself. I think you
said I'll go to the gym and stuff like that in
the past. And yeah, usually I usually stick to
it for a little bit longer than most people,
because most people quit so fast. For me, when
I quit the gym, it's usually because of injury,
sickness, or something like that, that then messes
up my routine. Because it's when it becomes a
habit, and I'm going regularly that that I keep
going. So as soon as that's gone, I struggle
to get back into it. But That is mine, I suppose.
It's to go to the gym more, because right now
I'm only working out one day per week. So I need
to get that up to three. Yeah, three, that minimum.
And that's what I'm, I mean, I feel like it's
health, good health with mental health. Yeah,
totally. You know, not feeling like, you know.
thinking about money. I mean, when we want to
go to a restaurant, like I don't want to, I just
want to go, I want to look at a menu and be like,
I want to eat that. That looks good. I ordered.
I did buy a, I bought a giant, um, eight pound,
uh, what do you call those big balls? You know,
that you can use at the gym that you can like
throw. Medicine medicine about a big medicine
ball today so I could do supply chain turning
turning stuff to get functional muscle growth
because most of Intel soccer I didn't have functional
so I have muscles that are way overpowered because
and others that are weak just because the machines
work specific muscles right needs so you don't
get what you need. I think you have that though
you have your own little medicine ball that you
could pick up and exercise with and in your daughter
your your your Yeah, I'm doing it all the time.
All the time. So you can carry them on. I guess
I never really thought about it. I am doing just
basically very light but long core workouts every
day. And arm workouts. I mean, I think I told
you before that I had gone to the gym and lifted
with my arms this past sounder season and then
I spent a long time in a match carrying around
Nicholas's daughter. And that hurt because I
had worked out the day before. Yeah, yeah. Well,
OK, so. At least we know what a New Year's resolution
is, but what? So let's think of that for the
Sounders and Tim in our discord muffin top model
gave us. A good rephrasing of it kind of so.
So today you know what is a successful season
to you? What would you want to see happen? Trophies,
home field forfeit. fortress club world cup ccl
so it's yeah it's basically what i think we should
kind of end the show with here is where we you
where you where you see the sounders going what
are you hopeful for trophies for me it's always
trophies uh i think i put well i think i uh i
put ccl well i mean here i put club world cup
number one but i also think that's the least
realistic I would put CCL number two. I think
that's somewhat unrealistic, but possible. And
I would put MLS at three, which I think is more
realistic and really the one I like the best.
But in terms of growing the brand and getting
better players, I think the other two are higher
profile. And then I would put the shield as the
final trophy. Oh, and I guess US Open Cup. I
want US Open Cup as well. So I put that above
the shield. The shield is a cool thing to have.
And the fact that I'm saying that, that I would
put that last is significant because Gorilla
FC would be the holders of the shield, which
means it would live with me. Meaning like if,
if the Sounders were the current holders of the
shield, it would be sitting right here next to
me right now and be part of our podcast. So anyone
who wants to, you know, whether it's the club
or other supporter groups, they have to schedule
it through me. So I definitely am a fan of the
shield and it has lived in my bedroom for times
when we had it last time where I set it up so
that when I woke up in the morning and I opened
up my eyes, it was sitting there in my room staring
at me and I'd be like, Oh, so I think it's trophies.
trophies matter. That's that's what what it is.
You know, I think one of the reasons I like the
MLS Cup trophy a lot is we get the star. I want
that star in our jersey. But you know, if we
can win Club World Cup, unlikely, but CCL or
I guess it's CCC now. That I think raises our
profile makes us a higher level team gets us
back into the Club World Cup and also makes us
so we can sign bigger and better players. And
obviously, look at the money that's coming in
through Club World Cup gives us a ton of money.
Yeah, seriously, no and I and I I agree with
you because you know a lot of other successes
just kind of like Are in the wake of winning
those trophies. So Yeah, I wanted I would like
to see just from the culture of fan to club and
the environment at The stadium like I would like
to see it continue to progress Because those
were such fun times when it was packed house
same people every single time and I want to be
one of those people I miss going to as many games
as I used to go to so I want to make both You
never ended up going last year, so I got rid
of your ticket knowing No, no, but I mean like
remember you were talking about the second half
the season potentially taking over my thirst
Yeah, since that didn't happen. We dropped it
because it's too much money No, no, that's fair.
No, that's fair. So it's daycare. So that would
be why. Yeah. I wasn't blaming you. So. No, I
didn't hear that. But I mean, I get it. That
and Aqua Sox games, but I want to I want to go
to more of my daughter. Well, Aqua Sox and family
and I want so it's easy to get to those. I love
Aqua Sox. I love them. Oh, and you know that
I want to go to even more. You got to go while
they're in Everett since they have maybe one
more season there tops. Could be two, but it's
unlikely. I think it's probably one. Since everyone
will build them a new stadium. And it's the only
place you're going to see the Mariners have good
players and win. Talk about a battle. Oh, man.
That'll be when we launch Mariner Scuttlebutt.
in the spring. But I mean, so here, I think Tim
agrees with you. I don't. That's fun. I don't
care. I care about winning. Tim, you know, he
had said, you know, I spend money in those games.
I want to see us win. And I'm like, they could
not win a single game at home for all I care.
Because you could you could tie most of those
games and win on the road and still win the shield.
You can still be the best team in the MLS without
winning at home. I care about winning trophies.
I care about winning. So if it's in front of
me, I'd like that. That would be cool. But Tim,
if you want to go watch wins, go to Mariners
games, because guess what? They're going to win
67%. 54 % of the game. Or more at home. 54%.
Traditionally, they'll win more at home. They'll
win 67 at home. That is funny. So if you want
wins, go to the Mariners you've already given
up on. Do I think the Sounders are going to win
at home? Sure. They've won more at home in the
second half of the season than they did any other
time for the previous year before that. But for
me, it's never been a home field fortress. Teams
have always played up to us, even in the beginning,
when it was the best place to play in the league.
It was hard because teams would get amped up
every game for other teams was a huge game Yeah,
because they didn't get those crowds at home
For sure, I just think as long as the team is
in Seattle kind of like the Lakers Yeah, as long
as the team's in Seattle, and I don't mean like
Seattle versus, you know Kent or Renton or Linwood
or something like that I mean as long as the
team is in this general area, I don't think it's
ever going to be in the next anytime soon is
going to be packed stadium because look how much
rent is look how much I mean, cocktails here
are the price of going out in Manhattan now.
It's wild. There's just it's not affordable.
And when the sonics come back, it's going to
get worse because people are going to choose
the sonics over the sounders. Lot of people choose.
Yeah, I don't get I don't get replacing. I don't
get because not a money I mean they might root
for both teams with I know several gave up their
Sounders tickets because they have Kraken tickets
No, that's fair. I didn't think about that. There
are so There are only so many places you can
go in a calendar year, right and you kind of
have to pick Seattle Super Hawks again playing
at Seattle Pacific this spring starting in March
come on out. It's going to be a fun season. We
have a new head coach. Our new assistant coach
is a former WNBA player. We have some of our
stars from last year back. We're bringing in
some stars from the first year, which took us
all the way to the Final Four. We're the second
best team in the entire league out of, what,
like 68 teams. So it's going to be a fun year.
Outside of that, then go get your Sounders tickets.
Especially because we don't charge for tickets,
you can just come. Yeah, I was gonna say, those
season tickets are free. Just come. Hard to beat.
Hard to beat. If you know where they're playing.
Yeah, no Pacific. Yeah, totally. And obviously...
i want trophies too yeah sure you know i'm not
saying i don't want home field fortress i'm saying
it's farther down my list you know what i want
you know what i want you okay if we want to that's
kind of conversation we're gonna have what i
want i want to have expected play of the sounders
and actually see it happen and i want it to be
consistent i want us to be able to play in a
dominating Sounders way from start to finish.
What is that? What does that mean to you? Because
to me, that's I don't care. I honestly, the second
half of the season, we were the best defense
in the league. We didn't allow a lot of goals
and tons of games. Like you said, second half
of the season, I'm talking about all the way
through. Yeah, I don't want this discovery discovery
period. I would like to see a confident. I mean,
I don't think we've ever I don't care. I'm not
talking about That's my point. I would like to
see that season so long. I don't know if it would
happen. I mean, because to me, that means you're
mediocre the whole year. That can be I mean,
LAFC was played pretty consistently throughout
the entire season. No, they had a while there
where they lost a galaxy. Yeah, they were pretty
bad in the beginning. I mean, no one was that
because they didn't finish that many points ahead
of us. We had a chance to get into the top. We
were a few points out of being we went on. We
went on a didn't lose streak, so not necessarily
a great win streak. We didn't score that many
goals. But the Sounders have always been, whether
it's the first half or the second half of the
season, the Sounders have never put together
a full season, as far as I can think of. And
that is my point. That would just be nice to
see. I'm okay if we don't, and we get trophies.
And if we get trophies, we'll likely see more
buds in season. And I guess it also depends on
what you mean by season, because if it's MLS,
well, that's our... Third I mean you figure club
World Cups number one CCC sure and then MLS is
third in terms of the pecking order Meaning what
they're going to invest in so if it's if it's
choosing between Comcaf and MLS They're gonna
put their starters in the Comcaf match and play
the backups in the MLS match this the same week
Sure, I when I see starters, I would like to
see a consistent This is the, this is the identity
of this team. We consistent, you know, 1 .75,
two goals a game kind of, and less than one goal
and defense. That would be awesome. I mean, we
are currently six weeks away from a meaningful
Sounders game at Antigua GFC. So we play February
19th, that game. And then we host. Three days
later, we host Charlotte. And then four days
later, we host Antigua. And what competitions
are those? Champions Cup, MLS, Champions Cup.
And then we play at Salt Lake on the first five
days later. Oh, no, three days later. I forgot
28 days in sober February. So so we go. We have
in a. Week and a half we have four games two
in MLS and two in Champions Cup One well, obviously
we need these signings to be ink -dried But I
am glad that we pretty much have a roster right
now that I think is competitive and anything
after that's a nice splash We're gonna hit the
ground running do you think they aren't ink -dried
if we don't have Ferrera and If we don't I'm
not excited. Yeah I'm not even because there's
nothing else going on. There's literally no other
moves that we've done. Yeah. I mean, it's bringing
back players that we've had, which is good, but
it's not improving anything and we've lost. No,
not at all. Not at all. And, uh, I'm not excited
about any. I wasn't anticipating Leo Chu having
a breakout season. I would love to see it because
I love the guy, but, um, the fact that this news
is out and well, the fact that this news is out.
And then if it, if it doesn't happen, you think
I, I would tend to believe that would hurt his
confidence versus help it maybe but also you
don't want me here kind of uh but you got to
think about it he's got to be realistic Ferrer
is a better player than him yeah and so you're
getting traded to for a new start with a new
team i mean i think is a great move for true
he's he's he's here he obviously wasn't putting
an effort this last season for a lot of the season
He had problems, obviously, where he wasn't even
being put in the 18. And here's a chance for
him to get a new coaching staff that will have
different training methods even. And we'll see
what it does for him. I want to see him succeed.
Do you think this would be, considering how much
of this news is out and how much detail there
is, do you think this would be a pretty big gaffe
by Weibel if this doesn't happen? Only if they
don't bring in an equivalent or better player
in a different deal You'd think we would have
heard at least a chirp of another name. Maybe
I mean at this point It depends if there was
a anything real. Yeah, I mean, I don't know who's
leaking from the front office I don't know how
it's being leaked You know if it's the typical
There's one person in the front office that leaks
to sound her at heart all the time because that's
their chosen place to leak. I don't know. Why
can't they take a leak on us? They can take a
leak on us. They can trust you. We'll have some
talks about that this year, I guess. But but
yeah, I mean, I think I think, you know, there's
some there. There could be potentially other
moves. Who knows? I mean, No one knew about the
move for the German center attacking, but he
came in and was signed and then got sent back.
You know, years and years ago before we signed
Nico and was sent back because he said, well,
I'm going to be your star player. And it was
like, no, you got to earn your spot, bro. You're
not you're not even potentially starting right
now, bro. Yeah. So so he was put back on his
flight and told to go home. So yeah, I mean,
I don't think I don't think it always gets out
depending on this you know i think if it's a
big name yeah but if it's a nico lodero style
player not necessarily who knew nico lodero besides
hardcore uh south american football yeah but
i mean that was there when there was some rumors
of nico i don't remember leading up there wasn't
like a dempsey watch wasn't there wasn't like
a there was a raul watch well another thing for
another Peru player that we potentially got,
but then he was just using. So if this falls
through, there's still a chance is what you're
saying that a name can pop up that we don't know
about. Oh, they have, they're not relying waiting
on one move. They have 10 potential moves. And
if the first one says no, they go to the second
one. Second one says no, they go to the third
one. I mean, there's always contingency plans.
I'd love to know who those names are. Sure. Take
a leak on us. Some of them sounders. Let us know.
All right, that's all I got. Yeah. I mean, I
think it's just silly, silly season right now,
right? I mean, I think I mentioned it last time,
the player I wanted from Botafogo, his value
jumped from 6 million euros to 15 million euros
after his Copa Libertadores performance. So he's
not coming. And in fact, they're talking about
selling their number, their star number nine
for, you know, 20 30 million euros to teams in
Europe right now So I hope they do that so that
we don't have to play against him in the club
World Cup I was gonna say this if not us someone
else, please. Yeah, I hope they sell all those
star players before then Yeah, I don't I don't
I don't think there's any other I haven't heard
any other rumors For the Sounders and I hope
there's more coming But we'll see, we'll see.
We'll see. Let me check. So I want to give a
shout out to our supporters on Patreon. Appreciate
y 'all. Appreciate y 'all. That really does actually
go right to paying for hosting and making sure
the show happens. So really appreciate it and
join the Discord as well. Um, we got banter in
there. You set it up beautifully. Um, Cameron
with the organized locations for rumors, general
bullshit, sounder stuff and our mailbag, which,
you know, PSA again, that's where you drop stuff
for the show. Like what Tim, uh, expertly did
with the lineup. Um, yeah, just make it clear
for us what you want on the show and we can mention
it and the rest of the places for conversation.
It's been going great. So. yeah that thing grew
i mean this is we're episode one of the fourth
season and i think in middle of third season
i started discord yeah if i remember correctly
at least a year and a half two years ago and
uh it was you know i mean as you would when you
start something they're like a discord channel
um not gonna be a lot of people at first so it's
been growing great um and that's why we do this
center scott about yeah and go out and sign players
Sounders because we don't even know if we have
full roster right now. Yeah, just actually get
get the ink on the paper, please. At least we
aren't like the Seattle rain who announced that
like six players are departing yesterday, including
Quinn and Zara King and other players. So I think
I think the rain have one player on the roster.
Oh, geez. One. is the loneliest number that you'll
ever do. All right. Hey, did the Golden Elevator
did that? That won this year, right? Yeah, and
then it retired. Yeah, okay. So, you know, for
that was last season. Let's get, let's maybe
get the Sounders to give us a golden shower and
maybe we could have some news break on the show
that will help us retire by the end of the season.
Okay. I was trying to spin the leak joke, and
maybe I should get back to drinking for the show.
Yeah, let's get you back on the hooch. Was that
a funny joke? Is this thing on? Sibilance, sibilance,
sibilance. Please clap. We need to pull this
into port. James, take us away. You can follow
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Vox US. We'll see you at Lumen and go Sounders!