Stop The Revolution

5 06 2010

Before launching into round 12 vs New England Revolution, I would like to recognize and promote North Star Fine Coffee.   Who sponsor the Sounders. I was fortunate to meet their owner Bryan-David Scott after the San Jose Earthquakes match.  It was a wonderful experience as a passionate Sounders FC fan to meet and talk with another passionate fan who happens to own a company that creates a coffee specifically with the Sounders in mind.   The blend North Star Fine Coffee has created is, Kick Coffee and features the Sounders badge on the front.   They are looking to bring this coffee to the March to the Match and eventually out to many local youth leagues.  I’m taking time to support them because as fans themselves, they are the best example I’ve found of what the Sounders FC has been about since their start.  From ownership to fans, we stand for a unique partnership with sport, community and business.  The bond promotes Seattle, the Sounders, and all our supporters as the Soccer Capitol of America.  The more businesses that follow North Star’s lead, the more well established soccer will become here and all over the US.   This advertisement is posted because Sales on Sounders believes in the people and the company who make Kick Coffee.   The only currency exchanged in posting this ad is shared passion and an appreciation that comes from good conversation with good people.  I’ve had a tremendously enjoyable time talking with Bryan and hope every Sounders fan has the same opportunity.

Curtains up.  Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen for joining me for Round 12 vs the New England Revolution.  There are two mighty games until Major League Soccer takes a respectful bow to this Summers center stage at the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

New England Revolution

Similar to the Earthquakes and Rapids, the Revolution are another of the original 10 clubs formed for the inaugural Major League Soccer season in 1996.  Their trophy case is a bit bare compared to other inaugural teams.  They hoisted the US Open Cup in 2007.  Their logo and branding are not responsible for their mostly empty shelves, but the team logo and badge need a make-over and face-lift.  Image is a small, if not insignificant aspect of the game, but it should say something about a team and its sport. Their badge looks more like a crayon drawn political poster than anything representing a soccer club.

Fortunately, whatever they lack in look and feel with their badge they make up for in their coach.   What endears me to this team is coach, Steve Nicol.  Nicol played for one of my beloved teams, Liverpool FC from 1981 – 1995.  He also played for the Scottish National team from 1984 – 1992 earning 27 caps.  He played for some fantastic Liverpool squads, winning the English League 5 times, FA Cup (like US Open Cup) 3 times, and 1 European title.  Additionally to coaching he has been an ESPN Analyst.  He was featured on ESPN during halftime analysis of English Premier League matches during the 2009-2010 season.  Listen to him once and you likely find yourself converted like me. It’s partly due to my attraction to his accent.  More than a good voice his clarity in how to simply but effectively execute the game makes it easy to see why anyone would be a soccer fan.  It is a testimonial to Nicol, that players stay loyal to him.  Their star and captain, Shalrie Joseph would have surely left for a more successful club by now if not for Steve Nicol.

Shalrie Joseph is a stud.  He plays with enormous intensity and strength.  Not matched in MLS in my opinion.  He is 6′ 3″ with footwork like he’s 5′ 8″.  His arching passes look more like Frank Lampard of Chelsea, than anyone in MLS.  Watch Lampard face USA in the June 12, World Cup match.  The ball sweetly arcs over defenders and lands at the receiving players feet.  He plays ridiculous numbers of roles per match.  With his height and strength he plays a central striker up front, rolls out to left-wing, tracks back for central and wide defensive coverage, helps organize the midfield to push forward, and sets the table for other players to score.  Yah, I could write that in a less run-on manner but that is not how Shalrie plays.  He doesn’t stop his run-on role until the ref raises his hand and blows his whistle.  I don’t want him to win, but I don’t mind watching him as closely as any of the Sounders.

Sounder 'til I die

Like Sounders FC, New England Revolution has been affected by injuries.  Shalrie is coming back from one  He’s only beginning to regain full match form.

How do you stop a player like Sharie?  Not easily.  He will require the full attention of Seattle’s defense.  Here is my blog-chair coaches take.  Shalrie will get winded.  Likely requiring a 70-75th minute sub.  If the Sounders run him down that will Solidify Coach Nicol’s decision to give Shalrie a late game rest.  At full strength if you give him 5 yards of space he’s like any top NFL receiver with enough room to catch, juke, and break for the end zone.  Put your body right up into his.  Ask him to dance.  Man-up to him.  He may run over you, but it will remind him you are here to dance with him all night.  Get on him right when he receives a pass.  It will get you into his head.  Give him one moment in a game, and that moment likely turns into a series of passes that lead to one game losing goal.

Post Match

One of the Sounders more unexpected players scored a goal last night.  Leo Gonzalez, worked his way up field, inside the top-left of the Revoltion penalty area.  He drilling a glorious, curling, left footed shot that veered around the Revolutions back-up Keeper Steve Shuttleworth, for a 5th minute goal.  Leo Gonzalez, (Gonzo) is the Sounders regular starting Left-back, from Costa Rica.  He came to the Sounders last year and has played on the Costa Rica National Team.  The spectacular early goal set the attacking tone of the match earning him, Man of the Match honor.  Holding up other teams forwards and midfielders from attacking their right flank is his usual job.  He’s one of the best in the MLS at doing it.  For him to have a goal and assist in the same game is all sweet cream.  He added an assist on Montero’s third goal.

Coming into last night’s match Sounders were 1W-4L-1D in their last 6 games.  Goals felt like nostalgic memories in a season of forgotten dreams.  Leo woke things up early, electrifying 36,000, and maybe, just maybe reminded the team a potential champion lives and breathes within this squad.

Sounders FC have been difficult to write about the last few weeks.  I’ll start with a reasonably sensible pre-match overview.  For the majority of each match they play the way you think they will.  Then comes the furiously frustrating and only momentary nap-time.  In a seemingly insignificant instant, one goal is in, and the complexion of the game turns against them.  Teams end up out shot, out played, and victorious.  The stats have not added up.  Last night, Leo may have turned it all around on one wonder strike.

Leo Gonzalez – 5th minute strike v NE Revs 6-5-10

Tale of the Mohawk

The greatest soccer players, like Zinedine Zidane, are all a little, you know, crazy in the head.  They have to be.  In terms of bodily-kinestetic intelligence they work the soccer pitch at an unmeasurable IQ.  What seems crazy to us, is part of their secret language of sanity on the pitch.  The best way to see it is to smile in wonderment as a spectator, and enjoy.  Freddie Ljungberg, is one of those players.  He helped Arsenal win two Premier League titles, three FA Cups (similar to US Open Cup), and was the English Premiere League MVP in 2002. During one of his hot goal scoring streaks for Arsenal he sported a red mohawk.  Not his sexiest look but added drama to his on-pitch attitude and flare.  The last few games many critics and fans alike have complained about his complaining too much.  He throws his hands in the air at Refs when he doesn’t get calls his way.  So, at age 33, on a beautiful June evening in Seattle, Ljungberg sported a mohawk.  He came out wound up, flying all over the field, making everything go Seattle’s way.  In the second half, ahead 3-nil, he started throwing a tizzie.  He even threw his water bottle at his own bench, cutting Sigi Schmid’s arm.  He kept up appearances with the Ref and let the world know he wasn’t happy.  He also set the table for no fewer than two more goals that did not get finished.  As I saw it, he was the player of the match.  He was the best player in MLS last night.  He was the sexy stud in a mohawk.  The problem, the real serious problem here, is whether he should be allowed to cut his hair, or be required to sport it as long as Sounders win.  The complaining, arm waiving, and mohawk created a Sounder perfect 3-nil storm.  CAW, or complaining arm waiving, and mohawk are simply 3 means to identifying Ljungberg’s on-pitch intelligence.  He is footballer, I am spectator.  In him is champion.  I hope it’s Sounders before I die.

Freddie (Mohawk) Ljungberg v NE Revs - 6-5-10

Game Summary:

Goal – 5th minute – Leo Gonzalez, assisted by Steve Zakuani
Goal – 24th minute – Steve Zakuani, assisted by Brad Evans & Freddie Montero
Goal – 42nd minute – Fredy Montero, assisted by Pat Noonan & Leo Gonzalez


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Categories : 2010

The Fucito Finish

17 04 2010

The following piece has been updated and edited since I originally posted it in April 2010.

Round 4 vs Kansas City Wizards

Sounder 'til I die

On Saturday, April 17th, Emerald City plays host to the Wizards of Kansas City.  Occidental Avenue becomes a brick road for Sounders followers lead by Emerald City Supporters (ECS).  The March to the Match will be accompanied by a marching band, Sound Wave, and a few thousand supporters with raised scarves singing and drinking loud pints of chants.   We are polite folk here in Emerald City.  Politely inviting visitors to our home pitch at Qwest Field.  What we refer to as the Soccer Capital of America.  Instead of a courteous welcome sign like, “home sweet home”, we have a respectful banner at the North End of Qwest Field with the welcoming words, “Welcome to Green Hell”. The banner hangs above the pitch displaying this slogan of sincere truth.  A theme gaining popularity.  Parents proudly point it out to their sons and daughters.  It sounds polite doesn’t it?  On match-day, in a sea of Rave Green supporters who welcome no one, Qwest Field transforms into Rave Green Hell.  This is Sounders FC, where the gates of Green Hell smile, invite, and await the Wizards.

Confession:  OK, deep breath, slight tremors of nervousness, beads of sweat . . . (whispering) . . . I like the Kansas City Wizards. Not like friends or anything.  Not like I really even know them or anything.  I mean I really don’t “know” them at all.  No one does.  Even the best Wizard supporters only know a few of their blue and black-collard players by name.  Even that is only because of rote memorization.  Not from actually, you know, “knowing them”.  The Wizards don’t even know each other.  Like the 70′s Batman TV series character, Riddler, who sported a “?” on his chest.  This should be on the front of the Wizards 2010 kits.  They are the biggest unknown in Major League Soccer.  Kansas City was the first team to defeat Sounders FC at Quest Field, 1-0 in its inaugural season.  That game featured another Sounders FC first.  The first red card. Handed to Kasey Keller for use of hands outside the box.  That win was the highlight of Kansas City’s 2009 season.  The Sounders later got revenge during a late season playoff run.  They won on the road in Kansas 3-2.  There were also rumors last year the Wizards could relocate to St Louis..  Their home field, Comerica Park, is a multi-use field.  One of the worst MLS home pitches.  It’s like playing soccer on a part Triple-A baseball, part football field.  Not acceptable.  So this unknown rag-tag team of Wizards needed something to settle their spirits.

. . . then came the big news.

The Wiz

In December, from behind a mysterious curtain appeared a real Oz.  On December 17, 2009, Wizards President, Robb Heineman began posting video updates on the Wizards website about the teams new stadium plans.  In January, they broke ground.  One of the keys to moving so fast was the Kansas City suburb county approval of “Star Bonds”.  Wizard supporters could buy bonds to support the stadium being built.  The Wizards ownership, OnGoal, LLC, scored on what was nearly a franchise headed out-of-bounds.  Even dressed in Rave Green, I stand in support of the Wizards.  The stadium will be ready in 2011.  In the meantime, in this early 2010 season, they are playing like a team somewhere over the rainbow.  Undefeated so far in 2010.  They are completely unaware that even Common Sense itself picked them to be bottom of the league dwellers.  Instead, the groundbreaking momentum of the franchise has sprung the players into a twister of believing they are a rag-tag team on a journey searching for their true identity.  Their Oz-ownership has stepped forward demonstrating knowledge, heart, and courage.  Heineman, has kept them in Kansas.  So, the Sounders will need to wake them from their brick road dream.  I am “Sounders ’til I die”.  I am good polite people, but tomorrow I will be a bad guy.  It is time to slap this band of rainbow chasing Wizards back to Kansas reality.

Keys to the match:

Take away hope.  Attack and score early.  Allowing Kansas an early goal permits their back 4 to lock the game up.  Sub in a couple defensive midfielders and they can close up shop.  Scoring early forces Kansas into playing more forward, taking chances.  The Sounders are an attack minded opportunistic team who capitalize on other teams forward pressing risks.  This would allow Seattle to use their speed to create solo breakaways, or odd man advantage rushes, a 3-on-2, or 4-on-3.

Possess the ball. Passing widens the field opening defensive holes.  Use speed to get wide and deep attacking runs through the midfield seems created by good passing and ball movement.  From pressing forward and wide cross into the box using central attacking numbers to finish.  Then, let our defense lock down the game.

Sounds simple, but the true key to the match is grit.  Seattle will need to fight for this one.  The Wizards already have this game mentally won because no one has awoken them from the “over the rainbow” dream start they are having.  Grit and grind.  It is time to wake up the Wizards and prove the banner true.  Yes, the Wizards have arrived in Emerald City, but the real-estate belongs to Sounders FC.  So, with a warm welcome, I politely invite Kansas City into Green Hell!

Post Match:  The Fucito Finish

Do you know Michael Fucito?  Did you see his historic finish in stoppage time?  It is the highlight of the week and likely the month.  It may even be the one we look back on for goal of the year.  No matter, it stands on its own as historic.  It will forever be remembered and named for Fucito’s grit in commitment to finish a brilliant late winner.

How do you spell spectacular, exquisite finishes in soccer?  In Barcelona, it’s M-E-S-S-I.  In soccer history, it’s P-E-L-E.  In Seattle, it’s F-U-C- (OK, this is an appropriate language site, no matter what you think, I’m spelling the name of a Harvard Graduate, so stay with me folks and I’ll pull this one out of the gutter) -I-T-O. Years from today Sounders supporters may refer to a late stoppage time winner as what it was named today, the Fucito.

For 90 minutes fans stood, chanted, and cringed watching chances come close, but slip by the goal in the end.  Zakuani’s speed down the left only lasted for 15 minutes.  Kansas made him play more compact, defensive, and out of position for any breakaway goal.  So, late in the match, Sigi went to his bench.  First to appear was Roger Levesque.  For his next sub, Sigi pulled one from the coaches magic hat.  He put in hard-working, Harvard Graduate, Michael Fucito.  Initially nothing changed.  Then came the bizarre moment of the match.  The Full 90 concluded.  The ref allowed the game to play on into stoppage time, but no indication of how much stoppage time would be allotted was signaled by the fourth official.  Then, almost 1 minute into stoppage time, the fourth official finally held up the sign for 4 minutes.  Remember 4 minutes?  Yes, last week.  The Real Salt Lake buzzer beater that took our win and deflated it to a draw.  Like me, many fans had an evil Rave Green smile thinking, “maybe this is our turn”.  We are in “Green Hell” after all.  Unfortunately, If you took a moment and thought about who the hero would be, then looked out on the pitch, no Sounder made you feel a hero was there today.  The ball was played lazily into Kansas City’s half and strolled out-of-bounds on the right side for a Sounders throw-in.  Nothing was taking form and the refs end-of-match whistle made the impending feel of another draw that much more frustrating.  The refs watch turns to the 92nd minute.  Brad Evans takes the throw in.  Evans is the 70th minute sub, an attacking midfielder.  So his taking the throw-in means one less attacker.  I’m thinking to myself, like 36,000 others, “why doesn’t Riley, a defender take the throw-in?  Oh well, at least we’ll get one point for the draw.”  Evans uncorks a quick, sharp throw-in diagonally down the right side.  Fucito, comes out of nowhere, sprinting left to right, like he’s running a Matt Hasselbeck late game audible.  His speedy and timed run onto the ball narrowly beats out the defender.  Like a receiver, he brings the ball into his feet perfectly.  Immediately setting up his own right footed blast on goal.  A hesitation and the goaltender is set to make the save.  Fucito, places the ball in front of goal with poise drilling a one-timer into the nylon swell of the Brougham End net.  (south end goal)

Sounders Win!!!  Sounders Win!!!

Not so fast.

Soccer 101: The time you are most susceptible to conceding a goal, is right after you score a goal!

36,000 finally had a brilliant and historic goal to celebrate.  The players were ready to walk around the pitch in celebration, applaud the fans and take a bow.  The match wasn’t over.  Kansas broke down into Seattle’s attacking third with ease and an immediate buzzer beating equalizer was on the right foot of the Wizards striker.  Even I didn’t turn back to the match until I heard the gasp of the crowd and . . . . “Keller”!  Keller parried the ball away to his right side.  He was, how should I put this, beyond anger at having to make that save.  You could just about hear his yell over 36,000.  Of the 36,000 in the stands, 11 on the field, Keller was the only Sounder still playing.  He saved the day!  He saved the match.  Then as quickly as he played the role of hero, he quietly stepped aside.  The consummate professional, veteran, and team Captain quietly stepped aside, so the young glassy-eyed hero Fucito, would have his day as the hero the fans wanted.  After all, he had just scored a Fucito.

This match will be remembered.  Named because of how spectacular and special the win is.  Time will tell if this young franchise adopts future stoppage time winners as “Fucito”!  Who knows?  For today, 36,000 at the X-Box Pitch danced and chanted his name.  Today Sounders supporters celebrated, The Fucito Finish.

Michael Fucito's first professional and dramatic extra time game winning goal on 4/17/10 v Kansas City


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Categories : 2010

First Kick vs Expansion Philadelphia Union

25 03 2010

Pre Match, Round 1 vs Philadelphia Union

Sounder 'til I die

So filled with Rave Green, I had to take a vacation day.  Still got up and did a good Uncles share today, and got my niece and nephew off to their respective schools.  They were both decked in Sounders attire.  Love them!

I’m taking the day to expand the March to the Match, and I’m marching Seattle.  Hard Rock Cafe is first stop, and then taking it to the streets of the Rave Green City.  I know, I know.  This is not Europe.  It is however, unarguably the soccer capital of America.  That is a bit self-proclaimed, but I’m taking a role in making it true.  The reality is Sounders FC are #2 today to the Huskies sweet 16 game.  I’m throwing my support to that game as well, but at the same time doing my part to show that the red carpet, center stage sporting event of Seattle, and the US today is at Quest Field.  This game should be as big as Monday Night Football.  I’m taking Seattle today to do my part so that one day it will.

Keys to the match:

Really simple.  Establish possession early in mid field.  Then push Philly back into the attacking third.  Find the guy whose ready to step into the match-journeymen Grocery Clerk position and stuff the ball in the back of the onion bag.  An early goal tonight.  First 20 minutes could open the gates.

Peter Nowak, the Philly manager, is smart and knows Sigi’s game.  So the reality is, they will do everything possible to take this match goalless or drawn even at 1 apiece deep into the 75-80th minute.  Which would make for an eye-catching, fingernail biting, hold on to your scarf because anything can happen finish.

So, look for the Sounders to push the attack early while Philly tries to hunker down, endure and frustrate the Sounders into a long match.  This catch’em sleeping approach could be a good test for the Sounders defense.  Probably the best defense in the league, but they have no idea what Philly is going to bring, or who they are going to target in their attacks.

Prediction:

Sounders FC 2 (Fredy and Freddie) – Philadelphia Union 1 (Sebastian Le Toux)

Post Match

As the match and rain shifted into a steady constant pace, there were a few empty seats.  Had the rain become the Sounders faithful first test of true support?  After 30 seconds and Union’s first yellow to Danny Califf.  The Union showing their true physical colors, and me in Rave Green heaven once again, I didn’t notice the crowd again until halftime.  Two goals and a red card later it was halftime.  Walking out for the start of the 2nd half I noticed the rain coming heavier and seats completely full.  Any doubt Seattle Sounders FC‘s faithful being tested by a little wet weather in year two was put to rest.

At the March to the Match at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square, 60 minutes before the match, Major League Soccer commissioner Dan Garber declared Seattle the soccer capitol of America.  How many American sports have their commissioner joining a team rally before their first game of the season?  Apparently it will take much more than wind and rain to challenge Sounders faithful.

The standout Man of the Match was Brad Evans.  Sigi, singled him out from his Columbus Crew championship to join Seattle in its inaugural season.  Bob Bradley has also called him up for a couple caps on the US National Team.  He and Fredy Montero scored in the Sounders inaugural match against the New York Red Bulls in ’09.  The pair each put up a goal in the first match of 2010.  Thursday was the first match I noticed what Sigi and Bradley already knew.  If you placed a GPS on Evans you’d see how much field he covers.  His recognition for being in the right places at the right times was as consistent as any player on the pitch.  His goal seemed so relaxed and simple.  Ljungberg did the workhorse move switching from right field to left, and Zakuani drove to the end line and fed a ground cross to Evans who simply fired across goal to the far post.  Recognition of player and ball movement.  Knowing his role during the flow of game almost made him appear to be a player eventually wearing the captains arm band.

Let it be noted that Ljungberg’s poise, Alonso’s everything everywhere, and the defense, oh the fantastic defense all did their part.  Scanning other MLS games this weekend, the Sounders looked as good as any team out there.  Round 2 vs New York Red Bulls should be a taste of the full season to come.


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Categories : 2010


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