Seattle Sounders @ Puerto Rico Islanders Friday, August 01 2008 | 5:00pm Seattle Sounders @ Portland Timbers Thursday, August 07 2008 | 8:00pm Seattle Sounders @ Minnesota Thunder Sunday, August 10 2008 | 3:05pm US OPEN CUP: Seattle Sounders @ Charleston Battery Tuesday, August 12 2008 | 4:30pm The next four games are all very important. We play the last three road games of the regular season schedule before ending with 7 home games. Puerto Rico is one of the league leaders right now, so a win away to them would be important. If we can get 6-7 points out of our three away games, we may actually have a fighting chance at the Commissioner's Cup with two home games against Vancouver. Then we top it off with an away USOC semi-final at Charleston. Can the boys get the away points and the berth in the final? Here are the current standings: Code: Pts GP W L D Vancouver Whitecaps 31 17 9 4 4 Charleston Battery 31 18 9 5 4 Puerto Rico Islanders 30 17 9 5 3 Rochester Rhinos 28 19 7 5 7 Seattle Sounders 26 20 6 6 8 Miami FC Blues 23 21 5 8 8 Portland Timbers 23 20 5 7 8 Atlanta Silverbacks 21 16 5 5 6 Carolina RailHawks 21 19 4 6 9 Minnesota Thunder 20 19 5 9 5 Montreal Impact 19 18 5 9 4 - Paul
I think it's all about the injuries. Can the Sounders generate any consistency with so many new players and so many back ups playing bigger roles? What is the status of Roger and Leighton? Will Roger Leveque be ready for Charleston game? Will soon before Leighton will be back? How healthy are Danny J and Kenji? Hopefully, they'll get healthy in time for the last 7 home game stretch run, but I'm concerned about our ability to compete for spot in US Open Cup Final with so many players out or less than 100%.
fortunately the league is so balanced this year that we've gotten away with being average so far. If we can get healthy the end of the season lines up well for us. PR will be difficult to get anything out of because of their recent great form, and just because it's PR away, hot, humid, et al. The other two away games are manageable though the Open Cup could be a distraction.
Sounders win 2-1 away at Puerto Rico. So far so good. Coming up next are Portland and Minnesota away. If we can get a win and a tie out of these two games, we will be sitting pretty. Vancouver won today at Carolina. Not good for the Sounders' chances at making a run for the Commissioner's Cup. The next three games for Vancouver are: 8/3 - away to Charleston 8/5 - away to Atlanta 8/10 - home against Atlanta - Paul
so who is going to portland? ECS got a bus. why havent the other "fans" here tried to organize anything? once again, I stay away from bigsoccer for a while but come back to check out stuff, and I am sorely disappointed. Want to support Sounders FC and instill a supporter culture in Seattle? Ditch these boards and get to www.weareecs.com and find a way to build up ECS. Things in seattle are about to change.
At least we get Vancouver twice at home so we can help ourselves immensely by winning both of those. As for the bus, yep, take a half day or call in sick. This is a huge game and the closest road trip until Vancouver or PDX join MLS. We leave at 2pm from Renton (P&R off of Grady Way near the 167/405 interchange). Be there.
The good news is that Charleston beat Vancouver tonight 2-0, leaving them even atop of the table. The better news is Charleston has an amazing 8 of 10 final games on the road, whereas the Sounders have 7 of 9 at home including Vancouver twice. Charleston is only 1-4-2 on the road, so unless they really improve that mark, the race for the top is likely amongst Seattle, Vancouver & PR, with Rhinos and Atlanta lurking. Should be an entertaining final 6 weeks.