Cascadia Beer Summit

16 03 2013
Sounders vs Timbers - Cascadia Rivalry - Image from Cascadia Trifecta

Sounders vs Timbers – Cascadia Rivalry – Image from Cascadia Trifecta

The more I am involved in the Cascadia Rivalry, the more I find my perspective broadening and not becoming cemented to one perspective. My heart is for only one club. But the passion, humor, and history of the rivalry have engaged me to the point of enjoying other people across team borders.

This afternoon I have the opportunity as a Seattle Sounders fan to meet up with a Portland Timbers fan. Although your first instinct is to call Homeland Security. I assure you it is not needed. This meeting is the rational outgrowth of many Facebook conversations between a Teacher and a Banker. A Timber and a Sounder.

He is a Timbers fan who was once a Sounders fan. I am a Sounders fan with family and friends near Portland. We have region, beer, and soccer to bond with. Rivalry support is separate, but raising scarves, and cheering on our respective clubs each week, turns out to not be the only supporter qualities we share.

If Obama had the “Beer Summit”, I guess you could say we will have the Beer Meet-up.

We take part in a unique Facebook group known as “Cascadia Trifecta”. Involving fans of all three of Cascadia’s clubs from Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Jabs are common place, but moments of rational intellect are not filtered out.

Last year the site gained recognition with the creation of a Cascadia kit. The design came from the creative minds and comments of those who regularly participate in the site.

Here is my recent piece in Prost Amerika where I take some of what I’ve gained in my Cascadia conversations. I still wear my Sounders badge on my sleeve, but my perspective has taken on elements of neutral respect.

 

© 2013 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales

 

 


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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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And the journey begins, Champions League 2012; Sounders vs Caledonia AIA

2 08 2012

Caledonia AIA play in Trinidad and Tobago’s TT Pro League

Seattle Sounders FC return to Champions League Thursday at CenturyLink Field. Starting their third consecutive campaign in our regions international tournament. The Sounders host the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Champion, Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Tobago’s TT Pro League.

The Sounders have reached Champions League three consecutive years. Winning the US Open Cup the previous three seasons qualified them for CONCACAF Champions League.

Our international soccer (football) region is the wonky acronym, CONCACAF. (The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). Fortunately their website is easier to remember than their name.

Sounders in Champions League 2010:

The Sounders first plunge into Champions League was in 2010. The major accomplishment in their first international campaign was qualifying for Champions League on their first attempt. Joining MLS in 2009, they won the US Open Cup in their inaugural season. That first Open Cup title punched their Champions League ticket.

If reaching international competition in their first attempt was their high, the disappointing low was failing to advance beyond the group stages. They went 2-wins, 3-losses, and 1-draw. Their first campaign could be summed up in one match.

A long way to Mexico. In the Sounders home match with Monterrey they lost 2-nil. In the away-leg in Mexico, Sounders sought revenge. They held a surprising 2-nil lead going into the 70th minute. No MLS club had won in Mexico. Monterrey scored in the 74th minute rattling the Sounders excited nerves. Seattle proceeded to allow two more goals in less than five minutes. Suffering a disappointing 3-2 loss. But it prepared them for 2011.

Monterrey went on to defeat Real Salt Lake to win the 2010 Champions League.

Sounders in Champions League 2011:

Group stage ready, the Sounders didn’t simply hope to do well. They made advancing from group stage a priority. The Sounders improved to 4-wins, 2-losses, and 1-draw. Again, the big moment came in Monterrey.

A week before Sounders played Monterrey, FC Dallas defeated Pumas to become the first MLS club to win in Mexico. Sounders didn’t waste any time being second.

Thirty-eight minutes into the away match, Alvaro Fernandez scored the decisive goal. This time the Sounders stood tall. Earning their most prominent international victory to date. They defeated the reigning CONCACAF Champion, halted their thirteen match Champions League undefeated streak, and did it in Mexico. More importantly, the win helped propel the Sounders to the quarterfinal knock-out round.

2011 Quarterfinals vs Santos Laguna:

Club Santos Laguna, Primera División, Mexico

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Advancing from group stages for the first time the Sounders again faced a formidable Mexican club in a two-leg, knockout quarterfinal.

For the first leg in Seattle, David Estrada wasted no time giving the Sounders fans a chilling, March-madness goal in the twelfth minute. Santos equalized in the sixty-first minute with a goal from US National Team’s striker, Hercules Gomez. On a free kick two minutes later, Mauro Rosales sent a soaring kick dangerously into the box, where Brad Evans headed the ball over Santos outstretched and airborne goalkeeper into the right corner of his net.

The two-leg series is aggregate. Sounders traveled to Santos one goal to the good (2-1).

The Sounders were always up against it. They knew defeating Santos would take more than a one goal advantage. But giving up two goals in the opening ten minutes was more than eloquent foreshadowing. Sounders got one goal back in the thirty-seventh minute. At halftime of the second leg the aggregate score sat knotted at 3-3. But Santos put away four second half goals. The Sounders took home their worse competitive loss to date 6-1 for the night, and 7-3 aggregate.

“Why so serious”?  Joker asks Batman. With every MLS team struggling to keep players healthy without US Open Cup and Champions League matches, why take Champions League seriously? Doesn’t that potentially weaken your chances for winning an MLS Cup?

You can’t avoid answering “yes”. But stopping there, you’d never see one of the beautiful, unique aspects of the game. The best teams, and only the best teams play in multiple leagues at one time. Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan do this year in, year out.

These matches are not added to a clubs schedule for punishment. They add pedigree. They distinguish the elite champions from a regular list of the rest.

Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid took a moment recently and gave some good insight into the importance of playing in, and taking our regions Champions League so seriously.

“It’s important because it’s our international tournament. It’s our Champions League. It’s our opportunity to show how good we are within our region. It gives us the opportunity to go to the World Club Championship”.

“I think you look at last year when we played against Santos, certainly the win at home was a big confidence booster for us, and the game down there was a big learning experience for us as well. But if we could have gotten past that game, matched up with Toronto, got into the final, it would have been a huge thing for our club. So, this is the beginning of that journey, and being recognized within your region I think is very important for our league as well. Because it’s definitely, I can say it’s a power struggle between Mexico and the US, as to who’s the dominant country in our region. That power struggle gets played out at the national team level, and then it gets played out at the club level as well, and the only place it gets played at the club level is in the Champions League”.

The group stage format is revised for 2012. In previous years each group, like the World Cup, had four clubs. The top two advancing. This year each group has three clubs, with only one advancing.

Winning the first match becomes more critical. In the past, clubs had wiggle room. They could settle for a couple draws advancing to the second round without exercising their full effort to win their group. This format change forces clubs to compete from the start.

To make other clubs want to reach Champions League, the new format offers some advantages over past formats. Two fewer games, which means less travel. But having less wiggle room means if you want to be a champion you have to win, or go home.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Sigi Schmid and the Curse of the Columbus Crew – Crew at Sounders

23 05 2012

Is there a Sigi Schmid curse over the Columbus Crew?  Does Drew Carey conjure “Ohio” spells every time the two clubs meet?

Sneaking back over the border from Vancouver with a thrilling, but fortunate 2-2 draw last Saturday. The Sounders will try to pick up their first win from the last 3 matches. Facing the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, 7pm at Century Link.

The Seattle Sounders took Sigi Schmid from the Columbus Crew in 2009 to help form the clubs inaugural squad. Sounders FC have not given anything to Columbus in return. In fact, the Sounders have selfishly continued to take points from the Crew whenever both clubs meet.

Saturday, August 27th, 2011. Sounders crus Crew 6-2. Lamar Neagle earns first career hat-trick. Second ever for Sounders. Photo by Ryan Sales

The Sounders and Crew have met competitively seven times.  Six regular season matches. Where Sounders are 3-W, 0-L, 3-D.  The other competitive match was a Sounders 2-1 win in the 2010 US Open Cup. Their second in a row at the time. Seattle has gone on to win three consecutive US Open Cups. Additionally, the Sounders have accumulated 16 goals. Their highest tally against any MLS opponent. While only allowing Columbus 6 goals.

Sigi Schmid helped manage the Columbus Crew to a 2008 MLS Cup Championship. With Seattle joining Major League Soccer the following season, the Sounders wanted a top-tier MLS coach to join the club. One who knew the ins-and-outs of the MLS game, and its players. A manager who came with proven success. No manager stood out more than Sigi Schmid. The Sounders put their sites on their man. Went for him. And got hin.

Crew fans weren’t happy with losing their coach. They haven’t been rewarded for their sacrifice. When both clubs meet, the best the Crew have been able to do is earn a draw.

On their first trip to Seattle in 2009, both clubs drew 1-1. Bad fortune met Columbus when they met in their second and final match of the 2009 season series. The Sounders were leading 1-nil on a Roger Levesque goal in the 36th minute. Levesque’s first MLS goal. Seattle gave up a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Reigning MVP, Guillermo Barros Schelotto stepped up for a sure equalizer. Prior to the spot-kick, Tyrone Marshall deployed a little orchestrated gamesmanship. While the referee was organizing players to prepare for the penalty kick, Seattle’s sly veteran defenseman nonchalantly kicked away the turf where the penalty spot was located. Schelotto had to adjust the location of the ball. Enough of an adjustment off the spot, that it sent the ball wide of the goal. Either that, or Tyrone simply administered the Sigi curse into Crew Stadium pitch.

In 2010, Sounders Blaise Nkufo dealt the Crew a stinging hat-trick in a brutal 4-nil home loss to the Sounders. Only somewhat understandable considering Nkufo had just played for the 2010 Swiss National Team in the World Cup. Along with a historic career at FC Twente. But nothing prepared the Crew for Saturday, August 27th, 2011. A sunny summer afternoon in Seattle. Perfect for soccer. Unless you’re cursed. Lamar Neagle scored in only the 4th minute of the match. He went on to collect two more for the Sounders second hat-trick. Both against the Crew. While the club went on to tally 6 goals, and conceding only two. The Sounders most deviating thrashing of an opponent to date.

Coming in to Wednesday’s match the Crew have played 10 matches. Earning 12 points on the season from a 3-W, 4-L, 3-D record. Seattle has played 11 matches. Turning 23 points from a successful 7-W, 2-L, 2-D record.

There is no such “sure thing” in soccer. The sport is far from having it. The closest you can get perhaps to a soccer sure thing is the Seattle Sounders FC’s dominance over Columbus Crew. I’d never say bet your house on it, but I’d recommend placing fair money on Seattle to walk away midweek winners. If for no reason, than I completely believe in Sigi’s curse over the Crew.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Steady Seven – Can Sounders 7 defender rotation march to victory over Real Salt Lake? Take Tops in MLS?

12 05 2012

Seattle Sounders FC, inaugural season 2009, US Open Cup Champions 2009-Present

Sounders FC‘s steady-seven defender rotation have only allowed 3 goals.  Helping Keepers Michael Gspurning and Bryan Meredith earn 6 shutouts.  Including 3 in a row, with over 270 shutout-minutes.  They are the back-line foundation of the Sounders early success.  The best defensive unit in Major League Soccer through 9-matches.

All that defensive prowess and early success for the club will be tested tonight, 7pm at Century Link.  Real Salt Lake bring their physical, but slick attacking style to Seattle.  Kyle Beckerman and gang are as adept at scoring as any club in Major League Soccer.  They have played 12-matches and stand top-of-the league with 23 points.

With a win tonight, Sounders have an opportunity to rise up and takeover the top spot in Major League Soccer.  Doing so against Real Salt Lake would build the clubs only missing element of competitive success.  Playoff confidence.

These are the types of matches the Sounders must begin to win if they want playoff success.  In order to have confidence to march to the dream of hoisting the MLS Cup.

The Sounders have wrestled 12 points in their last 4 matches.  The maximum possible.  Part of a schedule as compact as a Mariners schedule.  Featuring 5 matches in 15 days.  Overall, the Sounders have won five in a row and are unbeaten in their last six matches.  But none have been as significant, not even the 2-nil win over LA, as this match tonight with Real Salt Lake.

Claret and Cobalt – Inaugural season 2005, MLS Cup Champions 2009

The Claret and Cobalt of Salt Lake City are the Sounders first real test of 2012.  If a winner emerges, they could move to the top of the Western Conference.  Even tops in MLS.

Last season the Sounders traveled to Salt Lake, braking Real Salt Lake’s 29-match home win streak.  RSL countered in the playoffs with a 2-leg, 3-2 aggregate goal, heartbreaking playoff series victory over Seattle.

Is it a rivalry?  Nothing like a Cascadia rivalry, but as Sigi said, “Is Manchester United Arsenal’s biggest rival?  No, but it’s a rivalry game.”

“Any time you have two good teams playing each other and want to compete for top of the table, there’s always going to be a little bit of a rivalry there,” – Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC 

*****

Here are the Sounders Steady-Seven defensive rotation.  Only 3-goals allowed.  6-shutouts.  270+ minutes of scoreless soccer.

#12 – Leo Gonzalez, #4 – Pat Ianni, #34 – Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, #5 – Adam Johansson, #8 – Marc Burch, #20 – Zach Scott, #31 – Jeff Parke

*****

 Western Conference standings:

1 – Real Salt Lake, 23-pts, 7-W, 3-L, 2-D, (12 matches played)
2 – San Jose Earthquakes, 22-pts, 7-W, 2-L, 1-D, (10 matches played)
3 – Seattle Sounders FC, 22-pts, 7-W, 1-L, 1-D, (9 matches played)
Sporting Kansas City, 21-pts, 7-W, 2-L, 0-D, (9 matches played)  - SKC play in the MLS Eastern Conference.
3-pts Win, 1-pt Draw, 0-pts Loss

Title by Hannah J Breuler, 9 year-old niece of SOS
She got the idea while sitting on oranges and reading the blog. 

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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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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Sounders Play Full 90 or Full 9 Innings In May? Sounders at Fire Saturday

27 04 2012

Coming into a rapid succession of matches, Sounders FC begin the American League West baseball portion of their 2012 Major League Soccer schedule.   On Saturday, Sounders FC travel to Bridgeview, Illinois.  South of Chi-town to face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park at 5:30 PST.  A rematch of last October’s 2-nil US Open Cup match in Seattle.  The Sounders third consecutive US Open Cup.

Sweet Lou, can you hear me now?  I don’t imagine former Mariners manager, Lou Piniella will be available to help Sigi Schmid figure out the Sounders upcoming rotation for their spit-tight schedule in May.  But I don’t think his dry-wisdom on the matter would be overlooked either.

 Me:   (My imaginary brief interview with Sweet Lou about the Sounders):   Lou, with numerous matches coming up, and players having little recovery time, how do you decide who to bring up and use in your rotation?  Especially with some guys just coming back from injury and others still recovering?

Sweet Lou Piniella:    “Whoever the organization wants to bring up is fine with me”.

Sigi’s options show more promise than Sweet Lou’s “whoever” answer.  Mauro Rosales is likely to start Saturday.  Adding a more dangerous attacking element to the Sounders goal-slacking offense.

Since the Sounders 2009 inaugural season they have built a deep and talented bench. That depth and talent will be thoroughly tested in May’s matches.

With their first five matches completed, the Sounders have a 3-W, 1-L, 1-D record. Ten points in five games, averaging two points per match is a good start.  (3 pts per win, 1 pt per draw)

Through those first five matches the Sounders have used 19 starters.  They will certainly add to that in May.  Likely within the next five matches over a compact 14 day stretch.

You see, it’s not just me.  That really reads like a MLB Manager’s rotation issues in a compact summer baseball schedule.

Here are the fast and furious five upcoming matches from Saturday, April 28th to Saturday, May 12th.

Chicago Fire, Saturday, April 28th – Away
LA Galaxy, Wednesday, May 2nd – Home
Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 5th – Home
FC Dallas, Wednesday, May 9th – Away
Real Salt Lake, Saturday, May 12th – Home

One week later, Sounders travel across the northern border for their first Cascadia rivalry match of 2012 with the Vancouver White Caps.

Winning expectations are high for the Sounders in 2012.  Injuries always test any teams resiliency and ability to adapt and find ways to win.  Last August the Sounders made a strong playoff push with an outstanding 7-W, 0-L, 1-D record.  So, there is a precedent for stepping up when it counts in their short MLS history.

The Fire through five matches have 8 pts, with a 2-W, 1-L, 2-D record.

While the Sounders will feature faces recovering from injuries.  Chicago will feature newly acquired Forward, Chris Rolfe.  Rolfe previously played for Chicago from 2005-2009.  He left in ’09 for Danish club, Aalborg BK.  He will strengthen their already potent attack with Marco Pappa, Patrick Nyarko, and Dominic Oduro.

Sounders defense will have their hands full.  The potent midfield pairing of Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso will again be heavily relied upon to disrupt Chicago’s attack, push the ball through the midfield to Rosales, who the Sounders will count on heavily to assist in finding the scoring touch for Eddie Johnson, Fredy Montero, or David Estrada.  Who have all been silent for the Sounders the last few matches.

Sigi should be able to find a rotation from the depth of his Sounders bench.  Their aim over the next five matches should be to put up no less than 9 pts from 15 possible.  If Sigi can’t find players in his rotation to close 9 pts from 15, then someone may need to buzz Piniella to find a closer from the bullpen.

“Our pitchers aren’t pitching very well and our hitters aren’t hitting very well.  Outside of that, we’re OK.” — Lou Piniella 

More Sweet Lou - Who isn't nostalgic for a little Lou in Summer? Those entertaining post game comments to send you to sleep.

Notes:

Saturday’s match with Chicago Fire is the Sounders 100th since the inaugural match, March 19th, 2009.  Amassing a 47-W, 25-L, 27-D record, including 3 consecutive Lamar Hunt US Open Cup titles.  The only club with a better record through its first 100 matches is none other than the Chicago Fire.  Going 52-W, 30-L, 18-D.  Including an inaugural season MLS Cup and US Open Cup title in 1998.  They have won 3 more US Open Cup since ’98.

Chris Rolfe, according to MLSsoccer.com is not expected in the lineup vs Sounders on Saturday.  Even in supporting the Sounders he’s a player that delights the soccer eye.  Just as it has been frustrating for Sounders to have Mauro Rosales out, it is unfortunate for Fire that Rolfe is out.  The will be the only Fire v Sounders match of 2012.

 © 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Much ado about Mullan; Zach Scott Steels Spotlight

20 04 2012

Brian Mullan received Seattle’s most sporting welcome for visiting the Sounders at CenturyLink last Saturday. He was given a proper loud greeting.  The kind of traditional Seattle sports greeting reserved by fans of the Seahawks 12th Man, Mariners fans at Safeco, and Sounders Emerald City Supporters for players who’ve become villans of Supersonic City.

Who is Clay Bennett, and who are the Oklahoma City Thunder?  For the “Daily Double”, Alex?

There was a large media build up to Mullan’s visit.  Yet for all the hype, there wasn’t much to report between Seattle’s fans and Mullan.  Except noise.  It wasn’t a situation you would characterize as, “much ado about nothing”.  But the boo-jeering of Mullan remained tame.  Even expected.

From player introductions, to every touch of the ball, until exiting the pitch, Brian Mullan was greeted and jeered with boos for his slide tackle last April, that broke Steve Zakuani's right leg, nearly ending his career.

Mullan strolled into Seattle from the rocky mountains of Commerce City, Colorado. Home of the Rapids.  From the edge of town to every turn of the street he was reminded of the sad and heavy-handed incident with Zakuani a year ago.  Fans came, fans saw, and fans booed.  There were no surprises.

America’s western ethos is alive and true in Major League Soccer.  At least when it comes to the Rave Green supporters of Seattle.

How the match was won. Heroes and villans.

Seattle’s fans did what good sporting fans are supposed to do.  From lineup introductions for the purple-clad visitors from Colorado, fans picked out the one true villan.  Brian Mullan was given more than a traditional “who?”, during player introductions.  ”Who?”, is a pre-match jeer for visiting soccer players as their names are announced.  For Brian Mullan, the usual “who?” was followed by a bravado-chorus of “boo”.  That greeting echoed the entire match whenever Mullan touched the ball.

Brian Mullan had other plans.  In the 33rd minute Omar Cummings shot a solid strike at Seattle’s goal.  The ball deflected off Sounders’ Keeper, Michael Gspurning’s hands. Mullan swooped in from his right-wing post and worked his way into the center of the Sounders 6-yard box.  Seeing the deflection, he raced forward, knocking the loose ball into the net.

Alex Rodriquez was almost set free.  For an instant, Seattle’s most disliked sporting-villan appeared to be released.  This vision was quickly vanquished by the assistant referee who flagged the play offside.

In all fairness to Mullan, he was one of the more positive, forward moving playmakers on the Rapids during the match.

In the end, it was one of the more unlikely Sounders who stepped forward into the role of hero.   Zach Scott turned a 63rd minute corner from fellow newcomer, Alex Caskey into the far corner of Colorado’s net.  Scott’s snap-flick header, came from Caskey’s left-sided corner. As the ball curled in to the box, Scott escaped his defensive marker.  Creating a seam of space to run towards the near post and meet the ball before it could be whipped away by Colorado’s defensive grinders.

The game winner was Scott’s first goal in Major League Soccer.  The hard working, and longtime Sounders veteran defender had coach, Sigi Schmid contemplating after the match if any Sounder would be more unlikely to score.  ”Michael Gspurning.  (Sounders Goalkeeper)  I think he’d probably be a little more unlikely”.

Scott started playing for the Sounders in 2002 before they were promoted to MLS in 2009 from their A-League/USL-1 days.  Teammate Roger Levesque, and Assistant Coach, Brian Schmetzer are the other two standouts from the clubs older era.

Zach Scott’s “Man of the Match” reward was shared with longtime fans.  Sending 38,000 riding home into the happy sunset.

You can also find my work at SeattlePI.com in The Seattle Sounders Fan Blog section.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales

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No More Mulling over Mullan – Rapids at Sounders

13 04 2012

Friday, April 22nd, 2011 is a date forever stitched into Sounders players, owners, and fans memories.

The Sounders won that night.  Only their second win of the 2011 season vs Colorado Rapids, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO.  The 1-nil, clean-sheet road victory against the 2010 defending MLS Cup Champions was not the memory it should have been.

A third minute slide tackle from Brian Mullan broke Steve Zakuani’s leg.  It was that awful image and sound that stuck in everyone’s memory.  Win aside, every Sounders heart-felt numb, and every gut sickeningly hallowed.

Saturday, at CenturyLink Field, Brian Mullan makes his first visit to Seattle since that tackle. There is precedent for how Seattle sports fans respond to moments like Mullan’s return.  (see Alex Rodriquez)  Seattle fans are never quiet.  And we won’t be for Mullan.  To expect less, whether in agreement or not would be ignorance.  What noise doesn’t replace is that there isn’t one Sounders fan who doesn’t want meaningful closure.  A quality match about soccer is much preferred to one about jeering.

Sounders fans are smart.  There will be Mullan directed noise tantamount to brining down Jericho’s walls.  There will also be the ECS to lead an innovative way to direct the message without it being the match-day storyline.

What started as a routine defensive recovery went horribly wrong.

Possibly feeling he had been wrongfully nudged off the ball by Zakuani, Brian Mullan quickly took after Zakuani who was moving the ball forward along his usual left-wing alley to clear the Sounders defensive end.  Mullan slid to ground to clear the ball from Zakuani’s feet.

Red Card to Brian Mullan, for April 22nd, 2011 tackle and injury to Steve Zakuani

Sound familiar?  It should. Whenever he’s knocked off the ball, Osvaldo Alonso, similar to Mullan on a per match basis, quickly recovers to rush back, impedes the attacking players progress, makes firm contact, even going to turf in a slide to win the ball back.  His efforts, like Mullan’s help win games. Alonso often gets away with a few hard tackles that could be fouls, or yellow, even a few that should be red.

Osvaldo Alonso’s technique is stellar. He was listed by Major League Soccer as part of the best Starting XI performers from last week vs DC United.  But no matter your reputation or skill, when you are a tenacious player, a potential risk exists in every match to be your last.  And no matter your ball winning skills, you could end another players career.

Brian Mullan, like Alonso has a hard work attitude.  Rash, high risk tackles are not a characteristic describing him as a player.  What is said about the 12 year veteran, is how his efforts have been valuable in supporting five different MLS clubs in their runs to championships.

Mullan’s actions were deliberate, but no less a part of his approach to every match.  After last years match, he said, “It was a tackle I’ve done a hundred times, and I’d probably do it again”.  He was unaware of the full extent of Zakuani’s injury when he made that remark.

Zakuani suffered a fracture to his tibia and fibula.  He had to undergo multiple surgeries for his leg that did not initially set properly.  Additional signs of nerve damage put his career in question.

Nearly a year later, Zakuani has remarkably heeled enough to have seen playing time in recent Sounders reserve matches.  His earliest return to the first-team squad would be next month.  I’d be surprised if it’s before June.  Sigi Schmid has said he doesn’t expect a fully recovered Zakuani until 2013.

Upon further review. Mullan was given a MLS record 10 match suspension and fine.

Major League Soccer has built a reputation as a league tolerating more tough tackles than most other top international football leagues. To stop the bleeding, MLS began making post-match reviews for hard challenges.  Shalrie Joseph of New England committed a foul last weekend.  After a review of his challenge by MLS officials, he was retroactively suspended for this weekend’s match.

Overturning a referees decision is not a good business for any sport.  A far worse sports business are injuries like what Zakuani suffered.  FIFA has recently supported England’s Premier League governing body the FA, to make similar post match reviews. MLS appears to be taking a proactive lead in helping players to learn to cut down on risky challenges.

It’s always exciting to see Alonso turn around, track a player down and win the ball back. But in the future, maybe disrupting possession is safer and smarter, even more sporting than the risk in winning possession.  No fouls and no injuries for that.  Timing a successful tackle appears to be a skill that needs further review.

Zakuani and Mullan have talked.  Both seem to have taken the high road of sportsmanship.  After Mullan’s 10 game suspension, and before his first match back vs Columbus he received a text message, “There are no hard feelings. Don’t let this tackle affect the way you play the game. Good luck!” 

Yet, an unsatisfactory feeling lingers.  Mullan has not apologized publicly.  It appears he wont speak about last years incident until after this years match.  Part of me understands emotional and psychological reasons for Mullan not addressing the issue in a more public forum.  Yet, I can’t help think about the horrific sight and sound of the tackle.  It would be welcome by anyone who witnessed that incident to gain some closure by the warm address of a 12 year MLS veteran.

Here is the Sports Illustrated article by Grant Wahl.  Including interviews with Steve Zakuani and Brian Mullan:
Grant Wahl > Planet Futbol
Zakuani on the road to recovery 

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Seattle Sounders Take Campaign on the Road vs De Ro in DC

7 04 2012

When in the nation’s capital, it’s about striking with purpose and intent. Deliver messages that get results.  Soft shots, like soft words don’t play in DC.

Steven Lenhart goaded Marc Burch by going to ground easy. Gaining the referees attention ultimately led to a softly awarded, game winning penalty kick converted by Chris Wondolowski.

In an election year, daily 50/50 challenges between Republicans and Democrats play out like strikers and defenders behaving in all manors possible to win possession.  Defenders grind and bleed to play the ball safe and clear, while strikers turn rusty sinks into artful masterpieces sewing the ball into the goals netting.  No in-between in DC.  Messages get delivered with purpose, or go home.

The Sounders are in the Nations Capital Saturday, facing DC United at 4:30pm (PST).  One week after dropping an unfocused 1-nil hem-and-haw, off message performance to San Jose’s Earthquakes.

Steven Lenhart saw a ping of vulnerability in Sounders newest left-back Marc Burch.  Lenhart goaded Burch into giving a slight nudge of retaliation inside the penalty box.  The referee was audience to Lenhart’s well executed soccer flop.

Lesson learned.

Don’t be mad at Lenhart.  Like a tricky politician collecting delegates to bolster his nomination, Lenhart gave a performance delivered with purpose to get his club their desired result.  ”i’ve seen him enough, it’s the same tricks every time,” Burch stated.  ”I should be bigger than that, better than that”.  Sometimes casting silly votes by being vulnerable and innocent to a politicians tactics, we learn how not to vote next time.  Burch will be ready for the next match.

Even Sounders coach, Sigi Schmid said of Lenhart, “He’s the kind of player who looks for exactly that. He got one tonight. I don’t think it’s the best soccer.”  Indeed, it’s not the best soccer.  Unless you are on point and prepared to execute your message without any distraction, you leave yourself vulnerable to a soft undoing.

De Ro in DC.

Going into the Sounders third consecutive home match last Saturday, Seattle was in place to start their season with a hat-trick of home wins.  Instead, the Sounders settled for 2-wins and 1-loss.  Overall a good start.  But rather than DC being a first road trip where Sounders could ease into the long travel of their MLS season, the match with United becomes even more important.  A loss would be harmful.  A draw would be tolerated, but sting.

Pause, for a moment of sporing reflection and cliché.  ”It’s early”.  Saying that, a win Saturday in DC is critical for the Sounders to earn all three points.  Even in a long campaign, it’s never too early to deliver a statement of challenge to your opposition.  Sounders have a talking points list of reasons for needing a win in DC that sends such a message.

  • Missed opportunity at three home wins.
  • Avoidable and frustrating loss to San Jose last week.
  • Avenge a 2-1 defeat at DC last year.
  • Chip on the shoulder for injury to Mauro Rosales in last September’s match vs DC in Seattle.

Dwayne De Rosario (De Ro) - 2011 MLS MVP played for Toronto, New York & DC

Sounders didn’t pick up their first win of 2011 until match #5, on April 9th vs Chicago Fire.  Mauro Rosales’s pinpoint cross to O’Brian White for his perfectly placed headed goal of the week finish.  Combined with Zakuani’s skillful 1-v-1 move past a Fire defender to stuff in the winner helped the Sounders earn their first win of 2011.  All three players are still with the Sounders, but not one of them will start in DC on Saturday.

Oh, what injuries do.

The Sounders talented roster of Injuries quickly needs to be put aside.  DC United have in Dwayne De Rosario (De Ro) the finest attacking-midfielder in MLS.  Playing for three clubs last season, he finally settled with his third in DC.  Despite odds agains a successful season due to so many moves, he managed to win Major League Soccer’s 2011 MVP.  DC didn’t make the playoffs.  When was the last time you heard a player win MVP and the club not make the playoffs.  Don’t furl your brow at this.  De Ro earned it.  He’s that good!

De Ro takes over games on his own.  Creates goals out of nothing.  He poaches in close, heads, and strikes from distance.  He feeds assists to teammates finding gaps for them to score goals they would not otherwise create for themselves.

Osvaldo Alonso will have the weighted responsibility for keeping De Ro in check.  How well Alonso does may determine how well the Sounders do in delivering their early season message in DC.

Follow my posts on Seattle PI.com 

© 2012 Sales on Sounder by Ryan Sales


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