The Sounders just finished playing seven games in 21 days, but did not escape remotely unscathed. In addition to losing Paul Arriola to an ACL tear, Pedro de la Vega and Jordan Morris also went out with muscle injuries.

In “What we learned this week w/Niko” Jeremiah and Niko Moreno discuss how the Sounders managed all those matches and how well positioned they are to overcome them.

They also think now is the time for the Sounders to use some of their flexibility to bolster the roster.

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Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

Aside from becoming a Sounder at Heart subscriber, you can also support the show by using this link to purchase MLS Season Pass or checking out our merch table to buy various shirt designs.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

The Sounders went on quite a roller-coaster this week, enjoying their most impressive and dominant win followed by a depressing performance against Cruz Azul. Along the way, they lost three players to injury, one of whom is likely gone for the season.

Aaron and Jeremiah take stock of it all and try to assess what this means for a season that started with so much promise.

Later in show, MLS Season Pass commentator Ross Smith helps us preview the St. Louis City match.

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Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

Aside from becoming a Sounder at Heart subscriber, you can also support the show by using this link to purchase MLS Season Pass or checking out our merch table to buy various shirt designs.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

With Matt Doyle on vacation, Backheeled’s Joe Lowery joins Jeremiah on the latest episode of “How the West will be Won.” Joe has been particularly impressed by San Diego FC and is still quite down on Austin FC. But more than anything, he thinks the West is about as wide open as it’s ever been.

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If you like what Joe has to say, consider becoming a Backheeled.com subscriber. You can also support Backheeled by becoming a Sounder at Heart Advocate, which comes with a complimentary subscription to Backheeled.

Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

As frustrated as Sounders fans were with the scoreless tie against Cruz Azul, it seems like their fans were even more mad. On “What we learned this week” Niko Moreno shares that Mexican media were practically beside themselves that one of their giants couldn’t beat the Sounders, short-handed or not.

Jeremiah and Niko also discuss the ongoing situation around Jesús Ferreira and the joint press conference between the Sounders and Reign.

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Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

Aside from becoming a Sounder at Heart subscriber, you can also support the show by using this link to purchase MLS Season Pass or checking out our merch table to buy various shirt designs.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

The Sounders, once again, fell flat on their trip to Real Salt Lake. This time it was two early mistakes that hastened their downfall. Mark Kastner joins Jeremiah to discuss the Sounders’ first loss of the season and look ahead to Cruz Azul.

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Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

Aside from becoming a Sounder at Heart subscriber, you can also support the show by using this link to purchase MLS Season Pass or checking out our merch table to buy various shirt designs.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

Jeremiah is once again joined by Niko Moreno as the Sounders get ready to face Real Salt Lake in their second league match of the season. Niko provides some analysis of Real Salt Lake’s early-season struggles and thinks this is a good opportunity for the Sounders to finally break their winless streak in Utah.

Perhaps more interestingly, Jeremiah and Niko discuss Pedro de la Vega’s performance against Antigua and specifically some of Brian Schmetzer’s comments after the game. Although he walked it back a bit on Friday, Schmetzer somewhat called our de la Vega for some possibly unnecessary flair that may have contributed to Antigua’s goal.

Niko also let us know about some drama surrounding Cruz Azul as the Sounders prepare for their next Concacaf Champions Cup opponent.

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Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

Aside from becoming a Sounder at Heart subscriber, you can also support the show by using this link to purchase MLS Season Pass or checking out our merch table to buy various shirt designs.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

Jeremiah and Aaron are back for their first “normal” show of the season and have quite a match to discuss. On one hand, the Sounders did a lot of really good stuff and even scored a couple of nice goals. On the other, a fully regrettable error cost them two points. Let’s dig in!

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Nos Audietis is the flagship podcast for Sounder at Heart, which became a reader-supported website on Aug. 21. You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber, learn more here. You can also watch many of their shows on YouTube.

Aside from becoming a Sounder at Heart subscriber, you can also support the show by using this link to purchase MLS Season Pass or checking out our merch table to buy various shirt designs.

“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.

MLS Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle returns for what will be a regular feature talking about the Western Conference. This week, he and Jeremiah play a little game of “Choose your own adventure” to discuss the Week 1 results. He’s a lot less high on the LA Galaxy than he used to be but still think the Sounders and LAFC are going to be near the top.

You can read Matt Doyle every week at MLSsoccer.com, watch his tactical videos on Bluesky and subscribe his new “Tactics Free Zone” newsletter.

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“Diversions” audio provided by Sounder at Heart subscriber Lars; find more of their music here.