The Soccer Hour: Ted Ramey recaps a win in Philly & previews SJ/SEA

Every day, excessive delays and denials from big insurers keep patients from accessing

the care they need.

And when care is urgent, these delays can be disastrous.

These practices cost billions in wasteful spending, driving up costs for American families.

But while big insurers put up barriers, America's hospitals and health systems are in your corner,

navigating endless reviews and appeals to get you the care you need when you need it

most.

It's time to curb these harmful practices and put the focus back on patients.

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And hello, everyone.

You're on the soccer hour on 810 KSFO.

We are off to a great start in 2026.

The San Jose earthquakes currently sitting at 3 and 0 on the year.

No losses.

No goals allowed.

Three straight clean sheets to start the campaign.

Everything is sitting pretty right now.

When we talk about the conference standings for the San Jose earthquakes, they find themselves

in third place, the difference being goal differential of which San Diego in first place

is plus eight Vancouver is plus seven and San Jose is plus six right now.

Both teams are all teams, I should say, are 2 and 0 and 1 and 0 on the road as that 2

and 0 record comes at home.

When we look at the supporters, shield standings, a very similar pattern emerges.

San Jose, trailing only Vancouver and San Diego.

But for the San Jose earthquakes, this is a big, big start to their 2026 campaign year

to under Bruce Arena.

And the one thing you can't help but notice is just how much more structure on defense

there is.

It seems that you've got Daniel Muni back there, you know, barking out orders along the

back line.

He and Redropper to we're going to talk to you in a little bit here.

Have done a great job so far, really understanding what they're supposed to do with their defensive

assignments, how they're supposed to be setting up.

They're going to do in transition, what they're going to do at other various situations.

Everything just seems that much more stable.

And again, the speed out there on that back line.

This has got to be the fastest back line in Major League Soccer, Dwan Jones on the left

full back position, then Roberts, then Muni and then over to Benji Kikanovich.

If we go left to right, they have played absolutely phenomenal up to this point of the season.

And last game was the first time after we saw in the first two games, Daniel, not having

to do much, but the keeper Daniel was amazing in the game.

He made three or four huge stops, two of which came in the 45th and then the 46 minutes

end of the first half, started the second half where he had to make two really, really

good saves to keep the earthquakes, you know, able to get a clean sheet in the win, obviously,

but he came up large.

And I know that there's been kind of a polarizing opinion against Daniel with what we've seen

in his time with San Jose.

But if he gets the back line, support in front of him, I think he's going to be able to make

the big stops.

He certainly did in this game against Philadelphia, and I am very, very excited to see what happens

next for him and for the San Jose earthquakes team.

But, you know, I'm just excited at this point right now about what San Jose brings to the

table and what they do bring to the table in large part is team of Warner and his overall

ability throughout these first two appearances.

You know, he played the last 30 minutes of game number two and then he played the last

second half against Philadelphia this last week.

He had two big assists, both time assisting of Sennie Buddha to the goal.

And, you know, I just like what I'm seeing here, guys.

I mean, he came in in shape, ready to go.

He's had a big impact in both games, game winning assist in this most recent game.

And the assist he had in game number two was also great because that was his welcome

and opening moments with the San Jose earthquakes at home.

But right now the San Jose earthquakes are off to a great start.

And yes, the offense was not amazing in the game against Philadelphia this past weekend.

But you're on the road.

You're on the other side of the country.

And you've got a big, big challenge against Philadelphia who's even amidst of a busy schedule

is always going to be good just because they've turned into a perennial power.

And you passed a big test.

You hadn't won in Philadelphia since 2012.

You have not started out three and 0 to a season previously.

I mean, the San Jose earthquakes are finding ways to win.

And I think that's another big part about this is, yes, they had momentum on their side

with those first two home games and getting wins there, three nothing and two nothing

against sporting Kansas City and Atlanta United.

Then they take the show out onto the road, get a hard earned 1-0 win.

And that's a game that in the past, I think they probably surrender a 1-1 game tying goal

and probably a fall behind to go ahead goal for the opposition.

However, you want to view it and walk away with either one or none.

But last year, the earthquakes were very good on the road.

And that's something they're trying to replicate again this year.

And Bruce Arena has them off to a very, very good start.

So I am very much excited for what San Jose is bringing to the table.

I am very much intrigued by what Bruce Arena does next with this squad.

And, you know, for me, that's enough.

It's like you keep finding ways to win.

It doesn't have to be amazing.

It doesn't have to be brilliant.

But this is year two for Bruce Arena.

This is what he is known for is how good his teams can be in year number two.

And right now the team is off and running.

And there's a lot that we like with what we've seen up to this point.

Before we talk to first Red Roberts and then Diego Valerri,

we do want to speak here from Bruce Arena and get his thoughts that he had

after the win in Philadelphia last Saturday.

So let's hear what he thinks about getting the team off to a 3-0 start

for the first time.

He was asked about his legacy and had a quick quip about that before answering the question.

Well, our legacy is like when you're done.

I'm not done yet.

I think the effort tonight was great.

The performance certainly was not perfect, but good teams won these kind of games

because they know how to grind it out.

On a night when you know, we're not moving the ball particularly well,

but we played together as a team for 90 plus minutes.

And to leave Philadelphia with three points is huge.

Because that team doesn't lose at home.

Although I know this is the second consecutive loss run,

but I believe the only loss once in 2025.

So, and then defending support is shield winner.

So I'd be pretty foolish to sit here and complain about the result

and or the effort and all that.

We did a good job tonight.

Real good goal, combination with Timo and Buddha.

And overall, I'm proud of the way you guys hung in there.

They battled and they walked up for field with three points.

And three clean sheets.

I think you know, you made the comment about the first time we've ever won three games in a row.

If that's accurate, I don't know if that's accurate, but imagine this group

having three consecutive shutouts.

So that's even more impressive.

I love the fact that he highlights the hard work throughout the game

and that this is a type of game that good teams win.

They know how to grind it out on a night like he said,

where they're not moving the ball particularly well.

And all of those things were evident.

I mean, like I said, finding ways to win.

That's something that good teams do.

And Major League Soccer and Bruce Serena seems to imply the same.

He was then asked about playing in the difficult environs of Philadelphia.

Well, first of all, the weather was great for the tennis.

Probably about 45, 50 degrees in the wind.

The field played very fast.

And we had a little bit of a difficulty adjusting to that a little bit.

But your comment about how the players that grind it out is exactly.

That's just a, it was a battle tonight and, you know,

protecting a one zero lead on the road against the team.

And is that a lot of success at home is an impressive result?

An impressive result.

And one the team can be proud of as well.

I think that's another thing here is that you need to build the confidence

of this young team early on here in Major League Soccer season.

You need to have them with that mentality

as they take that into this upcoming weekend's game, hosting Seattle

on Sunday afternoon from PayPal Park Sunday night soccer.

They're going to have the eyeballs on them.

But they're also going to have a full head of steam with them

and then with the wind at their sales in that regard.

You know, the fans are going to be fired up at PayPal Park

because they've started off three, you know, with three clean sheets.

If you don't allow any goals, you're going to get points, right?

I mean, that's a good way to go about your business in Major League Soccer.

Next question.

Bruce was asked about Timo Werner and his ability to really move the ball

and make things happen out there on the pitch.

And if it's been surprising to him that he's been able to do it so quickly.

Well, he set up the goal.

It's the winning goal, right?

That's the impact.

And, you know, he's going to take a little time

from the get his full fitness.

And, you know, we want to bring him along the right way.

The last thing I want to do is overload him and cause an injury.

So hopefully we've been smart in the first two games with his minutes.

And hopefully we can keep building him.

So by, you know, another month or so, he's really matched it.

And being prudent with Timo is something that I have no problem with.

You don't want to get him injured.

You want to keep him healthy going forward.

So I have no problem with that.

And it's worked up to this point, but, you know, he played 30 minutes

and then he played 45 minutes in this last game.

I wonder if they'll try and get him on for another half, you know,

in the in the next game coming up, or if they'll have him, you know,

start and sub off in the 60th minute, something like that.

But yeah, there's no rush.

You are off to a great starts and injury can only derail things.

So at this point, get him back to his full fitness before you throw him out there

for the full 90 or something close to that.

And I have no problem.

And I think the earthquakes are set up to have success.

Arena was then asked about how the defense can maybe play a prettier game.

Well, we've got to be better on the ball.

We've got to keep the ball a little bit where we have the win second balls.

I think we turn the ball over a little bit too much tonight.

They gave a Philadelphia some momentum and, you know, put us under pressure.

But, you know, we'll get better as the season moves forward.

And while we can get into an argument about what improvement is

when you haven't given up a goal up to this point, I think you can all agree

that there's always room for an improvement.

And you want your team to have that mindset.

You want them to believe that they can get better going forward.

So yeah, very, very excited for whatever Bruce Arena can do to tweak this defense

and make a performance that much higher of a level.

I also think that Ronnie Vieira had his best game as an earthquake in Philadelphia.

I thought he looked as most active, as most disruptive.

He was all over the pitch.

I really, really liked what I saw to him in that game.

So I was very, very happy to see him perform at such a high level.

And I hope that he can continue to bring that forward.

Because I always liked what I saw from him last year.

It was just that everything with the defense looked off kilter.

And I think now he is settling into his role.

The team is understanding how to play around him.

And things are definitely pointed in the right direction.

Arena was asked about what he said at halftime

to get the team motivated and figure out how they were going to win this game.

Well, we talked about it today in a team meeting.

We knew the game.

We wanted to get the game into the second half where it was even where we got ahead

and then hopefully have some composure to close the game.

And I think if we're full towards anything,

I think we lack some composure over the last 20 minutes of the game.

We could have been better with our passing.

We should get a little bit more confident on the ball,

but give Philadelphia a credit they got after us

and cause us to create some mistakes on the ball.

And they had some momentum and they were dangerous attacking us.

And that's one of the things that I've really liked about Bruce Arena

is his experience with the game plan.

Because I do think that when you watch the way the earthquakes have been set up

for this season, it feels like they are ready for the attack

that's going to be coming at them.

And I think that just speaks to the experience that Bruce Arena has in this league.

He knows how to prepare his team.

He knows how to game plan.

He knows what he's looking at in terms of the opposition.

And that's only going to help San Jose as they continue to hopefully rise

under Bruce Arena in season number two.

Bruce was again asked about Timo and what he had seen from him

through these first couple of games.

Well, it's, you know,

Timo is a quality player and we know as we continue to move forward

that he's going to not only contribute with his sys,

but he's going to score goals as well.

And as he gets fit, he's going to be a more complete player for us.

But his quality is obvious.

He's been a good leader for our team in a short period of time.

So I think there's going to be a lot of positive things ahead.

And as a final one from Bruce, he was asked about Daniel in this game

after being not asked to do much in the first two games.

What he thought of his performance in that win against Philadelphia.

Our center backs on our goalkeepers played very well tonight.

Muni and Reed cut off a bunch of players.

Daniel made a I'd say two, maybe three key saves.

And you know, that's what you need on the road and in games like this.

So a lot of credit to Daniel with having three consecutive clean sheets.

So as usual, great insights there from Bruce Arena.

And I really appreciate what he had to say about the entirety of the game.

And on the other side, we are going to talk with San Jose earthquake

second year defender Reed Roberts, of course, a product from USF.

He is a dawn, just like Dave Romney.

And he is evolved into a starting center back in year number two of his MLS career.

Reed Roberts joined us next on the soccer hour on 8 10 K S F O.

Every day, excessive delays and denials from big insurers keep patients from accessing

the care they need.

And when care is urgent, these delays can be disastrous.

These practices cost billions in wasteful spending, driving up costs for American families.

But while big insurers put up barriers, America's hospitals and health systems are in your corner.

Navigating endless reviews and appeals to get you the care you need when you need it

most.

It's time to curb these harmful practices and put the focus back on patients.

Brought to you by the Coalition to Strength in America's Health Care.

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All right, we now have joining us on the soccer hour on 810 KSFO.

It is San Jose, earthquakes, defender, read Roberts, read what's going on, man, how are

you doing?

I'm doing great, man.

Season's been good so far.

All smiles.

Yeah.

Yeah, for sure.

Man, a three and a start.

Just tell me the vibes with the team right now.

I imagine everybody was happy on the plane ride home, even though it's a long one, going

coast to coast is one of the reasons why playing out here on the west coast means some long

travel times.

Yeah, the vibes are high.

You know, we're not conceding any goals and we're scoring goals and you know, it's winning.

When you're winning, everyone's happy.

So yeah, vibes are super high.

Nice.

It's important that we keep the vibes high, stay focused, not get too ahead of ourselves

and keep going.

I would especially think that the three and no record, obviously, that's paramount.

That's the best.

But for you, a defender, after last year, your rookie season, your part of a defense that

gives up over 60 goals, how satisfying is it for you guys to start off with three consecutive

clean sheets?

Oh, no, it's great.

It's, no, it's great.

Last year, we did have a little trouble with the conceding goals.

So it's honestly like, yeah, it's really great that we're doing well this year.

But I think, yeah, we just figured some things out.

We cleaned up a lot of stuff in the back line.

So yeah.

How is that partnership between you and Daniel Muni?

Because obviously he's been in the year a couple, or in the league a couple years more

than you.

This is his fourth year.

It's your second year.

But it's two guys who represent the collegiate system in what we've done here in the American

soccer community.

I feel like that's a fun aspect for the two of you.

And both you guys are really, really fast.

You're not shining away from being physical.

Is it fun working together with him?

Yeah, he's great.

He's definitely someone on the team that I look up to.

And yeah, he's an important player.

And I admire his consistency.

You can't recall a game where Muni wasn't just great.

So it's good playing next to him.

And it gives me a lot of confidence playing next to him.

Even on the field, when things go wrong, he's picking me up.

He's telling me out next one, next one.

And the thing that I like the most is when things are going good, or even I have a little

play that's good, like a high header, a wide header, he's telling me, he's always telling

me like great header, great header, it lifts me up.

So it's great playing next to him.

No, he's he's a good dude for sure.

And I also get annoyed with him because I think he showed up in San Jose and immediately

decided to shove it in my face that he has a better voice for broadcasting than I do.

That guy's voice just rings out.

I was like, oh, all right.

So you're a better athlete and you're better talking to me.

I see how it is.

Now everybody's been talking about how fast he is.

But I have marveled a few times and maybe we just didn't get the chance to see it last

year.

But you look pretty darn fast out there as well this year, man.

I don't know if that's just you being more comfortable with being more aggressive and

how you're taking your angles.

But I would say pretty clearly the quakes have the fastest backline in Major League soccer.

We go to one, to you, to Muni, to Benji.

I mean, you guys are all burners.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Definitely everyone in the backline is really fast and I don't want to say I'm the slowest,

but I might be and I consider myself pretty fast.

But having that speed back there is pretty crucial.

You can trust that our outside backs or everyone's going to get back.

If I get beat, Muni's fast enough to come and recover me or the ones fast enough to

come and recover.

So yeah, it's great having that speed back there.

How much necessary learning was there for you last year in your rookie year?

I mean, I know that both you and Max got put out there in tough games and situations

where you guys are rookies at your first year in MLS.

Obviously, that's challenging for everyone, but I would imagine especially so just because

it's a big jump.

I mean, you guys are ready to make that jump with you and Max or hydrapics for a reason.

But you know, suddenly you're, you know, having to defend some of the best players in the

world.

Yeah, it's good.

It was definitely eye opening, you know, getting on the field like I feel like when you

watch the game, it's much different than like when you're actually playing in it.

And you know, they say like, you know, the coach usually trust, trust the guys more

experience.

And that's, yeah, that's how it should be because like getting on the field, it's hard because

like you got to, you face things that you don't normally face in college.

You face situations.

You don't normally face and, you know, the players, the level is way higher.

So I'm happy that the coaches like gave me that chance and, you know, allowed me to go

out on the field and, you know, try to prove myself.

And I definitely learned a lot.

There was a lot of learning moments.

And I think that's really helped me this year to, you know, have a good start.

But, you know, I'm still learning every single game for sure, though.

And that's lending itself to the performance that the team has, you know, getting rolling

here at the start of the year.

I'm just curious, you know, because there are so many, you know, representatives of the

American collegiate system, I believe there are eight Americans in the starting lineup

in games one and three and then nine in, in, or nine Americans in game number two because

Harks was in for Vieira.

Did you play against any of the guys that are currently on the quakes right now in college?

I'm thinking you might probably had a chance to go up against Boat San Jose stayed and

maybe since you were there in 22, did you play against Buddha when he was still at Stanford?

I didn't get the chance to play against Buddha.

I played, I played against Nick Fernandez, but I, I don't think I've played against anyone

else.

And even not, you didn't cross pass with Jamar when he was at Northridge?

No, I played Bo.

Nice.

Nice.

That's about it.

Nice.

How is it watching those guys develop in their careers after having previously played

against them?

No, it's great.

I mean, they were usually always on our scouting reports back at San Francisco.

Like when we played San Jose, we'd always, you know, coach would point out Bo and say like

always crafty player like we got to be tied on him and same, same for Nick.

I always think it's interesting because everyone talks today about the development path

and they're always talking about the academies and such, but I, I've talked to Muni about

this before and I just think it's so important for people to see, you know, what the quakes

are doing because the American soccer system through the college level is still producing

really, really good talent.

Now he's, you know, like Nico, like he was ready to make his professional debut when he

was 16 years old back in 2022, but it's not like that for everyone.

I mean, not everybody's suddenly going to be at that level at that point.

And I think also it doesn't hurt that you get an awesome education going to whether it's

Indiana, whether it's CSU Northridge, whether it's USF, you know, all these great schools

that you guys have been able to go to while becoming a great soccer player.

Yeah.

I think the college system is, I believe in it truly, you know, in college, like you,

you build the physical part of yourself, I think.

I mean, the soccer is not as pretty, but, you know, it sets you up for the physical part

of the MLS for sure.

And everyone is just, you know, really having fun watching the team right now and there's

a younger vibe on the team.

How much fun is it that it is, you know, for the most part, a lot of guys who are, you

know, 26 and younger, I was joking with Benji last week.

He was saying that, you know, he's one of the old guys, even though he doesn't feel that

old.

Yeah, there's a lot of young guys on this team this year, especially compared to last year.

And I think it's a good thing, like there's a lot of energy at all times, like in training

and in the match.

But I think I think also, like having more younger guys created like more, more of a comfortable

environment.

So yeah, it's been great.

I like playing with the younger guys.

I actually feel a sense of like less pressure when there's more younger guys on the field.

So yeah, it's been great.

How is it working with Bruce Arena who, you know, by the time that you're playing in

the college game, he's already firmly established established himself as, you know, the premier

coach in American history and then you find yourself, you know, in a trade for a pick

so that he can go out and bring you here to San Jose.

Yeah, that was, that was wild.

You know, that I actually went up the Bruce at a combine and I introduced myself to him

when I saw him down like in the lobby of the hotel.

And you know, I think that that actually helped me see help help me tell him like that's

my character and that's who I am.

And I think you really liked that about me.

So yeah, it's been great playing for him.

Like I like the way that he coaches like he gives us a lot of freedom.

And you know, he's like pretty tough on us.

Like he wants us to go out there and battle every single game and, you know, have like

a strong mentality.

So yeah, I really, I really liked the way he coaches.

And I guess, you know, you're playing with a guy in Dave Romney who's in his third stint

under Bruce who also has the, the USF Don's background.

Have you picked his brain a lot because he's been such a long time successful defender

in this league?

Yeah, he's, he's probably had one of the biggest impacts on me before I actually came

here last year.

I was on the, my head coach Chris Brown at San Francisco actually sent me up to get on

a phone call with him, you know, received some advice because I was, you know, I wanted

to be a pro.

So he was actually helping me, you know, further my game, even before like the earthquakes

and before I got drafted and, you know, it's, it's crazy that he got traded here.

And then I got drafted here.

And now that we're playing together and peeing with each other, but yeah, he, he helps

me all the time.

He, you know, it gives me a lot of good advice.

He's such an interesting dynamic because off the pitch, he's the nicest guy in the world.

He's just kind of got a very laid back, very kind of like smiley personality, but then

out there on the pitch, I always laugh because he's, you know, that's gone.

He's putting shoulders into guys.

He's pushing around.

He's deceptively athletic.

I remember last year there was a game where because of the formation change, he had to switch

out to left back.

I think it was early in the year against Colorado or Seattle, and it was a tie game.

And he just made a burst up the left wing and put in a beautiful cross.

And I was like, Oh, okay, I guess Dave just decides that he's not going to get old.

And it's still fast like any was 25.

Yeah, he's, he's actually really fast.

Like when he, he can get going.

And yeah, he's, he's physical too.

And that's, that's what you need that center back.

So how physical are the practices right now?

Because I know I've talked to Preston about it.

I've talked to Muni about it with just, you know, that you guys will battle at practice,

but then the minute it ends, everybody's still, you know, having fun with each other and not,

you know, it's, once you step off the training pitch, it's back to normal.

But is that good?

I mean, do you, do you feel that's true that they are pretty physical practices?

And if so, does that prepare you guys well for games?

Yes, I think the training is this year definitely leveled up from last year.

You know, it is really physical and you know, that's, that's what we need.

And that's how we all improve.

But yeah, it's always good vibes after training because, you know,

in training, we're all, we're all competing to get better.

We're all trying to, you know, help the team and get stronger.

And yeah, we're all, we're all really close.

This group this year is really close.

So after training, usually everything just goes away.

There's something to have in training.

Usually this forgot about.

So who is, who's the most likely to get, get heated during training?

I would guess to see their Preston or Benji,

since that's a little bit more of their personality.

But both of them, I know they are very good at owning that aspect of their personality.

And then they're able to get rid of it as soon as they walk off the pitch.

Not definitely Preston.

Yeah, definitely Preston.

Benji doesn't get too mad.

He doesn't.

I've never seen him get as mad as Preston does.

I got, I got to show you a famous press conference of Benji

from a couple of years ago then.

That was, we got to see TikTok Benji at least, at least one time.

Really?

Yeah, it's a good one.

I'll find the clip you'll laugh.

I want to see that coming up.

You know, you've got Sunday night soccer this week against Seattle.

I know that everybody's talking about the fact that, you know,

you're rolling in with a three, you know, start nine points on the table.

Do you have to forget about the hot start and just focus on Seattle

or is it good to bring some confidence into the game?

No, absolutely.

I think we shouldn't get too ahead of ourselves.

It's going to be a big game like Seattle.

Seattle's a good team.

And it's going to look a lot different than, you know, last weekend.

So I think we all got to come in, focus this week and you know,

just be ready to go.

You know, we got to keep the street going.

We can't just, you know, settle for, we can't be satisfied.

So it's important that we show up this week and we train hard and,

you know, we prepare for the next game.

Do you get a little bit more, not jacked up for the game,

but is a little bit more exciting knowing that, you know,

that's the only game that MLS is playing at that point.

And that's the big Sunday night game that people are going to be paying attention to

that you might have a bigger audience tune it in.

Yeah, I think there'll be more adrenaline, more excitement.

You, does that, does that help you or does that make you almost run a little bit too hot sometimes?

No, I actually like it.

I try to invite my family out pretty much every game because it gives me a little more pressure,

you know, the play well in front of them.

But I feel like when there's more pressure on the line,

that's when I'm, I reach my flow stay quicker in the game.

You know, there's just like, I feel more ready.

Before we finish up, how nice was it for you to stay in the Bay Area after your collegiate career?

I mean, you probably knew some spots.

You probably already knew where to get some good burritos and get some other good meals

living in the Bay Area was just like, okay, I just got to go down the peninsula a little bit,

but I already know what this place is about.

Yeah, I had no idea I was going to stay in the Bay Area, but I'm really grateful that I am.

I am still here, you know, I still go back and visit the University all the time and, you know,

I, there's some great food places down there and I definitely go to some good burrito spots down

there. But yeah, I like being here, you know, I, it still feels like home because like,

yeah, being here for two years, like, I got, I got a family that's like 40 minutes away.

So I have my college teammates, so it's great, I'm comfortable, happy.

Have you become a 49ers fan or a Warriors fan or Giants or Sharks?

Should you still have allegiances from where you grew up?

Honestly, I'm a big soccer guy. I don't really follow any other sport really.

But yeah, I just watch a lot of soccer and yeah, so I see the man city and the FC Barcelona

are those your two teams?

Uh, not so much bars anymore. I like watching them, but definitely city, definitely city.

Nice. So what, uh, what drew you into city was that one of the players at the time when

you were younger, did you like their structure, the coach, and there's a lot of angles that could

have drawn you into fantasy. Yeah. Oh, actually, when I, I met my girlfriend,

their huge soccer fans, her whole family, they've been city fans for so long.

So I started being city fan like five years ago, like when I met her and, you know,

she would just force me to watch and I was like, wow, this is fun to watch. And then you got

Pep Guardiola. I read a couple of his books and stuff and I admire him as a coach. So that's

cool. That's cool. And then for, for Barça, I'm assuming that once Messi left your, you might have

not been as big of a fan. Yeah, even though like they've always been good and they have a great

play style. I mean, I still admire a lot of the players on that team today, but yeah,

I was more of a Barça fan back when, you know, Messi, Neymar, and Suarez, and

any of us than Shavi and all those players. Yeah, they had, they had quite a run for a while. But

all right, man, well, I appreciate your time. I will let you roll. And I know this is an off day for

you. So I don't want to take up too much of your time. And then you can get back rolling with

training and stuff tomorrow. We're recording this on Monday for those listening and or watching.

But I'm very excited to be broadcasting the game on Sunday night, Joe Cannon and I always stoked to

be calling you guys an action. And I will see you then. All right, man. Yeah, thank you so much.

Thanks for having me on great stuff there from Reed Roberts, the center back for the San Jose

earthquakes, who is really, really evolved into a nice, nice player and short order. I just loved

his game so far this year. And again, flashing speed that I didn't know he had in year number one.

So that's been a fun development as well. On the other side, we are going to speak with Diego

Valeria of MLS season pass on Apple TV. They're on the soccer hour on 8 10 KSFO.

All right. Welcome back, everyone. You're on the soccer hour on 8 10 KSFO. And we are now going to be

joined by one of the all time MLS legends and Portland Timbers, Diego Valeria, who's now part of

the broadcast crew on Apple TV. Diego, what's going on, man? How are you doing? Hey, Ted, how are you?

Thank you for having me at your show. I'm in Houston right now, so I'm not in Portland,

but coming back tomorrow and enjoying this tropical weather here is a storm. So I got the

raining from Portland. Yes, yes, you brought it with you. So I have to ask you because

I've been calling the earthquakes games. This is my 13th season doing so. And I think one of the

most stunned I've ever been was in May of 2018 when you hit a free kick to win it for Portland

in San Jose. And I think the 88th or 89th minute just off the top of your head. Do you remember that

at all? Yes, of course, I remember actually was one of those few games that my daughter on my

wife came to watch an away game and they were at the standing at the stand, sorry. And it was

last minute free kick. It was a tough game. And I remember celebrating it with them and it was

a huge big turf. I always love to play in San Jose, but that one, I remember it because my family

was there. That's great. That's great. I wasn't sure if you remember because you had more than a

few nice free kicks over the course of your career. I just have to ask you, man, because you were

always such a joy to watch play. Do you miss it as much or more than you expected now that your

a couple years removed from your playing days? I really miss playing the games. The game day

is you can supply that. You can replace that. There's no way. The game day is the most beautiful,

beautiful day of our career. And now that I'm broadcasting the games for Apple TV and we do it

on site, right? So we go to every stadium. Every time we do a live hit during the warm-up,

that's a pain. That's very painful for me because I really miss playing. It's been four years,

since I retired, but still, every time that I go to the field and I see the players warming up,

it's tough for me. It's very tough. Yeah, no, I would imagine. I don't know if you ever played

against him because his last year in Major League Soccer was your first year back in 2013,

but my color commentator, Joe Ken, and he was with Vancouver that final year. And his first year

out of the league was 2014 when I started doing the games with San Jose and we've been working

together ever since. And I can always tell you know what the athletes, game day is always game day,

even if you're not on the pitch, you know, it played in the game because it does bring back those

memories. But before we go to the game in and of itself, I'm curious, how do you think that your

playing career has influenced you now as a broadcaster in the way that you look at a game and

try to explain it to the people who are watching you? Well, that you know, you know, Arshin Tiniens

soccer, you know, football, it's a way to live. You know, it's in our daily, you know, at home

in my family, I'll say that there's no day where we haven't talked about soccer in my house,

right? So it's every day. And with your friends, family, so it's a way to live. And that's obviously

it's it's it's it's it's the way you approach the game, right? So and that's that's very,

you know, for me, it's it's it's the way I see the game, right? I see the importance of every game

and I see the importance of the process of, you know, building teams, excited on every action,

every action. And that's what I try to transfer every time that I, I talk about the game. And yes,

obviously playing so many years for MLS, you know, make, make me understand better the logic of

MLS, right? The dynamic, the style of game of the North American players, all those players that

comes and I'm and joins MLS. And it affects me a lot to to comment to to do commentary because,

you know, I feel that I'm very sold American, very Argentinian in my way to see the game. But

I played half of my career, right? Half of my career in North America. So that's that's what I try

to do always, right? Combining, combining in my commentary that Argentinian style and Argentinian

view of the game with how North America and how MLS it's it's living soccer right now.

What have you seen from the San Jose earthquakes in their first three games? Obviously no goals

allowed. That's obviously going to help you go and acquire points as the year gets going. But

you know, they've played a very, you know, structured game compared to a year ago,

team of earner has gotten into a couple of games and has a couple of assists. So what is this

team looked like to you up to this point? Well, what I see of the of the games that it's in common

in all of all of the games, it's obviously clean sheet, which makes me think that they really

work what they should work in precision. Because when you watch San Jose last season, right? I got

very excited with the team. I got very excited with the team when they attack the amount of numbers

they put forward, the dynamic of putting the outside backs, you know, showing or when they play

with win backs, the two, you know, midfielders, young ones approaching the box, always trying to score

them and create that's fantastic. Many times getting 1B1 in defense, right? With with not, I'll say,

you know, with with with no defenders that are huge 1B1, we do winners, right? And that's that's

brave, but but you could see they suffer that. They suffer. I remember against San Diego at home,

one game we broadcasted, they play a great game and San Diego exploded those 1B1, those spaces

behind. They suffer. So in precision, you can tell the coaching stuff and the team got the mindset

of a we got to protect our our goal much better. And they got three clean sheets and the team,

you know, they they're going to find in the attack, they're going to find the way to score goals,

most likely now adding, adding Timo and his quality, right? And join with all of those midfielders,

the rugs, or Tidiaqis, so right? So they can produce, right? As a as a young fresh, creative

players. And they have they have compliments, you know, they have creativity, they have

speed and they have dry now a quality high quality player. So they will they will find the way

in the attack. But the most important is how we are going to be more competitive. It's defending

better and they did it. And that's the common for me in these three games. What about with

Seattle, who have two wins and one loss up to this point, but are getting busy with their

scheduling, obviously, is they've got a round of 16 game against Vancouver coming up tomorrow night.

Well, it's it's a different process. Obviously, Seattle with with Brian has so many seasons,

right? Working in the same way as just a few changes, right? A few changes, a much younger team

in terms of the the core of the team. Obviously, they keep Christian, they keep Friday,

keep shame are they keep those guys that that still are the core of the team. But the process,

it's it's it's already done, right? So it's just tactic movements and and some

guys that are still young and adapting and they have a lot of young guys coming from the academy.

So I see I see a Seattle that is going to be always competitive, right? He's going to be

always competitive and they started in in a good mood, right? Or they started in a good mood.

They have lost Oved. I think they will replace him at some point, right? Is a is a big loss,

right? Even though he's young, right? Oved Vargas. But because of the structure of Brian's job and

Brian's process, they will they will still get many points and be probably in the first four,

five of the of the Western. Yeah, they look they look good as always. And like you said,

what the head coach Brian Schmetzer, you know, because he's been there for so long,

when you played against him, how much did you kind of think to yourself? This guy has seen so

much of our team over the years and it impacted how he prepared for when he would play Portland.

Well, but it was both. It was both because we both knew each other a lot. And and if you think

about Seattle strategy, I mean, Seattle style in with Ryan, it's very simple, right? It's very

simple and very effective and very tricky at some point because they they maybe they you know,

obviously it's a long process. They had different players throughout the process, right? But I'm

talking about something that it's in common in all of those years. But still they they're good

in set pieces. They're good attacking on the flanks. They they strictly because they process

the ball more than what you think, right? And they move the ball very well. And and then,

you know, it becomes really difficult to face them when you when they know you so much. And

you know, our approach was pretty much playing with the heart because those kind of games

it's playing with the hearts, right? And and then trying those games where you know each other a lot,

it's about details. So how you can take advantage in every detail of the game. How you take

advantage and then try to manage the emotions of the game, you know, many went really well, but they

still they still got good success with with Brian. And then looking at the game on Sunday, what do you

think is the is the hinge point of the game? Is it the mid play or is it the midfield? Is it the

wide play? Is it the back line? Is it the is it the keepers? What do you what do you see is kind of

what is going to determine this game between San Jose and Seattle? Well, I think it's, you know,

it's pretty much how much how much pressure San Jose can put the first 10, 15 minutes because

Seattle is going to is going to play consistently 90 minutes in the same move, right? In the same

move, trying to get the ball as much as they can, even though San Jose has I think has now more

quality to possess, right? The ball. But I don't think that's the key the key game changer for

San Jose is it's putting pressure at the beginning forcing some mistakes, trying to punish Seattle,

you know, as you come as you come with the momentum of three wins, clean sheet. If you score a goal

in the first 15 to 20 minutes, putting pressure, winning tools, right? If they play direct,

trying to keep the game there under pressure. And obviously I think said pieces will be key,

said pieces will be key in this game for San Jose because Seattle can punish you in said pieces.

And it's going to be it's going to be there. And then obviously if you if San Jose scores a goal,

managing as they have been working very well, managing that that's zero in your goal, right?

And that's a team effort. And then maybe spaces are open for counter.

possible Diego. I know you've got to go, but I appreciate your time as always, man,

and I hope I can bug you again soon. All right.

Thank you dad. It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me again. That was Diego Volary and man,

he knew exactly what game I was talking about when I asked about 2018. I tell you, I was stunned

in that instant. The fact that he hit that free kick, it was just kind of like that just happened.

He just beat us in the 88th minutes of a game where it was level at zero. It looked like

the earthquakes were going to get a point and he just had a specific moment of brilliance,

but that's what guys of his caliber are capable of doing in any given moment. So again, great

talking to Diego Volary. I'm glad he's no longer on the pitch going against San Jose,

but I have to admit I do miss watching him out there on the pitch because he always was so much

fun to watch and just could change a game in an instance. And I think that's that's always fun

to see even if he is sometimes doing it against your own team. But we are just about out of time.

Be sure to join us Sunday at four right here on 810 KSFO me and Joe Cannon on the call for the

earthquakes Sunday night soccer match host in the Seattle Sounders from PayPal Park. It's a big

game. The earthquakes looking to go to four know for the first time ever against a familiar Western

conference foe in the heritage cup for the San Jose earthquake. Simon Ted Remy signing off.