Minnesota United do not play the beautiful game. Their soccer is pragmatic, ugly, stop-and-go. It's a mess.
It's boring, especially during the regular season.
But it's the type of game that makes sense in the playoffs. Eric Ramsay knows how to build a team capable of winning when tension is tight.
So does Brian Schmetzer, and he's been much more successful at it than Ramsay and nearly everyone else. Schmetz's Sounders can be beautiful. We've seen it for the past 18 months and we saw it from 2017 to 2019.
Monday night you need not be concerned with beauty. There's going to be heavy rains after a weekend with gale-force winds and heavier rain. It'll be 45°F or so. Dark, wet and miserable – playoff weather.
In the playoffs half of Schmetzer's wins are by a goal. Three times his teams have won shootouts to advance (yes, there are two shootout losses, too). He's willing and capable of grinding games and teams to dust. Because winning in the second season (and other knockout tournaments) is what Brian Schmetzer does.
If you want to see a beautiful game on Monday night you'll likely be disappointed.
If you want to be warm and dry you will certainly be disappointed.
For those that want a result no matter the style, there's a good chance you'll enjoy the methodical play of a team whose only concern is victory.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Monday, Nov. 3 vs. Minnesota United FC | 7:45 pm PT | Apple TV | MLS Cup Playoffs
- Sounders likely sticking with Stefan Frei in future shootouts
- Sounders say they are seeking new investors
- A dreary but optimistic look at Game 1
- Here’s your chance to share your thoughts on Sounders, MLS
This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011.
Reign
Next match: Sunday, Nov. 2 at Orlando Pride | 2 pm PT | NWSL+
Seattle clinched the playoffs already. They can take the 3 seed with a win. They claim the 4 seed with a draw and a failure to win by San Diego, Portland and Gotham. They can still get a home game at the four seed with a loss and if San Diego and Portland lose and Gotham fails to win.
All other scenarios see the Reign on the road to start the playoffs.
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
- Cascadian Gamers cross enemy lines to raise money... for the children (Sounder at Heart)
- Inside Minnesota United’s rebirth: Playing “like Stoke City on a rainy Tuesday” & buying into data (Backheeled, a Sounder at Heart partner)
- Angel City FC organization, team captain disavow defender Elizabeth Eddy's Op-Ed (Awful Announcing)
- NWSL Takes First Step Into Federal Lobbying Arena With Hogan Lovells (Sportico)
- How UW women’s soccer shocked Big Ten and rallied behind a cancer diagnosis (Seattle Times)
- Sources: St. Louis to hire ex-Montréal exec Wray (ESPN)
- A single match cost me thousands of dollars at 2026’s World Cup of the 1% (The Guardian)
- Disney Closes Acquisition Of Fubo, Creating Bulked-Up Rival To YouTube TV (Deadline)
- Slowly but surely, high-speed rail backers believe Cascadia mega-project will become a reality (Geekwire)
