LA Confidential part-two, The Boogie Team; Sounders vs Galaxy

4 08 2012

“Sometimes you just have a boogie team, you know, a team that just, for some reason, it just doesn’t work for you. And right now, they’re that team for us. I think they know that in their locker room.” 

Sigi Schmid, after 2010 season opening loss, 1-nil to LA Galaxy, March 16, 2011
(The Seattle Times | Sounders FC Blog, Joshua Meyers, Sounders vs Galaxy 3/16/11)

2011 MLS Champion LA Galaxy. Sounders 4-5-2 vs Galaxy in all competitions. 2-5-2 in MLS (including playoffs)

For this LA Confidential sequel, don’t go looking up IMDB (Internet Movie Database) when you have SOS (Sales on Sounders).

Seattle Sounders finally defeated LA Galaxy May 2nd, 2-nil. Stopping a winless streak dating to the 2009 inaugural season. Including regular season and 2010 MLS Playoff matches the Sounders record over that stretch 0-wins, 5-losses, 1-draw. The win in May was worth 3-points for the season, but without LA’s complete star-driven lineup it felt anticlimactic.

Sure, Sounders managed two US Open Cup wins over the Galaxy during that period. But at best the Galaxy were only giving 80% effort in those matches. Which ordinarily would be questionable behavior. If it weren’t for the fact the Galaxy made it clear winning MLS Cups are their priority. They backed that up convincingly winning the 2011 MLS Cup.

LA, Where the Wild Things are.

The Galaxy are loaded with international talent causing nightmares for MLS clubs.

No Galaxy name registers more attention than midfielder, David Beckham. With 6 goals and 9 assists, Beckham has been bending it the way only Beckham knows how. He has been directly involved in 15 of LA’s 39 goals. He’ll be nightmarish for the Sounders on set pieces.

Robbie Keane will make his first appearance for the Galaxy at Century Link Field. Although he has struggled to find the back of net this year, he has registered 52 shots, and tied with Donovan for 9 goals, leading the Galaxy. His struggles were only due to expectation for him to have scored 15-18 goals. He’s also recorded 6 assists. The Republic of Ireland National Team captain, is indeed the kind of nightmare the Sounders defense will have to challenge themselves to survive. His threat to score is as deadly as his ability to score.

When the Galaxy drifted to the bottom of the table earlier this season, all eyes turned on captain, Landon Donovan. Coach, Bruce Arena didn’t panic. Confident he had players with talent and will to pull through a sluggish start. Recently Arena pulled Donovan aside for a brief 1-vs-1. No surprise the Galaxy started climbing the table soon after. With a win over the Sounders, LA would rise to third place in the Western Conference.

“Struggling”, is a relative term in the world of defending champion, LA Galaxy. Landon Donovan continues to lead his team in scoring with 9 goals. He’s also recorded 7 assists, only 2 behind Beckham. It is easy to see why Donovan is the most prolific goal getter the US has produced. Even when he struggles, he’s a difference maker that finds ways to remain on the pitch contributing to the Galaxy’s success.

When LA struggled early on, one key player was absent from their championship squad, Omar Gonzalez. As the Galaxy slowly work back into championship form, it is his presence on defense that haunts opposing clubs.

LA’s three Designated Players: Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, and David Beckham

Juninho is already known as a goal scoring thorn in the Sounders side. Playing at Century Link wont rattle this Brazilian’s football-brain.

Mike Magee doesn’t initially strike fear in opponents. He’s deceiving. Seems like a good guy. Defendable. Then, in the closing minutes of matches, who’s the guy on the end of so many Beckham bending blasts?  Magee, Magee, and Magee.

The Sounders have produced a unique ability to win US Open Cups. Since the Sounders 2009 inaugural season they are the only club to touch the cup. Winning three in a row. The name of the trophy is on the verge of being renamed, The Rave Green, Emerald City Cup. Next Wednesday, Sounders travel to Sporting Kansas City to play for their fourth consecutive US Open Cup.

The same can not be said for the Sounders ability to win key Major League Soccer regular season and playoff matches. They continue to be one of the most successful, attack oriented MLS clubs. But they struggle in key MLS matches. LA is one of those teams the Sounders have yet to measure up to.

Keys for the Sounders to exorcise a Boogie:

Don’t give up silly set pieces within Beckham’s bending range. Mark Robbie Keane. If you lose him, then you will find him in the back of your net. Mark up Magee. You can let Magee wander a bit, but watch out for his late runs into the box. When Beckham’s behind the ball, Magee better be covered, or you’ll soon realize he was the target all along.

With Eddie Johnson fully in form, will he be able to find that inch of space he needs to score on Omar Gonzalez? The Omar Gonzalez vs Eddie Johnson matchup may prove to be the key to the match. Another key question, will Osvaldo Alonso be able to hold up LA in the midfield, as he has against so many clubs? Tactically, he surely will. But not allowing LA to get inside his head, which I guarantee is an LA Confidential objective, will be Alonso’s challenge.

There may not be a footy-priest available tomorrow to conduct a Sounders exorcist. But, there will be 60,000 faithful, rave green, screaming fans boisterously believing they can beat a LA Boogie.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Union Payback – Philadelphia Union at Sounders FC

5 05 2012

Sounders huddle before midweek match with LA Galaxy 5/2/12 – Photo by Paul Kahl

Welcome back from midweek success.

Today your ever-changing cast of Sounders starters host the Philadelphia Union.  The objective is clear.  This is the only meeting in the unbalanced 2012 schedule.  So, beat the Union and get payback for the flat 2-nil performance last October.

The Union will be without their prominent coach Peter Nowak.  Who is serving the second of a two game suspension.  Nowak’s suspension and fine were for his part in a scuffle with Chivas USA on April 21.

David Beckham and Robbie Keane missed a good game Wednesday.  Sounders stole the glory from the present champion LA Galaxy, winning 2-nil.  Turf excuses, travel, and a compacted schedule were the primary reasons given for the Galaxy’s absent stars.

Seattle had not defeated LA since an away match in 2009.  And had never won at home.  The midweek mash-up initially looked a high challenge with the Galaxy’s three world-class DP’s (Designated Players) Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Robbie Keane.  Only Donovan made the trip.  Effectively, Bruce Aren put out a B-Squad line-up.  The Sounders made LA pay for it.  One reason bounced around about why Beckham didn’t play was the surface.  The Field Turf Revolution Surface yesterday received a FIFA-2 certification.  So, hopefully next time LA come to town, their list of excuses will have better validation.

Galaxy travel to Seattle again August 5th.

Last October, Philadelphia took all three points from Seattle at Century Link.  A lackluster 2-nil loss.  Philadelphia’s return marks an opportunity for Sounders FC to get payback.  Adding a little extra importance is that this will be the only meeting between the two sides in 2012.

Focal points for the match.

Freddy Adu, like Eddie Johnson is working hard to prove his value as a club level MLS leader and pave his way to the US National Team.  The teen-prodigy has had many ups and down, but has never kept his eye off the bigger objective.  As much as I root for the Sounders, I have never stopped hoping for Adu’s success.

Sports are weird.  Sometimes a players success is realized by simply finding the right environment to flourish in.  The Union seem to be a place where Adu may realize that success.  Sounders know something about that.  Eddie Johnson has followed a similar up and down path to Adu.  He is also working to forge a successful return to MLS.

The match will be a good opportunity to compare their competitive development and club level contributions.  Both hope club level success in MLS will catch the attention of US National team coach Jurgen Klinsmann.  Both wish to be in the mix of players considered for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Sounders will likely be without newly acquired Keeper Michael Gspurning for 2-3 weeks.  A hip injury.  In his place steps Bryan Meredith.  Meredith played for the Kitsap Pumas last year.  Sounders fans may remember him well.  He kept Sounders at bay in a 2-1 US Open Cup loss to the Sounders.  By keeping the match close, on key saves for Kitsap, Meredith gave the Pumas what could have been a mammoth upset.

Michael Gspurning smacks goal kick in first half vs LA 5/2/12 – Photo by Paul Kahl

Winning is such a complex variable.  The Sounders are  5-W, 1-L, 1-D and building momentum.  But a sour performance would bring that to a halt.  Early season challenges like this, at first seem like a big deal.  But in the scheme of a marathon season, a single victory may mean little.  The lasting impact is how the team feels about how they handled the challenge.  Letting fans down at home would hurt.  Earning a win, or settling for a draw would give the Sounders all the validation they need for their must successful start to a season.  Momentum favors no one.  Results do.  A draw or win is the Sounders Saturday objective.


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LA Confidence – LA Galaxy at Seattle Sounders FC

2 05 2012

Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, David Beckham of LA Galaxy - 2011 MLS Cup Defending Champions

The 2011 Major League Soccer Champions, LA Galaxy are in town for a midweek mash-up with the Sounders tomorrow at Century Link Field.  Coming off an impressive 2-1 grind-it-out Chicago-style win against the Fire last weekend, the Sounders are ready to go from one melee to another.

Come game time, 7 pm Wednesday evening, Seattle’s streets should be quieted from the May Day mess.  Seattle suffered a WTO, circa 1999 relapse on Tuesday.  A May Day protest became dangerous when protestors began doing damage to downtown Seattle businesses.  While other rally’s around Seattle throughout the day were successful in being peaceful.  One disrespectful group of protestors took up news time and headlines when they caused the city and businesses thousands of dollars of damage.

As for the Windy-City scuffle that took place after last Saturday’s match with Chicago Fire, Eddie Johnson was the only Sounder to suffer any repercussions.  So far.  Johnson was issued and undisclosed fine for an inappropriate gesture.  Which he followed with an apology posted on Prost Amerika.  Chicago’s Jalil Anibaba’s two footed, studs up tackle to Leo Gonzalez at the end of the match started the pushing.  He was issued a red card along with Fire coach Frank Klopas.

The Sounders are off to their hottest start, going 4-W, 1-L, 1-D over their first 6 matches.  LA is only simmering at 3-W, 3-L, 1-D.  Some clubs might be intimidated by the Sounders resourceful start, and fever-pitched home crowds.  The star-studded Galaxy are not one of those teams.

As successful as the Sounders have been against the Fire 4-W, 0-L, 3-D.  LA Galaxy have been nearly as successful against the Sounders.  Galaxy last lost to the Sounders during an LA trip in their inaugural season.  Since then, LA has defeated the Sounders four times, drawing once.  Two of those losses were in the 2010 MLS Playoffs.  Which includes the memorable Edson Buddle 35 yard wonder-strike.  Seattle have defeated LA the last two years in US Open Cup play, but that has not been the Galaxy’s priority.  They proved that by winning the MLS Cup last November.

No red carpet treatment from Sounders supporters for the eclectic entourage of soccer stars included on the Galaxy.  David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, and Robbie Keane.  LA’s lineup looks like an all-star cast.

Seattle has found it’s Estrada and wants its Montero to.  David Estrada has scored 4 goals.  Finding net 5 times this year.  Only three can be solidly credited to him.  Who cares.  When he shoots, the ball finds net.  It may go off a few people before reaching the netting, but that is what is meant when a forward has a knack for net.  Estrada is that man.  Montero has yet to score.  It took him 7 matches last year.  So, timing is ripe for Montero to join Estrada’s knack..

LA is still the class measuring stick.  They play the closet to a top class brand of international soccer of any MLS club.  The pressure and weight from the desire of the Sounders to conquer them, and please home fans has become giant.  When pressure is off, and the Sounders are gliding, and playing in-form US Open Cup soccer, the Galaxy can’t compete.  Being knocked out by the Sounders the last two years in a row.  But when Seattle plays LA in regular season or playoff matches, the pressure seems to bite the Sounders.

Sebastian Le Toux is still the only Sounders player, past or present to score against the Galaxy at home.  That was May of 2009.  The Sounders are due for LA goals at home.  I believe the best cure for midweek blues is scoring goals that defeat the defending champion.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Winter of Intent – Toronto FC at Sounders FC

17 03 2012

Initially, the Sounders warmed one step closer to playing for a first ever Champions League title.  Then the Sounders were hit with a cold blast of reality in Torreón, Mexico on Wednesday.

After winning their first leg in CONCACAF Champions League on March 7th, 2-1 over Santos Laguna of Mexico, the Sounders looked to be in good shape for advancing from the two leg series.  A win in Mexico and it was on to the Semifinals vs the winner of LA Galaxy vs Toronto FC.

At half time of the second leg, 135 of the 180 minutes completed in the 2 leg series, Sounders and Santos were level 3-3 on aggregate.  But a cold blast of Mexican soccer superiority chilled the Sounders into letting 4 goals slide through in the final 45 minutes, putting their current Champions League run into icy extinction

Up North a bizarre soccer climate-change took place for Toronto.  After their first leg with the LA Galaxy, the 2011 MLS Cup Champions, the score was level 2-2.  But LA had scored two away goals.  So, playing at home in their California warmth, a 0-0 second leg would advance the Galaxy.  With all the big $ money signings by LA, Juninho, Beckham, Donovan, Edson Buddle, and Irish international striker Robbie Keane, Toronto was sure to be schooled.  Galaxy ownership even went so far as to make it clear that now is the time for their “international branding”.

Aron Winter, the Toronto FC manager didn’t get the LA superiority memo.  He employed a 3-6-1 (three fullbacks, stacked six in midfield, and 1 up top) formation vs Bruce Arena’s Galaxy.  That further made people certain, that with only three questionable quality backs, Toronto was doomed. LA offensive power was penciled in for a certain 3 goals netted on the night.

Toronto frustrated LA.  The Galaxy never found their decisive and dominant scoring touch.  Even when Irish sensation, Keane got in on goal one v one with Toronto keeper, Milos Kocic, Keane’s touch was turned away cold.

The Dutch are known for their famous “total football” history.  They are the best soccer country in the world to never win a world cup.  Their football is Barcelona football.  No country has shaped the tactics of international football more than the Dutch.  Short on international glory, they are high on understanding, creativity, and confidence.  They are “Total Football”.

Aron Winter used his tactical Dutch background, and what appeared to be a misty, potent-less 3-6-1 formation into LA and walked out 2-1 victors (4-3 aggregate).  They move on to face Santos Laguna in the semifinals.

Has Toronto suddenly risen as a power?.  Are they the hidden Yetti from the North?  A warm and cuddly exterior, but monstrous ability to rip apart the best of MLS?

Crushed, the Sounders have to recover quickly. They host their MLS season opener tonight at CenturyLink against that same ecstatic Toronto FC.

The 7pm match will be weather effected from showers, to near freezing, to wind, to snow, or some mix of all.  Usually a sure Sounders advantage.  But Aron Winter has his squad warmed to the intent of quietly knocking any opponent aside.  His overachieving Toronto squad is already adjusted to the Pacific timezone and their heart-of-champions mentality is unshaken and warmed to anything the Sounders throw at them.

They knocked off the MLS Cup Champions, LA Galaxy.  They smashed the Galaxy brass international branding attempts.  They turned Canada on top of US in boasting MLS Champions League success for now.  So, knocking out Seattle on opening day in front of 40,000, probably sounds like a fun Disney theme ride to Aron’s Dutch thinking Canadian Club.

The pressure will be on heavily favored, and heavily tasked Sounders Manager, Sigi Schmid to once again find an answer.  He has precedence here. He’s found those answers before.  An impossibly packed August, 2011 schedule was turned into the Sounders most successful month with 7-wins, 0-losses, 1-draw.  But Sigi has also been at the helm of the Sounders three disappointing MLS Playoff runs, and an opening day loss to LA Galaxy 1-nil last year.

Can the Sounders warm to Toronto’s winter blast?  Or is Toronto the surprise of MLS 2012?

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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Brek, Mexico and Sitting Solo in Second Position – FC Dallas vs Sounders FC

23 08 2011

This post is more than 48 hours late. No doubt about that. Considering the tardy arrival, you may feel inclined to slip down to the Post Match portion. Your inclination would be very wrong.  Very, very wrong.  You would miss the beautiful simplicity from my, albeit completely late, Prematch comments.  You would feel like you had cheated.  Like you were suddenly a teenager again, caught shoplifting, completely missing all my post match thoughts, and your cheating ways, although innocent enough in intent, would slowly build a lonely unfulfilled emotion inside you.  ”What if I had only read Sales on Sounders prematch comments first”.  The voice inside your head would say over and over and over.  The choice is yours.  Free will is a wonderful thing.  But starting at the beginning may bring you a more sweetened peace of mind than you could ever imagine.

Prematch vs FC Dallas

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

Saturday is the Texas Two Step, from Frisco.  Sounders FC have never won in Texas.  Nothing from Houston Dynamo and nothing from FC Dallas. Sounders travel to FC Dallas’s home pitch at Pizza Hut Park. The winner takes sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, and the overall MLS standings. LA Galaxy leads the way. Playoff positioning is at stake.

Sounders also want a little pay-back for losing 1-nil to FC Dallas in their first meeting at home on May 25th

On Wednesday, August 17th, FC Dallas made history. They became the first MLS squad to celebrate a win in Mexico. Defeating Pumas UNAM, Mexican Primera División Champions 1-nil. A great win to start their 2011 CONCACAF Group Stage. The mid-week match may have left them tired, but the glorious victory will surely open their confidence up to full sail ahead.

On Tuesday, August 16th, Sounders FC had its most successful CONCACAF win to date. A 4-1 win over Comunicaciones of Guatemala.

Both sides meet Saturday with hopes of securing second place in the Western Conference, and overall playoff standings in MLS.  With LA signing Robbie Keane, last week, an irish international striker. It seems unlikely any team will stop LA from reaching their goal of ending the season atop the MLS table and earning the Supporters Shield.  Any remote chance of catching LA, will likely come from the team that wins Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

One player stands above all as the most likely difference maker in Saturday’s showdown.

Soccer often takes itself too seriously. Media, like Twitter, has become a good source for finding the lighter side of soccer. MLS.com features a podcast airing twice a week that balances soccer’s intensity with joyful humor. Extra Time Radio airs Monday to review the weekends results and events. It airs again on Thursday to review any mid-week matches, while looking to the weekends match-ups ahead. Greg Lalas, one member of ETR”s quartet of MLS.com’s writers and media personalities, recently made the point that Brek Shea is not a good name for soccer stardom. It may be a little early to place the full weight of that stigma on Brek Shea, but his development suggests there is good reason for us to be excited about what he could become for the US Men’s National Team.

Messi, Rooney, and Xavi derive unfair comparison when thinking of single name soccer stars. Dempsey is the closest we have in US Soccer. Even Landon Donovan who is the most successful US soccer star has not caught on as a single name. Lalas proposed, “Brek”. Time will tell.  For now, Brek is the primary challenge Seattle will have to mitigate if they want to win. Heat is the other serious obstacle the Sounders will face in order to come out of Texas victorious, and sitting solo in second position.

With LA Galaxy signing Robby Keane this week, it seems unlikely any team will stop them from reaching their MLS championship goal. Two teams from the West that would like to at least have that chance are FC Dallas and Sounders FC.

Post Match

Hoops

Nicknames; Hoops, Red Stripes, Toros, Burn, The Branders, Dallas 96

Sitting in second after winning in Texas, the Sounders are only two-steps from LA. ”if we want to make a run in the playoffs, you know we’re going to have to win games like this”. Keller, after the Sounders first win in Texas.

It all came down to the fifteenth minute.  Lamar Neagle received the ball near midfield, along the left sideline.  He rolls the ball forward on a slow dribble, while Montero makes a run up the middle.  Lamar’s pass avoids an FC Dallas interception finding Fredy Montero, who slides the ball past the last FC Dallas defender. Mauro Rosales runs into the penalty box, timing a one touch strike inside the near post.  Sounders lead 1-nil and all looks good.

Finally, Texas is defeated. The Sounders went on to win by the same 1-nil score. Not a pretty win. It was survival and sweat. Dallas threw everything. They even went down a man and still managed to outplay the Sounders with 10 men.

With the early goal, Seattle gave a little pay-back to FC Dallas for what Dallas did in Seattle on May 25th.  A 1-nil win in Seattle. Brek scored in the 18th minute.  FC Dallas bunkered in behind the ball.  Rarely venturing forward the rest of the match.  Seattle attacked again and again, but FC Dallas held the Alamo and stole a defensive victory. Seattle were the better squad but were not rewarded for their efforts. Carbon copy in Frisco.  Seattle took an early lead, then held on by the skin of their teeth until the final whistle.

Daniel Cruz was shown a third-minute yellow card for a reckless tackle.  Then in the 56th minute the referee thought he was simulating a fall to earn a free kick. The referee made a surprising call against Cruz, showing him a second yellow card.  Dallas played a man down the rest of the match.  You would not have known.  106 degrees hot and a sweltering attack, Dallas never gave up, and were it not for a heroic save by Keller at the death, Dallas looked poised to come back and earn a draw.

For Keller, this was his eighth shutout of the season.

The referee helped Seattle.  Twenty-two fouls against Seattle and nineteen against Dallas.  Forty-one fouls, each giving Sounders players a chance to catch their breath and drink water.  Those little pauses helped Seattle survive 106 degrees of Texas heat and equal amount of sweltering pressure from their attack.

Keller always manages to have the right words to put the perfect perspective on a match. “Maybe they should’ve won here and we definitely should’ve beat them there”.

Happily, Sounders take advantage of the win and climb into sole possession of second place.  Six points behind LA Galaxy seems a bit lofty to think the Sounders could catch them for first place in the remaining eight matches. But pulling out playoff like survival wins are what champions are made of. This is the first time I’ve felt Sounders showed that type of playoff like poise. Even more impressive it was on the road.

 

Credits:  Kasey Keller comments from post match interviews on Sounders FC.com

© 2011 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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