Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions
What can you take away from Sounders FC‘s first three matches of 2011? The Sounders record looks more like an expansion squad than an experienced one. No wins, two losses, and a draw. Is it time to sing the Rave Green blues? Reflecting on results from last year, the Sounders 2010 season low came against LA Galaxy on Independence day. Losing 3-1, the loss dropped Sounders FC to 4-wins, 8-losses, and 3-draws. The Independence Day collapse also sealed the fate for, Freddie Ljungberg. That was the low in a 30 game schedule. With the addition of two Northwest teams in 2011, MLS has expanded its schedule to 34 games. The Sounders are still nowhere near that 2010 low. Losing doesn’t polish any gold brick-laid road, but the first three matches of 2011 offer more hope for glory than reason to sing the blues.
“It’s always too soon to quit”, said Cliff McCrath, in his Sounders weekly video, “Nubs Nuggets”. His successful coaching career at Seattle Pacific University is not lost on Sounders FC and coach, Sigi Schmid. Sounders FC have a weekly video featuring McCrath’s coaching perspective, and his nuggets of advice in handling adversity while challenging yourself to be successful. Sigi, has taken the same approach, saying a slow start like this is no reason for “doom and gloom”.
Soccer is often more about a mentality of how you play, than it is winning. Success is no doubt critical to a teams viability, and winning the best drug. Yet, isn’t winning important in all sports? A “winning” mentality in sports is just a nice way of saying that winning rights all wrongs. Soccer forces that type of thinking to go outside the box. It starts with how teams earn one point for draws. Draws give teams incentive to keep level with an opponent. Earning its first point last week in a draw against Houston, Sounders FC and fans felt the winning mentality move toward more positive results. Notwithstanding, it is important to review the first two losses. More significant than the draw with Houston, or disappointment in their losses, was the quality of play on the pitch in the first two matches. In Seattle’s previous two seasons, a common criticism was how often they allowed teams more possession. Attacks came in strong frenetic bursts sandwiched between stretches of defending. Against LA and New York, Seattle showed an improved focus on owning possession. More quality passing gave way to better buildup in their attacks. In the first two years, attacks often petered out without any shots. This year has seen no lack of shots, just a lack of luck. Sigi brought this point home saying, “I’d rather have bad luck than no luck at all”. When you are creating exciting chances then it’s only a matter of time before results match up to your effort or a little luck.
What stands out so far, is the Sounders playing style and momentum of their first two home matches. More completed passes, more positive
Los Terremotos de San José - 2001 & 2003 MLS Champions
touches, more possession, more shots. Possession against LA and Houston strongly favored Seattle. Shots on target, twenty-six against Houston, have decisively gone the Sounders way. Both goals given up to LA and Houston came from single momentary lapses in concentration. Correctable moments as the season progresses. Soccer is a long season. The Sounders are well within striking distance of all playoff positions. So the key to survival during this challenging early stretch, is maintaining a positive mentality and repetition. Recognizing an improved team through a losing record is hard work. It’s like trying to pick out hand-packed sausage in a supermarket world of coupon hotdogs. Winning is the easy abundance we strive for. If you’re not first, you’re last.
Going up against a quality team like, San Jose Earthquakes is a tough way to turn things around. What the Sounders can do is continue to out possess through quality passing. Use the possession to build attacks and keep the shots flying. Twenty-six shots against Houston? I guarantee another effort like that will earn a second goal. Even dumb luck agrees.
When Seattle plays with this entertaining quality it has demonstrated so far this year, then win or lose against San Jose, that mentality will build future winning results in 2011. Even when listening to heavy blues as it reaches its pining climax, it makes you want to raise your hands and dance. What the Sounders are playing right now is a quality that entertains the eye, and challenges the soul. It is the aching beauty of sport. The Rave Green blues.
Well, well, well, it’s a little after three,
and I’m on my way to San Jose.
I feel something down inside,
it’s pointing me this way.
Oh, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Oh yah-Oh yah.
Oh, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Ah-ha-Ah-ha.
Well, I’ll curl, I’ll whirl, I’ll hurl
To get a shot on frame,
and if I don’t get a goal
I’ll never lose this pain.
Oh yah, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Uh-huh-Uh-huh.
Oh yah, I’ve got the Rave Green blues. Alright-Alright.
Oh sweet Pele I’m crazy ’bout my Rave Green blues,
if we don’t score a goal
I’ll be buried in these blues,
these Rave Green blues.
Well, it’s May 1st and the Sounders got 12 points. I did the math and last year’s 46 is this year’s 51. I’m not sure that 50 points makes the playoffs in 2011. That said, the Sounders only need 9 points in May to pace 51 for the season. With 6 games in the month (even with still-strong RSL and FCD in the mix as games 5 and 6) I’m feeling good about getting those nine. We showed that when we focus, we play well. 3-0 against a so-so team isn’t what dreams are made of, but the consistent ball control and opportunities that we created are. Yes, we miss Steve and O’Brian, but our depth stepped up and showed that we can make it until they return.
[...] With goals hard to come by in soccer, the Sounders FC have managed some interesting goal stats, or lack of goal stats, in their first four matches of 2011. Sounders FC have scored three goals in four matches, while allowing five. At first glance those numbers seem soccer normal, right? Under the microscope, those figures show Sounders FC amassing 64 shots, with 36 on frame. Which works out to 9 shots-on-goal for every 16 shots taken per game. What can be made from that? It is generally considered normal for a club to score one goal per every ten shots. Barcelona hits net at an astonishing pace of 1 goal per 7 shots. At times even less. The Sounders are scoring 1 goal for every 21 shots taken. Troubling numbers considering the improved quality in their play. (see last post, Rave Green Blues) [...]
1-0 losses against teams that could well compete for the MLS Cup this year isn’t bad news. Houston is always scrappy and they never give up. I write this after the 2-2 draw against SJ and I am reminded that SJ did vie for the Eastern title. Wondolowski was held to few meaningful touches and Seattle held a lead twice. Good news. If Seattle gets 10 points (including the one tonight and 3 wins in the next 4 games) by the end of the month, then we hit the quarter-pole on pace for 44. Maybe that would be enough with a 10-team format, maybe not with two more teams this year than last.
“It’s always too soon to quit”, is a great quote, but April is becoming a do-or-die month, just to keep on pace. ‘Improving’, and ‘slow-start’, and ‘the goals will come’ is all dandy in the first three or four games, but the time has come. I won’t say ‘The end is nigh’, because the ‘never-give-up’ attitude is necessary. But we shall see come May 1st. We need 11 points by then if we want to compete.
Maybe I am being all ‘gloom and doom’, and if so, I’m sorry. It is easier to pace the pack than it is to overtake it. A positive mentality, a bit of dumb luck, and the shot-swarm happydance, are all great but we need to outscore them 3 times this month. The season’s clock is ticking.
The tables have turned. Do you realize you are the one responsible for the motivation I had to write this piece. No really.
You pointed out to me the increased number of points possible this year. I took the idea one step further. Consider the first 4 matches as, 4 for nothing. That we come away with 2 from a possible 12 is bonus. Next Saturday to me is game #1 in the real 30 game schedule. Liverpool has proved this point possible. They fell early this year in the Premiership to last place with Roy Hodgson. They were criticized for being the highest priced team that could be relegated, and no hope for even reaching 6th. A new coach, and a transfer of Torres later, you’d usually think the statement as spot on truth. Fact is, they are legitimately challenging for 6th. 6th in MLS receives a first round playoff-bye. You always are spot on Todd, so realize I’m just the slow guy learning to challenge you with your own quality. 
You are Rave Green through and through.
And now just look at Liverpool. 6th place is in their hands and they have every reason to think that they will keep it. “It’s always too soon to quit”, indeed. Liverpool has proven that to be true, eh?
“What the Sounders can do is continue to out possess through quality passing.”
They could also do a Nigel De Jong-style kick to Chris Wondolowski. If De Jong could get away with it on the sports biggest stage of them all, then surely it’ll go unpunished in the MLS.
You know the soccer me so well. Seriously funny and spot on comment. Enjoy that as a Sounders fan and fan of the sport the world over. Sums up exactly what is hilarious and wrong with MLS. Does this mean Howard Webb will be the first Ref to move to MLS?