When a team is performing well, people stop looking for things to criticize. Where Montero had...

When a team is performing well, people stop looking for things to criticize. Where Montero had previously been chastised for a lack of hustle he was instead praised for his patience in the build up. Instead of being criticized for wasting chances with long range efforts that went just wide or high, he was lauded for his self-assurance when they began to find the target. Was Montero more effective in the latter part of the season than he was in the first? Most certainly. But it wasn't because he drastically altered his game; it was because the rest of the team was able to integrate him more effectively into theirs.

Aaron over at SBN Seattle on Fredy Montero

Aaron's been working his head around this idea and you've seen hints at where he's heading in comments for some time. He addresses things like partnership, role, teamwork and more in evaluating how we evaluate individual players.

12 months ago Dave Clark 5 comments 3 recs |

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A thoughtful and well-written article by Aaron

You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. We are all around you, there is no escape.

by 108Ultra on Jun 9, 2011 9:00 AM PDT reply actions

Very tough

to argue this point. I’ve always felt like chemistry (really, just the ability for players to mesh and compliment each other) is key to success. The Yankees are proof. Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent to make that team a perpetual world series winner, they often fall short.

All of that said, if one were to buy into the fact that Fredy just hasn’t had the right guys around him or that the guys who are around him simply are not serving him well, it really comes down to the old “coach or players” syndrome. You can’t get rid of the entire team. Perhaps you can replace a few parts and improve the production. But after three years of seeing Montero disappear, we also have to consider that (1) he may just be a streaking kinda guy (many forwards are), (2) he may just not have the right combination of players around him, (3) the Sounders tactical style simply doesn’t suit his skills (fire the coach?) or (4) he may be unable to adjust to athletic MLS defenders and defenses. Personally, I’m in the last group (personally, I used to eat these guys up when I played—high skill/low speed). 2-1/2 seasons is long enough to figure it out. Give him the rest of the season to get it right or ship him somewhere he’ll be better utilized.

I pretty much think we get the rest of the season to find out. If his production doesn’t pick up, the team will be looking to move on. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and it’s a win-win.

by swansuite on Jun 9, 2011 2:12 PM PDT reply actions

lots of new teammates

i think a lot of it is that the entire midfield from when montero was playing at a mvp level last year is now manned by completely different players with the exception of ozzie. he’s being paired with a different forward up top. it takes a while to mesh with new teammates.

that’s particularly true for a player like montero. even when the goals dried up toward the end of last year, i thought he was playing at an extremely high level because of his vision and passing.

and that’s the problem this year—not only is he not scoring goals, but his passing isn’t as crisp or incisive as last year. but i think it’ll come as he learns the tendencies of players like rosales, fernandez, and friberg and becomes reacquainted with jaqua and evans.

by murmur000 on Jun 9, 2011 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions