04.18.09: Sounders @ Chivas (Pre/In/Post)

I guess you are right Scott...... You would think that the Sounders have just stunk up the field for 4 games. FIRE SIGI!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'd be very happy with a tie v Chivas. I'd be ecstatic with a win but I wouldn't bet on it. Lineup - I'll leave it Sigi. I think we'll do fine this season. Vs. KC, I don't think we looked that great w/ the 2 Freddies on in the first half (they got in each other's way a couple of times; in FM's defense, he was always double and triple-teamed too) but it actually got better btwn them in the 2nd half w/ 10 men. Our outside backs are definitely our weak points and, notwithstanding their defensive lapses that led to the Gomez red card shot and the Arnaud open shot, I think they did better with possession passing in KC game than in week's past. Is Sturgis any better/quicker back there? We missed some width and speed in the midfield w/ Evans out wide but that is easily addressed. All in all though we made the best of a tough situation, maybe waiting a hair too long to sub out FL. Sigi's got a nice bunch to work with - I'm sure he'll figure it out. The key with this team is obviously belief and chemistry and strong collective teamwork - they certainly have the speed and skills to play attractive soccer. Go Sounders!!!

 

If they fire Sigi I'm calling for the first vote of the "sounders alliance" to fire whoever fires Sigi.

Seriously, though, I think people on these boards are always going to want to tinker. Does Sigi know more than me? Oh yeah. That's not even a question. Does that stop me from mouthing off on here like I know what I'm talking about? Naaaah.

The key is knowing I'm a loudmouth know-it-all who really doesn't know much at all. It's a self-awareness issue.

 

HA! Fair enough. Between this board and the "Club" site you would think the world was ending. DId people really think that Seattle would go undefeated????? Really??? I'm happy as shit that they have won any games at all at this point.

 

I think there is alot of overreacting in various areas so far from the fans. The first loss, thinking that the whole crowd would be singing in unison aka like anfield,etc.

Patience is required all over the place.


I am hoping for a victory being that I am traveling to the match but I would settle for a draw if it is a well played draw.

 

I figured there would be some overreaction to my comments.

Maybe it would be wise for me to add a signature to the bottom of my posts that says: I have total faith in Sigi and all of my comments are mearly a fan making observations for fan-sake only.

So... great job so far Sounders, always look to improve, use your depth because it is a long season, and 'in Sigi and Adrian we Trust'.

And Beat the Goats!

ps. ...and don't use Evans on the wing and look to upgrade Left Back.

 

I have to agree its hard to to be impressed with what Sigi and the front office have done so far. Its very easy for us to sit here and say we need a better LB its quite another to make that actually happen especially in a league with a salary cap. Having said I love to play arm chair QB it one of the best parts of being a fan.

 

Please go to the mlsnet.com and review the archived video. That was not a defensive lapse. Kasey Keller made a mistake in coming off his line. It was unnecessary as Scott and Marshall had that play covered. I am beginning to wonder if too many people have an unjustified bias against the USL players, and Kasey Keller can do no wrong in their minds. He is great but not a god. And he will be back in the net after his stupid mistake because we do not have a better goalkeeper.

Additionally, one can question Riley being caught upfield on that missed tackle. But what the heck was Jaqua doing watching Arnaud set that shot up? Get on him, Jaqua. I still like Nate.

Here is the link to last week's video archives: http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?year=2009&week=0412

 

Sorry if someone already mentioned this....

Isn't Zach Thornton their goal keeper? Didn't the Sounders put up 5 goals on him two years ago in the Open Cup? Think he'll remember that?

 

Herculez Gomez ran right past Scott on that long ball -- started out behind him and ran right past him to run down the ball. Scott was beat on that play. Also, at the end of the game Scott was tired or something, because in the last 10 minutes he played or so, he was beaten several times. People in my section were saying "time for a sub!" quite a bit. That's not on the highlight video, but you could drop by my place and watch it on DVR. I still have it saved.

Nobody that I know dislikes any of our players, we are just speculating on what changes might be coming and what changes could make things even better than they already are. I like Scott and hope he is magnificent, but that doesn't mean I can't say "I wonder if he will sit when Taylor Graham comes back."

 

He was trying to hold his line, as any good defender does. That takes a lot of discipline, patience, and split-second decision-making. He held his line until the ball was kicked and then closed down on Gomez trying to keep him as wide as possible to give Marshall a chance to come help out, which he did. As the play developed, you can see that both Scott and Marshall had collapsed on Gomez. If Keller had stayed on this line, Gomez is stuck up there with two defenders on him, and no shot opportunity. And yes, Gomez is a speedster. But the defense did it's job on that play. Keller did not.

Also, you can hear Greg Vanney commenting in the highlight video that Keller wasted the goal kick by kicking the ball right to KC. The KC player collects the ball, boots it up to Gomez, and Keller comes off his line unnecessarily. Please put the blame where it lies.

That is a totally different point. I agree that Sigi should have started subbing players earlier in the game. Playing a man down and being so aggressive at the same time takes a toll on players. By all means, argue that Scott was tired toward the end of the game. But don't say he got beat and caused Kasey Keller to get red-carded.

Taylor Graham is a center-back. He will probably have to sit on the bench because our current two center-backs are playing so well. Some people have suggested moving Hurtado to the outside. But again, why? He is awesome as the bulldog in the center, along with Alonso. Why screw up a good thing?

 

There was indeed a defensive lapse that led to the red card. I am almost tempted to isolate it on my big screen, take a picture of it and show it to you.

Keller could have played it differently for sure, I think he even would admit that, but it starts with some sleepy defense, make no mistake.

Scott had a bad game, so did Evans. Jaqua and Ljungberg had really good games I thought, as did Tyrone and Alonso.

It's probably time to move on, Chivas is better than Toronto or KC - and we face them in a very hostile environment.

 

They have both grass and turf practice fields at Starfire. They've been training on the grass this week in preparation for the game on Saturday. Even with a week on the grass training surface it will be interesting to see how the adapt after playing the last 4 on turf. From experience it can feel weird playing on grass for the first time in a while. If I were Chivas I would have them cut the grass a little long this week to see if I could disrupt our ground passing game.

As a side note they built the turf training field so it would have the exact dimensions and surface as Qwest Field.

 

A) Yall are nuts if you think Sigi is benching Evans. It won't happen.

B) Don't say the KC loss was simply an anomaly. As far as I know they give out reds like that for a reason. That was a virtual guarantee to be goal before Keller made an interesting decision. Either you were going to be down a goal or down a man early on.

 

The only reason Gomez even had a shot attempt was because Keller came off his line. If he stays on his line as he should have, then Gomez has no shot opportunity, and he has two defenders all over him 25 yards from goal. Therefore it was not a "virtual guarantee" to be a goal before Keller made his decision. It was only after Keller made his decision that there was a shot opportunity. Even then, Gomez was unable to chip Keller.

Kasey Keller, our long-time national team goalkeeper and local hero, made a mistake. It wasn't even a savvy "veteran" decision. It was totally unnecessary, and it put us a man down.

 

It's a Crewlaid drinker. Give up trying to reason with it.

 

Match Preview, links, videos and "Key to winning" Poll
(Seattle Soccer Examiner)

 

You know, Bright, I have always agreed with you that Kasey should not have come out so far. But you reading of "having it covered" is a lot different than mine. I went back and watched the whole thing over again last night and Scott had no chance of covering Gomez before a shot. Hurtado, bless his hard-working soul, was running his butt off and may have closed down a couple yards closer in, but I assume Gomez would have shot by then.

Anyway, on to Chivas. Key to this game to me is that Alonso and Ljungberg win the battles in midfield and that Alonso, Evans and Seba don't back down from the intimidation that Chivas tries to lay on people.

Jesse Marsch is a great example, in my opinion, of everything that is right and wrong about MLS. It's right in that the MLS has served as a place for American players to play for many years. But it's wrong in that he has been rewarded not for remarkable skill, but for being a guy who just hacks away at people and gets up looking ready to fight after they get angry at him. How this guy isn't a league leader in cards every year is a surprise to me.

So expect a real choppy game. Hopefully we can bring some class scoring chances that change the atmosphere.

 

Because Gomez was able to get a foot on it to try to chip Keller, which he wouldn't have done if Keller hadn't been out there like that, it is easy to assume that Gomez was always going to have a shot. But a trailing defender has a slight advantage over the offensive player running onto the ball because the offensive player needs to worry about ball control which will slow him down a bit. By the time Gomez collects the ball enough to line up a realistic shot against Keller who is still on his line, Scott and Hurtado (thank you for correcting me, as I see Marshall is talking to the ref after the play) would be on him. I can see Gomez either having to cut to the left to make Hurtado run past him, or he gets pushed out wide and waits for teammates to join him.

 

woohoo to having a team to be able to complain about that everything is not perfect!!

I am just adding that I will hope they win tommorrow as it will not be due to who is playing Left back, goalie, or who might score our goals. It will be due to me being in attendance as I am just that lucky.

 

All I can say is if they can keep up this ratio of wins to losses through the season I'll be ecstatic.

 

I am very excited for this game. If Alonso has a strong game, I don't see Seattle losing.