No, I was not encouraged by yesterday's play against SKC either. I very much miss our early season form - boy, the LAG and Houston games were fun -- and I hope that form comes back. But if it doesn't, I'm prepared to fully support these Sounders as they grind out ugly results and solidify a playoff spot.

Based on our recent few games, one could extrapolate to many doomsday scenarios. However, I'm seeing the glass half-full and plenty of reasons to be optimistic:

Let's start with our record: 4-3-5. We're right about th 1.5 PPG pace everyone talks about. We're winning the games we should - Toronto, SKC, Fire. Our losses have been to top tier teams - RSL and LAG. The rest have been ties. No breakout games, but great consistency and every game we're competitve. DC and Rapids are the exceptions, but there always be those in the season and you hope they just even themselves out.

Team Cohesion. Given all the problems the team has faced, they could easily turn on themselves, bicker or make excuses. there have been plenty of opportunities for guys to start lobbying for more playing time and creating all sorts of locker room issues. I'm not seeing that, rather the opposite - everyone is pulling in the ranks and working hard for the good of the team. This gives us a good launching pad when things start to bounce our way - and they will. Maybe there is a case to be made for having the veteran / locker room joker take up space on the roster.

The Calvary is Coming. Injuries will heal and we'll have key players back to full health - Evans, Rosales, Friberg. I'm confident that Fucito will step it up and provide that speed element we've dearly lacked since Zakuani went down. The summer transfer period will see two new faces, including that target forward that (unfortunately) we're playing without. While new injuries will pop up, I dont' see us having to start Roger at TF or Cervando at RW too many more times.

So, despite all the handwringing and worrying, this team is still on track to acheive what most would declare a successful season. The only difference is that it doesn't appear to be the cake walk many once thought it would be, but that's all the more reason to stop whining and second-guessing, and get behind your Sounders.