2008 Sounders season thread

I should be at the game on Saturday night vs Charlston, should be great to check out them team we are playing in the Semis of the Open Cup.

 

Any idea how the first game went? I know it was a 1-1 tie, but how did the teams match up?

 

Here are the SeattleSoccerShow.com player ratings for the July 24 Minnesota match. Not the most fun thing that I've ever done.

Get the Player Ratings at SeattleSoccerShow.com

 

A much better round of player ratings for the 1-0 win over Charleston at home on July 26.

Get the player ratings at SeattleSoccerShow.com

 

Seattle PI

Ailing Sounders expect to add midfielder, forward

By MATTHEW GASCHK
SPECIAL TO THE P-I
After losing another player to injury in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Charleston Battery, the Sounders expect to add attacking midfielder Ciaran O'Brien on loan from the Colorado Rapids and forward Kevin Forrest to shore up their depleted ranks.
O'Brien's older brother, Leighton, suffered a broken wrist in the Sounders win on Saturday. He is expected to have surgery Tuesday.
The elder O'Brien joins a list of battered Sounders including defenders Adam West, Danny Jackson, Taylor Graham, Michael Rodriguez and Kevin Sakuda, midfielder Kenji Treschuk and forward Roger Levesque. The win improved the Sounders to 6-6-8, but it was only their second win in the past nine league matches.
"I don't want to blame our mediocre record on anything drastic, but this year more than any of the last three years we have had more guys out with significant injuries," coach Brian Schmetzer said.
Ciaran O'Brien, the former Decatur High star and No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, has played in one regular season MLS game, two U.S. Open Cup qualifiers and an exhibition match with the Rapids, along with five games with their Reserve squad.
Forrest, a UW and Edmonds-Woodway product, is expected to sign with the Sounders for the remainder of the season. He was taken by Colorado third overall in the MLS draft, but has not signed.



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/372627_page3fil29.html

 

August 1: Seattle Sounders at Puerto Rico Islanders Player Ratings.

Check them out at SeattleSoccerShow.com

 

Puerto Rico 1 : 2 Seattle Sounders

Match Report on Prost Amerika

 

HUGE win. Absolutely huge against a very "in form" team.

This makes up some for times when we've dropped points by failing to hold late leads... but still business to attend to with two very winnable road games coming up.

 

Will Schmetzer try to rest players during the Minnesota match in preparation for the USOC match a few days later?

 

I think so. He'll probably start most of the reserves.

Also, Ciaran O'Brien can't play in the USOC semifinal for the Sounders since he already played a match for (or is registered with) Colorado in the USOC. So he'll likely feature in the Minnesota match.

I bet Schmetzer brings everybody on that road trip. Luckily everyone should be healed up, except for Leighton. Here's who will be available:

Goalkeepers: Eyelander, Dragavon
Backs: Sakuda, Graham, Jackson, Scott, Merl, West, Rodriguez
Midfielders: C. O'Brien, Besagno, Fishbaugher, Kante, Treschuk, Gardner, Alcarez-Cuellar, Levesque
Forwards: Le Toux, Cascio, Forrest, Tomlinson

- Paul

 

Don't rush to conclusions on O'Brien. What I've been told by everyone except US Soccer is that he is most likely not cup tied because the matches he played in were MLS qualifier matches and not the Open Cup proper. It's still not resolved how US Soccer will rule on it, but they do not oversee the MLS qualifying round as part of the tournament, so they could very easily decide that he is not cup tied.

 

Good to hear!

- Paul

 

Sounders 1-0 over the Timbers on Fox Soccer Channel. Everything we've come to expect of the Sounders Timbers rivalry here. A nasty match, but a good outcome.

Here are the player ratings.

 

I talked with/interviewed Ciaran today, and according to him he is clear to play on Tuesday.

 

joe was on the bus with us. Cool guy. A big fan as well.

those are some "clean" pics....he had 500-ish total.

 

Sounders vs Minnesota.

Played well and lost by two goals. Nothing between us and Tuesday now.

Here are the player ratings

 

Two years in a row getting knocked out of the semifinal. Heartbreak sucks. Here are the player ratings for the Seattle Sounders vs Charleston USOC match.

Player Ratings

 

Yea that was a tough loss. Had to love our chances in a PK shootout. Well time to win out at home to take the league!

 

Seattle Sounders 0::3 Puerto Rico Islanders

Player Ratings Here

 

i think you were generous....

 

ECS - 7.5