From Frisco With Depth – Sounders at FC Dallas

9 05 2012

Three up, three down.  What’s next?  Wednesday in Frisco, Texas with FC Dallas.

Sounders successfully march on to challenging May schedule – March to the Match vs Philadelphia Union 5/5/12 – Photo by © Paul Kahl

The last time Sounders traveled to FC Dallas Stadium, they were facing eight matches in August.  The most challenging portion of their 2011 schedule. How did they do?  Sounders went 7-W, 0-L, 1-D.  Including a rare Champions League win in Mexico.  Only the second MLS squad to succeed in Mexico.  The only other is FC Dallas, who did it one week before Sounders FC.

The Champions League win was followed by a 1-nil win over FC Dallas.  Zach Scott took on growing US Men’s National Team star, and FC Dallas playmaker Brek Shea.  Scott was impressive in shutting down the rising US star.

Currently In the middle of their first scheduling challenge of 2012 the Sounders are rising to the occasion.  They are turning into a club with a well oiled baseball like player and lineup rotation.  And a skipper with a nose for who needs to be on the pitch.  If you accurately predict the Sounders starting XI for Wednesday, buy a lottery ticket.

The Sounders baseball like player rotations and lineup changes have produced three wins in a stretch of five matches over 15 days.  Sounders Coach, Sigi Schmid continues to show his Lou Piniella like sharpness with his defensive rotation.  About his defenders, Sigi said, “I think we’ve got seven starters.  Any of those seven, we don’t miss a beat in the back”.

Seattle is undefeated in its last five matches.  Winning four in a row.  MLSSoccer.com took note of the Sounders recent success in their current power rankings. There is not much to glean from power rankings while you are in the midst of a tight regular season schedule.  That said, they make for fun talking points.  If you’re winning, then you’re climbing the ladder.  While the teams you defeat, like the LA Galaxy fall.  Which is kind of fun to watch.

Early success can be completely forgotten by the time the Sounders hit the showers after Real Salt Lake on Saturday.  The Sounders are 6-W, 1-L, 1-D and 19 points on the season.  (3 pts = Win, 1pt = Draw)  In the West, they are third behind San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake.  Both with 22 points.  Sounders have played two fewer matches than San Jose, and one fewer than Salt Lake.  If they enter the Century Link locker room on Saturday after facing a second loss in 4 days, momentum and power ranking talking-points will reverse against them.  That is the downside of any short-term success in a compact schedule.

It’s not one position, or one tactical grouping of players going through rotations. It’s the entire squad.  Sounders starting Keeper, Michael Gspurning left after the first half of the LA Galaxy match last Wednesday.  Brian Meredith stepped in to finish the shutout win.  Meredith got the start last Saturday against the Philadelphia Union. Earning his first win and complete game shutout.

Some rotation decisions are tactical, and some like Meredith coming in for Gspurning are for injury.  Meredith is likely to finish the May schedule for Gspurning.

As the Sounders continue to roll through their tight May baseball schedule, they continue to roll through their rotation.  The brightest star for the club is perhaps the depth of their bench.  If the entire club continues to buy into shared minutes throughout the full season, there could be a healthy reward at the finish.

Pre-match Warm up vs Philadelphia Union 5/5/12 - Photo by © Paul Kahl

Please welcome Paul Kahl to Sales on Sounders for his photography contributions.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Wonder-Striker Wondolowski – Earthquakes at Sounders

31 03 2012

Two home matches, two wins.  Is there much more that could be, or should be made from the Sounders taking six points out of six possible in the first two matches of 2012?

if this MLS season is a Marathon potentially lasting until December, then I’m more concerned about the Sounders accumulating early injuries than points from victories.  On paper, the start is an improvement over the 0-W, 2-L start the club had at this time last year.  But injuries temper short-term success in a long season.

Collin Lamont (@ChamberECS on twitter) made an interesting observation about a “formidable lineup” of Sounders.  A nearly all injured lineup:  Josh Ford – Keeper, Adam Johansson – Defender, Mauro Rosales – Midfielder, Eddie Johnson – Forward, Brad Evans – Midfielder (game-time decision) Steve Zakuani – Midfielder, Michael Tetteh – Defender, Andrew Duran – Defender, Babayele Sodade – Forward

Names you don’t want to see on the injured list too long.

The talented Sounders depth will be pressed up against the wall.  That depth is often about season development, more than about being forced into action.  But the length of the Sounders current triage list will force many developing players into action.

With four of the Sounders first five goals in 2012, David Estrada is bringing Sounders depth to the surface.  As with Neagle and Fucito before him, there is a precedent in the Sounders camp for developing players rising to meet the challenge when injuries begin to mount.

Chris Wondolowski of San Jose Earthquakes - Most goals in MLS past two seasons.

If you are like me, when you are jumping and singing praise for your own clubs heroes, like Estrada, it’s hard to see any other players in MLS who deserve mention for their hard work and team-first work ethic.

Chris Wondolowski stands out.  The San Jose Earthquakes starting forward deserves the growing recognition he’s receiving.  He doesn’t take many days off.  When he’s not playing for the Earthquakes and tallying the most goals in MLS over the last two years, he’s working his way onto Jurgen Klinsmann’s, US Men’s National Team lineup.

Paired with the ever-present threat of Steven Lenhart, San Jose posses one of the more lethal 1-2 goal scorning punches in Major League Soccer.  The Sounders have the defensive strength and talent to stand tall to San Jose, but the challenge can’t be taken lightly.

Wondolowski has graduated from proving his role each week as a starter.  Now he’s proving his place above other goal scoring names like, Henry, Donovan, Montero, and Shea.  He wants to prove his efforts can lift San Jose up as a playoff threat, while solidifying his spot on the National Team.

San Jose will test the Sounders depth.

The Earthquakes are the most complete challenge for the Sounders so far this season.  They possess some of the same threat the Sounders faced in the attacking height that Toronto and Houston had.  But they posses a more attacking midfield.  Sounders need to be alert to the constant threat of a quick San Jose counter attack.  Their defense has been their leaky faucet, but has improved.  They will come in with a chip on their shoulder from being the team that lost to Keller in his last regular season appearance before retiring.

Sideline Notes

 

The Heritage Cup - Original NASL Clubs in MLS

Heritage Cup:  NASL is still alive in spirit.  San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, and Seattle Sounders are all part of the continued history from their former NASL days.  Before Portland and Vancouver joined in 2011, the first Heritage Cup went to San Jose in 2009.  Sounders won the next two in 2010 and 2011.  Tonight is the first Heritage Cup match of 2012.

Last meeting:  The last meeting between San Jose and Seattle was the historic last regular season home match in front of goal for Kasey Keller.  October 15th, 2011, Sounders won 2-1 for Keller’s last home regular season match.  To mark the night as a historic date for the Sounders, there were memorable performances by the club and from Keller himself.  Sounders fell behind 1-0 to none other than Chris Wondolowski.  The lead would have increased had anyone other than Keller been in net.  Keller thrilled a crowd of over 50,000 by making of succession of 4 saves.  Diving, charging, going to turf, rising again, and knocking the ball away.  Rare to ever see many efforts like it.  Topping the night off, Sammy Ochoa and Fredy Montero scored two late Sounders goals to leave the crowd thrilled and give Keller a happy retirement memory.

Alonso = Honey Badger:  Osvaldo Alonso has had his tenacious style of winning balls back from quickly from other teams earn the midfielder the nick name “Honey Badger”.  For his efforts last week he earned a place on the Major League Soccer Best XI.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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Kasey Keller Day – Seattle Sounders FC vs San Jose Earthquakes

15 10 2011

I’m not exactly 100% sure what the time line was. I was graduating from high school. Still kind of selfish. Arguing with my dad occasionally about work, money, and other priorities. Stuff. I got a scholarship to head to Salt Lake City to study theatre at the University of Utah. My dad drove me from Seattle and dropped me off there. I don’t recall much road-trip conversation about soccer heroes.

Somewhere in between graduating, relocating to Utah, and showing my dad I can make it in the world. I heard about this other kid, same age, from Olympia, Washington. A Goal Keeper to watch. Youth with promise. That sort of thing.

No doubt, it was not long after that I started reading about him occasionally in the Seattle Times.

Keller lifting Cascadia Cup 2011

My soccer career, as for playing, had already ended. When I entered high school, I went straight for varsity Cross-Country, and made the cut. Bicycling, running, violin, and theatre were everything to me. Soccer had fallen off the shelf. That and the fact our high school forwards looked something out of the German National Team youth system.  My 5′-8″ frame was small. Height was too much a priority for the sport at that time. Maradona was considered a one of a kind phenom, and Messi wasn’t on the scene yet.

Sounders players Osvaldo Alonso, Michael Fucito, and James Riley will inspire an entire generation of kids whose skill attributes, like agility, endurance, and consistency will matter more than height. It pleases me to know that the next generation of soccer players will have a more equitable variance in size.

As a senior in high school, my friend Dawn Schuller nudged me into co-coaching a 9-year old girls, first year soccer team.  I found enough inspiration in that experience to consider dropping college and only coach soccer. I couldn’t see the future in that. So, I went to college to study theatre and become an actor.

Kasey Keller’s name didn’t jump up in many theatre circles. In between a theatre conservatory-esque regime of classes; movement, voice, and theatre history, there wasn’t much room for soccer.

Being the sports-0-phile I’ve always been, I knew who he was and continued to follow his rise up the ladder of the US National Team.

Most people will tell you about his Gold Cup victory over Brazil with the US National Team in 1998. A stunning 1-nil win over the Beautiful Game’s greatest nation. Not me. I’ll tell you how cool it is he lived in a castle in Germany, received an invitation from the King os Spain, and played soccer in England. Above all, I’ll tell you about his relegation battle at Fulham.

Kasey Keller fights for every game no matter what is at stake. In 2006 the US fizzled disappointingly at the World Cup. Keller went to Fulham in the English Premier League. They fell near the bottom of the league in 2007 and headed for relegation. HIs move appeared a possible last stop in his career. Two Seattle area Keepers dueled to stay above the relegation line. Marcus Hahnemann with Reading, and Keller with Fulham. it was a famous and glorious relegation battle.

Height takes a back seat to Osvaldo Alonso's 2 goals vs Comunicaciones in CCL

Difficult to describe what happened next. There is no US equivalent. We measure teams success by what they do at the top of the table. Bottom table teams are just holding out for draft choices to help rebuild. In soccer leagues around the world, there is glory at the top of the table. But the place settings are few and the guest list doesn’t change much.

Three teams at the bottom of the table are relegated to the league below. Three teams in the league below are promoted above. Those relegation battles draw crowds, cameras, and conversation no different from who makes the sweet sixteen. Keller dug in and Fulham planted a historic survival flag. A battle that went to the last match of 2007. It could have been a fitting end, but he heard the Sounders calling.

Sometimes heroes hear their calling. I’ve struggled with following my own passions. How to make them part of my life in a way that earns a living. At a young age Keller heard his calling to be a professional athlete and stayed true to that path. So, when the Sounders called it was no surprise that the US International Soccer hero jumped back across the pond to make his last professional stop at home.

Captain Kasey Keller #18

At the end of Keller’s second year with the Sounders, his contract was renewed. Instead of a bidding process for more money. Keller offered less. He offered $50,000 less than he could have taken. That $50,000 found Mauro Rosales. This is sports. Just entertainment at the end of the day. But with Keller it’s much more. School in session. Sacrifice personal reward for the greater achievements of your family and community. For your club.

In his third year with the Sounders, their third year in existence, he is the team Captain and soccer icon we have always wanted. 62,000 will take part in his retirement ceremony. Leaving no less than what all sports in America needs. An example of hard work, leadership, and desire to win no matter what is at stake

Kasey Keller Day is officially upon us. 62,000 will take part in his retirement. One fan finds himself reflecting on his own life’s soccer influence, and taking account of future goals. As Keller retires from soccer, I find myself more and more compelled to be part of its growth. Keller’s achievements inspire and bring together the core for me of what sports are about. A club rising to the occasion to represent the city that hosts it. Keller has brought both club and community together. As he retires, I can’t help feel that he has united Seattle into something special for decades to come. Inspiring us in sport, classroom, and life.

 

Dedicated to Dawn Schuller – She is my personal soccer Captain and hero.

© 2011 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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Psychology for a Lack of Sounders FC Goals: Sounders FC vs Chicago Fire

8 04 2011

 

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

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

Last time Chicago’s Fire visited the Emerald City, it marked the return of Freddie Ljungberg. The passion for vengeance burned high. Fredy Montero‘s late winning goal was among the Sounders 2010 season highlights.  The Sounders won both games against the Fire in 2010. Their match with the Chicago Fire this Saturday becomes critical after yielding two season points from four matches, while only producing three goals.  Their record is 0-wins, 2-losses, and 2-draws.  All four matches were entertaining, but entertainment alone does not define a winning season.  One draw came at home against the Houston Dynamo.  The other last weekend in the thrilling 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.  Losing this Saturday would not be fatal, but it would leave a heavy emotional burden for fans and team both.  A draw would be manageable, but a bitter and underlying level of frustration would creep into the club.  A win would not put the season right, but it would ignite momentum and confidence.

Last year Seattle traded Ljungberg to Chicago for six points in return.  The two wins helped propel the Sounders to a 10-win, 2-loss, 3-draw record in the second half of 2010.  That was the best record in MLS during that period leading up to the playoffs. That is the significant momentum possible from a Saturday win against the Fire. The Sounders have shown no lack of confidence only a lack of goals.  Thrilling as they are with improved play on the pitch, it is when they discover their need for victory, and not just an accumulation of shots that will earn them goals and wins.

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)

I don’t like statistics because they raise more questions than answers.  I live for the story.  Recent events have tickled the whiskers of my curiosity.  Now I have questions about these curious stats.
“Mr President, I know you are busy with Libya and Budgets, but regarding the Sounders, . . .  uh, no sir, they are a soccer club, like Landon Donovan, not a basketball team.   . . .  Oh, no, no, no we do not play in Oklahoma”.  Well, that didn’t go well.
Lionel Messi, is not answering my calls.  Pele, wont respond to my e-mails.  I can’t find Zidane on Twitter, and Zeus is “apparently” on vacation.  So, I have hired a private detective to explain the probabilities involved in tallying only 3 goals in 64 shots.
Breaking News:  My soccer private detective just quit.  Apparently, he was called away for a more pressing assignment to uncover missing Portland Timber’s midfielders.

 

Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

Statistics and kidding aside, if the Sounders, albeit miraculously, were to amass another 64 shots in the next 4 matches, they will score no fewer than 6 goals.  Even if half are own-goals scored by the other team.  I’ll put a pint on that!

What does it take to score in soccer?  Skill, patience, poise, precision?  All are good terms.  Do the Sounders lack these qualities in their strikers and forwards?  You could conjure up an argument for that.  Eventually, I believe you would come around to realizing the qualities in these Sounders players are more like league goal scoring leaders, than explaining their slump.  Any argument against them, would be hard pressed to get past the argument for them.  I wont defend their numerous missed opportunities, but there must be some strange manner to explain how so much creativity and opportunity has missed its home target.  Maybe the explanation comes from a willing need, or a little Luck.  if the Sounders shoot 64 shots in the next 4 matches, luck alone will muster no fewer than 6 goals.

“Put the ball in the net”.  Screams a Sounders fan standing in front of my brother-in-law, Thomas Breuler, and myself.  No ringing endorsements for this to become a regular chant.  It does sum up everything fans and team alike want to see change soon.  What is keeping the ball out of the back of the net?  Need?  Some all-encompassing need?  When the Sounders finally need to, they will find a way to score goals.  Some teams play with momentum, energy, passion, or various skills, and so-on.  Some clubs are just lucky.  Other times in sports, the gods of games burden you with the challenge to become something more than what you are. Saturday, Sounders FC face their own fire.  They are on the cusp of a self sacrificial barbecue, or a heroic surge.  If the 2011 Sounders FC are to become a team seeking a deep need to win, then Saturday is when that desire needs to show on their home pitch.

Sounders FC players and staff appear encouraged and upbeat.  Fans are still singing, “The Rave Green Blues”. Yes, I’m being over dramatic here as Saturday is only game five.  Yet four of the next five matches are on the road.  So, I don’t feel it’s too early to quote my good Sounders friend, Todd Hodges, who commented that “April is becoming a do-or-die month”.

It is time for the boys in Rave Green to need victory.

 

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire - Founded 1997, MLS 1998, 4 US Open Cup Titles

For, Luis Sanchez, a faithful Chicago Fire supporter.  Our passions support opposing teams.  Our respect is mutual.  Together from separate cities we support MLS and the growth of soccer in the US.  One day we’ll meet at Al’s Italian Beef.

 

 


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Rave Green Blues: Sounders FC Review, Matches 1-3

1 04 2011

 

 

Seattle Sounders FC

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

Current San Jose badge

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.


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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 Pacific Clash

20 05 2010

Who are the San Jose Earthquakes?  With the Sounders, currently San Jose is the only other former North American Soccer League (NASL) team.  The NASL folded in 1984.  After the US World Cup in 1994, soccer momentum cooked up enough steam to launch Major League Soccer in 1996 with 10 teams.  Nike swooshed everything in the fledgling league.  They pushed the name “Clash” onto San Jose.  Here is the result of that early MLS effort.  I think it’s fair to say this is one of Nike’s few failed efforts.

Clash - RIP 1995-1999

I have no idea what team or what sport would benefit from this logo.  I mean the claws are upside down.  The luck of the team slipped out of its grasp before San Jose ever took the pitch.  An artistic, fun example of a successful coastal soccer logo is FC Lorient.  FC Lorient plays in

 

FC Lorient - old badge

Classic, simple, soccer specific badge. Unusual, but easily recognizable to team and region.

Ligue 1.  The top-flight football league in France.  This sly but slick fish hugs the ball tight, like a right footed striker curling a shot into the waiting yawn of an onion bag (goal).  This plate of delicious goal, for a team badge, goes back to 1926.  It’s weird but works.  Nike doesn’t make everything better.  What San Jose has going for them, like Sounders FC is heritage.  Last year was the inaugural Heritage Cup between Seattle and San Jose.  As original NASL teams they square off for this regular season bragging right each year.  It is decided by aggregate goals of the teams regular season matches.  Portland and Vancouver will join the Heritage Cup next season.  Seattle held the edge over San Jose, until getting clawed 4-nil on the road.

San Jose, is a little slice of the best and worst you find in sports.  A flunked team name and badge from 1995-1999.  In October 1999 they reclaimed their NASL heritage, and were renamed Earthquakes.  The fortune in name change coincided with the arrival of coach Frank Yallop (current).  Along with Yallop, along came a young American, Landon Donovan.  They won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003.  In 2005 they won the Supporters Shield for best overall league record.  The reward, they were dumped from San Jose and moved to Houston.  Like the Cleveland Browns, Houston could not keep any of the teams San Jose history.  This allowed for the re-expansion of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2008.  Unfortunately, all their talent stayed in Houston and went on to win back-to-back MLS cups in ’06-’07.  Now with all name changes, badge failures and moving vans parked, San Jose are determined to rise once again from their strange history of success and misfortune.


With “The Boys in Blue” a reassembled sum of their odd and traveled past, San Jose is ready to rise up again.

Current San Jose badge

Los Terremotos de San José

Round 10 vs San Jose EarthQuakes, keeps the Sounders hands full.  San Jose is currently sitting 4th place in the West at 13 points, 1 more than Seattle.  They are boasting an improved 4W-2L-1T record after 7 games.  San Jose has 2 games in hand on the Sounders, a possible 6 season points.  So Seattle can ill afford to lose.  A draw could be survivable, but a win is needed to keep playoff pace.

Bobby Convey had been knocking on the door of the US National team.  Many felt after the US failure to get out of the ’06 World Cup Group Stages in 2006 that Convey would be a starter for the 2010 US World Cup Team.  However he fell out of form after 5 years with Reading in the English Premier League.  Reading were relegated for the 2008 season to the lower English Championship League.  At 26 the Quakes became a good home for his revival.  I still say, he is a player to watch for the 2014 World Cup.

The Sounders should have speed and possession going for them, but San Jose is tough and will hit.  So, the boys in rave green will have to keep their heads on.  San Jose would love to make the Sounders see red and play a man down.  On offense, San Jose are something the Sounders want to be, a good finishing team.  Chris Wondolowski, as you would expect with a name like that, is well known for his eye pleasing wonder strikes.

Sounder ’til I die

If the Sounders grab some Red Bull inspiration and keep last weeks momentum going, an early goal looks likely.  San Jose lost both games here last year and were ill prepared for the Rave Green storm.  I am expecting an inspired 2-1, 3-1 victory.  San Jose is showing improved results in every category and playing inspired football.  They want back in the playoffs.  The Sounders can win this match, but they will have to prove it.  They will have to play more inspired, smarter football, finishing a first half chance on goal.  The defense will need to play another New York style lock down game.  One goal for San Jose is all they feel they need to do no worse than draw on the road at Quest.

It is time for the Sounders to shine at home!

Post Match

The sun shined, but the Sounders did not.  Seattle had more of the game but San Jose’s Wondolowski had the lone goal.  His 11th minute strike amazingly stood up for more than a draw, and became the game winner.  Wondolowski placed a quick hit one-timer past Keller.  The play came from a throw-in just above Seattle’s penalty area.  The ball was headed across the face of goal and Wondolowski smashed in from the far post.  Offside?  Put it this way, when you consider the offside calls Sounders FC have received this year, it would have been justly called and more than due in fairness to the Sounders.  That said, sports are not about fairness, and credit is due to San Jose for creating and capitalizing on a heads-up play.

The large picture reason this “offside” complaint must be left at the door is that if you want to be a playoff team, then an 11th minute goal against you can not be a game winner.  Right now, Seattle has no offensive threat.  Until that changes, the San Jose like results have become all too familiar this season.  With Colorado up next, this type of frustrating result may occur again.  Defeating Colorado on their home pitch at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park seems a daunting task.  One Sigi has addressed.  Unfortunately, words don’t speak louder than actions in sports.  At the end of the San Jose match, John Kennedy Hurtado was taken off the field for a torn ACL.  Likely the end of his season.  The Sounders are deep at Central Defense, but Hurtado is an All-Star.  Injuries sometimes seem the outward manifestation of a teams struggles.  Added to Nate Jaqua’s absence due to injury, so far this season team struggle over team successes has become the message.

There is time for this team to get turned around.  Overcoming difficult obstacles is what draws us to sports.  Year two is turning into test number one for Sounders FC who are fast becoming the underdog.  An underdog praying for a draw in Colorado.  Maybe taking on this new, more deceptive role will allow for the element of surprise.  Helping to turn regular frustration into unexpected intensity, and sneaky speed on the wings.  Maybe this will catch Colorado off guard.  Or maybe the injection of Jeff Parke, an experienced Central Defender, will give Seattle a much-needed energy boost.  Then again, maybe the Sounders will listen to Sigi, and put more than 3 of 18 shots on frame.  Creating chances is critical, but making a keeper work for saves is necessary to make those created chances become finished strikes.  Soccer is frustration, simplicity, sloppiness, heavenly beauty, complete chaos, and perfected skill all bundled together.  What the Sounders need is to put all their frustration and intensity into using any and all of those elements to force the ball into Colorado’s net.  That one goal could become the symbol of the effort needed to climb up to the distant height of the 2010 playoffs.


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Categories : 2010


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