I have decided that we do not have any home field advantage. Teams like to play here because it is loud and fun, and like most Seattle sports fans, we are nice. There is no aggression in our crowd that makes it difficult for opposing teams. I think visitors get amped up to play here. I know, I know, we are a good team at home PPG. I’m just stating what I feel.
However, I found Preki’s (Perki) comments sensible, and realized that maybe a lot of teams do come here looking to draw, which makes it hard to counter, as Sigi said, when they’re not even trying to score.
Seba still can’t finish. His point-blank shot found the only 2-foot-by-6-foot area that could have possibly resulted in a save.
I’ve run out of partial season tickets now. We bought the opener separately. In the games I attended the Sounders won v. NYRB, won v. RSL, drew v. Crew, drew v. DC, drew v. Chicago, drew v. TFC, drew v. Chivas. The last time I personally witnessed a league win was March 28. Thank goodness I went to Portland in July. I will get playoff tickets.
Corners. Blegh.

I last saw a home goal on July 11th – and I’ve been to every match. This is simply not accepatable.

I’m wondering if there’s something about the surface they play on that causes them difficulties? I have no other explanation for why they cannot score.

This looks like an average to slightly above average team right now. There are some major weaknesses, primarily in midfield but they also really need a big, mobile forward that can dominate the penalty area. Jacqua is 6-4 but he plays more like 5-4.

Unfortunately, as we all know, the salary cap means that these big crowds will result in more profit for the ownership group but not necessarily any better product on the field. And the playing side needs some improvement.

It is hard not to be frustrated. It would be one thing if we were being dominated by better sides, but the truth is we continue to play better ball by almost every measure except the one that counts (goals and wins) at home. The team is entertaining but there are some fundamental problems when a team this talented doesn’t score one goal at home for some 400 minutes.

Thanks for keeping us focused on improvement, Dave. It would be easy to just chalk this up to an all world keeper shutting us out (though he was certainly extremely impressive) — but the reality is that this is hardly an isolated incident.

I read the same thing into Preki’s comments, Cornchops. It does seem that part of the home dynamic for the Sounders is that their opponents are largely playing a more defensive, conservative game shooting for a draw. This style frustrates the Rave Green’s strength as counter attackers who jujitsu an overly aggressive opponent. This seems to be part of it — along with the the Freddyain issue, the set play malaise, etc.

What do you make of that, Dave?

Not to sound harsh/rude/mean, but you start your write-up off saying you are a results guy but then proceed to say “it was the Chivas keeper that earned those points from yesterday’s match.” Chivas walked away with the same point (singular) that Seattle walked away with, yet if I had read your opening without having seen the result, I would have guessed that Chivas took 3 points.

Not having completely atrocious passing would help a lot too. We kept giving the ball away in midfield over and over again, throwing away opportunities to pressure Chivas. I don’t know if I saw a string of three passes all game.

right, to get to three passes you actually need four players who can recieve and pass.

Zakuani
Ljungberg
Alonso

For the most of that game.

I really think a 4-5-1 variant is the future. Be it the Dallas system of 4-1-4-1, or the 4-2-3-1 I don’t care. Either can be done with advanced players in the back.

They just need another attacking midfielder.

Neil McCann is out of contract, but can’t be added here until after the Cup Final.

If the Chivas and Toronto (2nd half) games are any indication of the success of a team trying to phalanx around its goal, the real stat to look at is shots, not goals. Once you’ve put a shot on goal, the defense is irrelevant, it’s the just the GK you’re playing against.
Against Toronto we put 10 shots on goal and against Chivas we had 11 shots (5 on goal). Overall, we average 10.5 (4) … so our opponents’ strategy to play for a draw hasn’t hurt our offensive production (it’s slightly helped in fact).

BTW, did anyone else notice Zak moving over to a right wing forward position for significant portions of the game? There were several periods where it looked like we were playing 4-3-3.

Ajas, I actually credited Zakuani with a play at RW this time rather than LW. I felt that he spent basically as much time there, but his time there was significant.

Thanks for the reply, Dave. Makes sense to me. Bring on the CAM!