Ok - playoff loss may still be stinging a bit but I wondered if others felt hard done by Sigi's tactics and line up last night. He had 90 minutes here at Qwest to see how Arena's men would play and how our team would fare. Yet, other than Marshall for the injured Parke (which surely was a downgrade), he left on the same team. Most notably, he left on Nyassi, who was clearly nervous and outclassed at this level. I didn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if he accounted for 50% of the turnovers in the aggregate series. For my money, he was a liability in the series and I was surprised not to see Flaco start. The other surprise was how long it took Sigi to take him out once he could see how ineffective he was. He wasn't going to get any better before halftime and, clearly, we needed a midfielder with better decision-making in there before halftime. Some might even argue to start Flaco over Sturgis. Possibly. The starting strikers (NKufo and Montero) were also no match for their defense and ended up playing midfield for half the night, although that could also be a consequence of the midfield giving them such poor service most of the game. I know it's not all down to Sigi because our boys didn't play wiht much heart, but cmon Sigi, why so cautious?
nyassi start was a surprise to me. but then again there was more than tactics that failed the sounders. after all his talking zakuani looked impotent. montero worked his ass off and was isolated due to nkufos poor touches. jaqua looked good as did riley. poor intensity though.
I'm right with FF, actually. Toward the end of the match when we were down 2-0 the only Sounder on the Galaxy's side of the pitch that seemed to be even trying was Montero. My hat goes off to him as when I was feeling down (as a fan), he was still out there trying when you saw other players lowering their heads. The other problem was that Nkufo had his absolute worst game as a Sounder and was not doing anything for the attack. We actually had a drinking game at the viewing party I was at - take a swig every time Nkufo turns the ball over. Seriously. It was ridiculous how much of a liability he was out there. Sigi probably could have put Jaqua in for Nkufo. Fucito sub was awesome but should have come at the half. At the half we're down as much as we were, we should have changed everything and gone balls to the wall - not wait until the 70-something minute as per status quo for Sigi. This was the season's final 45 minutes. Sturgis couldn't handle donovan and beckham, Nyassi had no business being on the pitch, and Alonso had one of his worst games of the year. At least Sigi didn't take until the 65th minute to make a change - but he was seriously out-classed here by Arena. Bruce just flat-out had a better strategy and had his team better prepared to play. Sigi came up short. All that said, I'm still ok with Sigi. I still think he's one of the best coaches in the league. Hopefully we learn from this and make some changes in the offseason with personnel as I think we've learned a lot about some of our guys. I will say this: the better team won, that's for damn sure. We didn't deserve to advance based on how we were playing
Sigi got outcoached, period. Why he didn't start Fernandez over Nyassi... I have no idea. Fernandez played in a world cup finals, nyassi clearly isn't ready for playoff level footy. Have a feeling Eddie Lewis would have had a bit more to do facing El Flaco.
Another area I was disappointed in was the set piece matchups. We saw in the first leg that Ianni can't defend Gonzalez well on set pieces yet there was no change. Realistically the only Sounders who could match up with him are Jaqua and Taylor Graham. If you don't start Jaqua up top, then you have to go with Graham at the back. I'd rather have seen Graham on Gonzalez and Ianni on Buddle than Ianni on Gonzalez and Marshall on Buddle. Sigh. Hindsight is lovely, isn't it?
Ianni is actually usually pretty good in the air. On the Gonzalez goal Ianni was "picked" by another player, so he had to run around to get there and that is why he was a step behind. Not making an excuse for the guy as you made an astute observation - but just adding that in this specific case I don't think Jaqua or Graham would have helped defending that. Seriously that shot & setup was like a perfect storm. I think that was indefensible, honestly. That's the stuff of amazing football.
Ha! Yeah, I was going to add that no one was going to stop that second goal. Gonzalez did such a great job separating himself from Ianni. I don't know if Graham or Jaqua would have made much difference, but I am frustrated that there were problems and Sigi decided to stay the course.
i come in peace. to be honest i think this simply came down to experience vs. youth. it wouldn't surprise me if beckham or donovan had played in more play-off type games than seattle's entire outfield, hyperbole on my part, but it's probably not far from the truth. throw in lewis, dema dunivant & buddle and that's more than half our outfield players with lots of play-off/high pressure game experience. sigi was whinging a bit in his press conference, but he was right our vets managed this series extremely well. it was really evident when your guys did get through our defense they scuffed so many shots. imho a lot of that simply came down to nerves. another season or two of play-off experience and maybe another outfield vet or two and seattle will be there. your ownership group seems to have a long term vision.
Meh 6 one way half a dozen the other. Nyassi wasn't burning anyone with his speed, Donovan owned him and ran him down more than once. Point is really that Fernandez should have been on the starting 11 somewhere. Mix it up! When you play a team 2 games in a row like that you make it that much easier for them when you don't have any significant strategic changes.
Pretty effing simple from what I saw in both games and a real obvious tactic. Arena had his boys pinch the wingers at every opportunity leaving Sturgis or the the defensive Alonso the only option up the middle. Arena realized that they maybe fast but not to experienced. They only left the long ball option with the horrible crossers and back line passers on the Sounders it really was easy pickings. Really never saw a 40 yard ball played all season by a Sounder to the head of one of the strikers.
I don't think Sigi made all the right decisions, but to me there is still just a gulf in talent. Flaco would have helped, but neither Nkufo or Montero had a chance at all against Gonzalez. He is a dominating force. It was completely useless for our team to continue to lob it up there just to watch him head it away. And our wing play was completely shut down by the help of Donovan and Beckham on the defensive side of the ball. Remember this team beat us easily four times this year. (No, I'm not counting the U.S. Open Cup. It's not the same and we all know it). Basically I'd argue that at all positions except defensive midfielder and second striker, the Galaxy started a superior lineup. There weren't enough adjustments possible to Sigi that would have changed that simple fact.
Just an outsiders opinion: I dont think the basic problem was that the way Seattle played worked into the strengths of LA defensively. 1) LA played a 5'8" central defender, and Seattle did not physically challenge him. 2) LA defends wide midfielders in 4-4-2's very well, as they double them quickly and effectively. Teams had more success attacking them with speed wide when they used players in very advanced positions. Think more of a 4-3-3. 3) LA likes to play deep, and counter into space. They are vulnerable when they are not allowed to play compactly. Seattle likes to push numbers forward. Seattle never really made LA leave its comfort zone in this series. I thought toward the end of the second game, when Seattle was really pushing Zakuani forward and inside, they started to cause some problems. But Im really suprised it took them so long to get Jaqua on the field, and Im also pretty suprised that they didnt see if they could get Jaqua matched up on De La Garza on a flighted ball. But I think the most dissapointing thing was that Sigi used the same tactics that saw LA beat his team 3 times. I dont know why he didnt feel like he needed to adjust his tactics.
Nyassi showed up in USOC, but he wasn't ready for MLS cup playoffs. Fernandez should have started over SOMEBODY, but he isn't a great winger anyways. Near the end of the game (when we started to put passes together) Fernandez was playing his Uruguayan role of CM. Personally I'd put Fernandez in for CM with Alonso, and either Sturgis out wide, or maybe even Fucito out wide, although I have no idea how he would perform as a winger... Nyassi's speed is nice, but Donovan can match it and is much smarter/better on and off the ball. Nyassi often darts for the ball without considering his surroundings.
Sigi definately got outcoached. BUT, our players getting outplayed was more of a factor in the lose than the coaching. No matter how good a coach you are, when players mark as poorly as we did on the 2 goals, you're going to lose. Same with the fact we refused to shoot the damn ball until the series was all but over. I think this team has a bright future, but our players lost this series, not Sigi.
Don't worry guys. In Sigi's last two jobs (LA and Columbus) he won the MLS Cup in his third full season as coach. Looks like your time is next year!
Well hopefully an expansion team in 2012 doesn't take him after we win the cup next year, if we're following historical precedent Too soon?
As a Galaxy supporter I would like to chime in with my two cents. I was extremely surprised that Schmid decided to stick to the exact same tactics in LA as he did in Seattle. I felt that LA completely shut down any chances Seattle had in the final 1/3 by passing and any chances you had were created completely by a solo effort. I also was quite surprised Nyassi started again wide, and EXTREMELY surprised that Montero started. He has not been up to form recently. Between him and Nkufu your strikers never moved an inch. The big advantage you all had was quick wings but none of your wingers ever tried to make a run wide, Zakuani kept offloading the ball back to the center that LA controlled very well. From an outsider perspective I think you all need a much better striker that works his pants off, because it didn't seem that either of the guys you have do that. perhaps your 3rd dp? could be quite exciting
Looks like Toledo made the correct call as to which side the corner should be taken from. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/schmid-la-had-unfair-advantage-first-goal Watch the video...(which Sigi should have watched before opening his mouth)....then you decide That said, I enjoyed the game and the sounders fans who sat by me...good luck for next year.
i dont want the sounders to win the MLS CUP next year. If it happened BS would have a collective mass suicide and MLS fans outside of washington would collectively blow their heads off with their own jealousy shotguns.