At the Quakes - this isn't supposed to be easy

by Dave Clark on Aug 1, 2009 9:45 AM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Seattle travels down to the Bay Area to face San Jose for the third match this season with the Heritage Cup on the line, while many would think this is a match made for victory it is not. What it is is an average home team hosting an average road team. While victory is necessary to continue pressuring the top of the table, San Jose's 14 points in 18 played should be ignored.

Instead the focus should be on their solid wing players of Darren Huckerby and Bobby Convey and how they feed addition Cornell Glenn and likely starter Ryan Johnson (listed as Questionable). As fans we should also note that San Jose is trying to repeat their midseason rebuild of last year. Adding Sanchez and Glenn from the international ranks and trading for Wondolowski puts the offense in transition means that the attacking core of the team really only has Corrales (also Questionable) and Johnson as players experienced in Yallop's system (most recently a 4-4-2).

This provides ample opportunity for Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans to do what they do best

- win the ball and immediately transition to attack. With Ljungberg out there are many options that Sigi has in replacement. Personally, I don't expect to see Evans at RM and Sturgis as the CM. San Jose is prone to defensive lapses and so playing a Nyassi or Le Toux out right would be able to capitalize, while also integrating Evans back into the team after the 2nd place finish in the Gold Cup.

If, Sigi goes with a combination of three of the following four center mids (Alonso, Evans, Sturgis, Ianni) it would mean that James Riley will fuel the attack on the right wing. It would also harm the team's use of the interchange on the right side. Montero and Jaqua can't flip with Evans in his right defensive role, it doesn't make sense. While Evans has been decent in attack can you really see him in the forward role for 10+ minutes at a time?

I would even go so far to say that if the lineup includes Alonso, Sturgis and Evans it would be more a 4-3-3 with Zakuani playing a classic Henry-esque Left Wing. This may be more likely if they feel that Leo Gonzalez is already in tune enough with the team as each of the full backs could then get forward. It would be a highly flexible system that Sigi could use whenever either of the Freddyain are out, because both look very good as Right Wings.

Post-match it will be intriguing to see how to best describe the formation and style that Sigi uses at Buck Shaw tomorrow.

In league play on Saturday things should continue to sort out again. With five teams now having a decent shot at the Supporters Shield it is a day to have football on the telie, that is if you aren't at the Arab festival at the CenterHouse, or Hydro qualifying on Lake Washington, or at the swimming pool, or whatever.

It may in fact be best to just check the scoreboard this evening. DC at Houston is the most important match, United tie way too often, but if they can win today that could pull the Dynamo down into ties with C-Bus and Seattle.

Again, putting an expansion club in position to win the three major trophies available to an American MLS club in any given year at Match Day 19 isn't supposed to be easy, but a win Sunday is necessary for it to happen.

Lastly, there are just two weeks left in the secondary window for MLS (ends Aug 15) and six weeks until playoff rosters are set (trade/free agent deadline).

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Great work, Dave.
I expect we’ll see Seba in Freddie’s place. That would seem to be less disruptive to the mode overall.
Do you think Leo will see time tomorrow? I kind of think not. I think he will watch, and play in the Barcelona game, and then be in after that. A little acclimation. I’m excited to have him, to have another wing back. It will make our attack that much more suffocating for opposing defenses.

by Cornchops on Aug 1, 2009 12:45 PM PDT reply actions

I don’t expect Leo, but there is a chance. Yallop started Sanchez at CM the day after he signed, with no practice.

I wouldn’t expect that here in Seattle, but one day of practice might help (plus I don’t know if Sounders do this, but several weeks where video could be watched).

And yes, Seb is the most likely starter in place with Nyassi even being more likley than Sturgis or Ianni.

by Dave Clark on Aug 1, 2009 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

Well, Houston won a wild match. Both Houston and DC looked good at times and awful at times. Seattle is now down six points with two games in hand.

The two best teams in the East, Columbus and Chicago, both won. Also, what got into Dallas? They won 6-0 with Jeff Cunningham (is that Ritchie’s brother?) scoring four goals. Wow.

On another note, I don’t know the circumstances, but in five matches, there were 3 red cards given. MLS is nothing but consistent.

Regarding the Sounders, I would think that Seba will replace Ljungberg. I don’t think think Leo will play either, but provided that he is still in good shape from the Gold Cup, I think that he could play and play well. We just saw the MLS allstars outplay Everton with a team that was put together two days prior, so adding one player to one team should be fine.

by Coug1990 on Aug 1, 2009 8:53 PM PDT reply actions

Some stats updates

Keller is now the #1 Keeper in the league by GAA (Onstad gave up 3 last night). Joe Cannon is the worst among qualifiers (min. 600 minutes)

Sounders are 5th in offense (G per match) and 3rd in defense (GAA). ’Quakes are 10th on offense and 15th on defense. Those numbers are very different on though on Road for Sounders (tied 10th in Goals/2nd in Goals Against) and Home for Quakes (8th in Goals/14th in Goals Against).

This match will be decided by the Sounders OFFENSE

Sounders are 2nd in Assists. Quakes are 9th.

Montero is the 3rd most fouled player in the league (Ljungberg 1st). No Quakes on that list. Ryan Johnson and Nate Jaqua are both part of the fouling forwards list (top 7 in Fouls committed).

Seattle is +6 in first half and +4 in second half. San Jose is -5 in the first half and -8 in the second.

Seattle looks to go a 7th match undefeated. San Jose has not gone 3 matches undefeated, a win or tie would put them at two matches.

ProstAmerika and Gorilla FC are viewing at Fado down on First. ECS has 200 at Buck Shaw with viewing at Sinners and Saints in Ballard. Telefutura has the national call, while KONG has the local. Of note is that the three most watched ESPN MLS games this year involved the Sounders, #4 was the All Star game.

by Dave Clark on Aug 2, 2009 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions