Let Brian cook with the good butter

Ever had to stretch your budget while cooking? You're staring at ingredients that aren't bad, but they aren't specialty items. Granulated garlic and store-brand butter are seasonings.

Then you get blessed with a better job, or you paid off some bills, whatever – you get to buy the good butter.

Let me tell you, good butter is great for your kitchen. A competent chef can have a lot more fun with better ingredients. The difference between a French scramble with mediocre butter and great butter is something anyone can notice.

A great chef wins awards with great ingredients. They sometimes do it with mediocre ingredients too, but the experience of tasting a great chef's work when they have the best available is something everyone deserves.

Brian Schmetzer deserves to work with great ingredients again.

We've seen what he can do with great ingredients. It's four finals in five years with two wins. It's the continental title.

And we've seen him grow and adapt while he had decent but not great ingredients. He grinds out wins, makes semis and is on the edge of the trophy conversation.

In 2025 we've even seen him re-invent his tactical approach. He doesn't need to be a grinder; he doesn't need to give the ball to Nico and watch.

These Seattle Sounders are fun. The bang in great goals. They flow downhill with a field tilt that makes scoring goals feel inevitable.

What would Chef Brian Schmetzer do with great ingredients after this tactical shift and modern re-invention?

Fans deserve to see Schmetzer with great butter.

Let Brian cook.

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Catching up on Sounder at Heart

Here's what you missed on the site this week.

Sounders

Next match: Sunday, Aug. 24 vs. Sporting KC | 6:15 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
There is an extreme heat warning for the greater Puget Sound through Tuesday morning. Hydrate, find shade and if you have access to AC use it.
Sporting is bad. They're 13th in the West, and are 1-4-1, -7 in their last six. Their non-penalty xG is 29th of 30 and their non-pen xGA against is the worst in the league.
Sounders are 7th best and 3rd best by those measures.

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Reign

Next match: Sunday, Aug. 24 at Houston Dash | 4 pm PT | Paramount+

Defiance

Next match: Sunday, Aug. 24 at Portland Timbers 2 | 8 pm PT| MLS Season Pass
Defiance released Lars Helleren and Joon-mo Kang. Helleren is joining the Academy as a keeper coach.

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