It's Too Bad Brian Mullan Won't Be Playing In Seattle
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 15, 2011 2:00 PM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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After initially indicating that Brian Mullan would travel with the Colorado Rapids for their match against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, coach Gary Smith has apparently changed his mind and chosen to leave his midfielder back home. Mullan supposedly wanted to make that trip, but Smith indicated health was at least part of the decision:
"It's a purely personal feeling from my standpoint," Smith said. "Brian says he has no serious physical problems, but his back has been an issue for a little while. I took that into consideration with three games in a week, and given what we're probably going to encounter in Seattle, I think all in all it's probably the right choice to keep him (out) until Wednesday and keep him nice and fresh."
It's really too bad, and I don't say that just because I was really hoping to boo my lungs out on Saturday. While Smith apparently agreed with Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer's assessment of the situation, I was totally prepared to write something praising the Rapids coach for bringing Mullan along, and not in a back-handed way.
I honestly feel that exposing Mullan to whatever treatment awaited him at Royal Brougham Park (I'm trying it out, see how it goes) would have offered both Sounders fans and Mullan a chance for closure. As it stands, all Smith has done is make sure this issue hangs over the head of Mullan for another year. That's not to say Mullan's next trip to Seattle would have been pleasant anyway, but this just seems to ensure that all the pent up anger fans feel toward him will just be that much more pent up next year.
From a purely personal perspective, this was also Mullan's best chance to talk to Steve Zakuani in person. Last we heard, Mullan had reached out to Zakuani, but had yet to actually get in contact with him. You would think this would have been a great chance to make amends in a totally personal and appropriate way, if that's what he wanted to do.
On the Rapids' side, I'd have to imagine the booing of Mullan had at least the potential to galvanize the team. They have, after all, been stuck in a bit of a funk ever since starting the season with three straight wins, having won just three of their past 17.
What Smith did was instead opt for the path of least resistance. Rather than allow his player to face his most vocal critics, he chose to shield him. Mullan deserved better, and I mean that in the most sincere way possible. But considering Smith's track record, maybe we shouldn't be so surprised.
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A couple things...
Sigi said on the latest Extra Time Radio podcast that Mullan and Zakuani have now talked.
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Mullan retires at the end of the season. He’s an aging midfielder who has picked up a string of nagging injuries. I’d say it’s 50/50 whether he is around next season.
I’m ok with him not traveling. It would’ve been a distraction for both teams and detracted from what should be a good contest on Saturday with Sir Alex, coaches, and maybe some ManU players in attendance.
by ryanhealy on Jul 15, 2011 2:06 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
thanks for ruining part of my premise :)
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 15, 2011 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry! :)
Trust me, I did not enjoy a second of the Extra Time cast of characters doing their best imitation of The View before the Sigi interview came on.
Although they did give some love
to Osvaldo Alonso as a miss on the All-Star voting. Even called him a bulldog – obviously they aren’t properly informed about the Honey Badger but it was good to hear none the less.
That said, I could do with a whole lot less screaming into the mike. Their producer must just cry himself to sleep about the leveling.
True.
They did give a little time to Alonso which was nice. But I’m to the point now that I don’t listen to Extra Time unless there’s a guest I really want to hear from (like Sigi). The constant yelling and talking over each other makes the show mostly unlistenable.
For my league-wide news I like Around the League. Those guys do a pretty good job and I like hearing from fans and bloggers of other teams. Plus, they get some decent interviews occasionally — Arlo’s been on, Jason Kreis, etc.
+1 to Around the League
I really hope they get more popular so they can start drawing guests along the lines of what ETR does.
Around the League is not guest driven show
for that there is the American Soccer Show
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
ATL sucks!!!!!!
Garbage, garbage show. … Except when they have me on.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 16, 2011 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree it would have been good from a fan perspective to have a good boogyman.
On the other hand this says some pretty impressive things about the level of respect given to this fanbase, that the collective wrath of Sounder nation was enough to convince Smith to limit his own personnel choices.
Yes, I believe Casey definitely fits the bill as a DB.
You do all the work for us, Honey Badger, and we'll just eat whatever you find.
by mistuhp on Jul 15, 2011 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
RBP FTW
If we’re going to have to learn to use a new name for our stadium we might as well use the proper one. The CLink is fun and all but Royal Brougham Park is just better on every level.
This is a pointless endeavor.
The stadium isn’t even on Royal Brougham way. Safeco is much more associated with Royal Brougham Way as far as most Seattlites are concerned as fans actually spill into and out of the Safeco Field onto Royal Brougham Way. Plus, if ever anyone is ever going to knock one literally out of the park, it will assuredly land on Royal Brougham.
We might as well simply resign ourselves that the stadium is called Century Link Field. You are never going to hear Arlo, or any other team spokesperson call it anything else.
That said, I’m still calling it Qwest until they change the signage on it. As far as I’m concerned, when I drive past it’s still called Qwest Field. If they want me to call it something else, they should actually make it look like it’s called something else.
by Jack Brando on Jul 15, 2011 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
not really about what people officially call it, is it?
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 15, 2011 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes that's certainly a big part of it
If you want Soccer accepted as a legitimate big league sport yes. That’s a part of being in the big leagues. Stadium names get changed. If you don’t want casual outsiders to wonder what the heck you are talking about, you call it what it is unless you have a good reason not to do so.
Soccer is already foreign to enough Americans. The last thing we need is some weird nickname for our obviously named stadium. Especially one as ill fitting as RBP. RB had no connection with Soccer in this community. The stadium is not actually on RBW. We have another stadium that actually is right on RBW. The stadium is a “Field” not a “Park.” And most importantly, we have no reason to not call it Century Link Field.
Surely, Seahawk fans (who outnumber Sounder fans by probably 20 to 1) will simply call it what it is. All the road signs and bus schedules will surely call it CLF. All references in official press releases, during broadcasts, in major media, and on the team and league websites will call it CLF. At best, 85% of Sounder fans will still call it CLF.
It just seems like another way to alienate casual fans for no real reason. It’s already weird enough that we have a name for the pitch. But now we have the Xbox Pitch at Royal Brougham Park (actually CenturyLink Field) formerly Qwest Field?
Can we think of a single example anywhere in the world, where fans just randomly picked a new name for a stadium when the corporate sponsor changed? (I’m not talking about returning to a prior classic name) Has this ever worked?
Lastly, (and realistically) this stadium will be called whatever Seahawk fans choose to call it. Period. We can’t have two names for one stadium. The Seahawks were there first. They sell the place out (at tickets which are four times the price) and have literally millions of fans all over the region. Heck, the Stadium used to be called Seahawks Stadium. If anyone should have a say in what it is called, it’s not the Sounders, it’s the Hawks. As much as the Sounders have made Qwest home, it’s still the Seahawks’ stadium first and foremost.
Put bluntly, it isn’t our call to make.
by Jack Brando on Jul 15, 2011 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm sorry...
Are you under the impression this is at all aimed at casuals?
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 15, 2011 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Also, you're taking this a bit seriously
Many stadiums have nicknames that people call them. I’ve gone over many examples in the past. I’m a bit shocked at how much you really want us to call it by the full name, which no one will casually do, mind you.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 15, 2011 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I usually just tell people I'm going to a Sounders game. Even people that don't like soccer know where it'll be...
by Sobchak on Jul 16, 2011 4:49 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
this is quite sensible
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 16, 2011 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions
see i just think he is postponing the inevitable
next year, he is going to get booed. and it will probably be louder just because its been pent up for so long
I have to agree with everything in the post
I think it will just make it worse next year.
P.S. what is sigi doing in this picture singing opera?
by majora999 on Jul 15, 2011 2:54 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Holy crap, you're right about the opera thing.
You do all the work for us, Honey Badger, and we'll just eat whatever you find.
Man that seems like a long time ago
Maybe it is just my aging memory but it seems like so much has happened this Sounders season since then. I am over it. Zakuani says he’s over it. Lets get on with earning us some hardware.
by look4wrd on Jul 15, 2011 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
I wonder if they were afraid
Some unruly fans doing actual harm to him – physical or emotional – as revenge.
Maybe it was just the distraction.
I prefer to view this...
as we, the Sounder supporters, fans, and community adding one more game to his suspension.
by central_scrutinizer on Jul 15, 2011 7:55 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
I can’t “like” this comment enough.
I said months ago there was no way he was coming to Seattle. Smith would have to be retarded to want to expose his team to that kind of distraction. It’s going to be bad enough as is.
Either way, while I don’t wish Mullan any physical harm, I still think he should have been allowed to retake the field once Zak was able to…
Fucker.
Whoops.
It would have been a distraction to bring Mullan
Colorado players would have been distracted. Smart move.
The back issue might be overplayed but I can at least see it being true. Mullan was held out for most of the match against Vancouver and was completely creamed a few times in that game – one of those times led to the game winning free kick, actually – so he probably wound up worse for wear after that. Had this been a midweek game I would have said no way, it was the fact that there were 7 days off that made me think he had a shot.
Either way, I’m as disappointed as you are. Not just because he’s not going to be on the field for Colorado but because Smith probably should have at least brought him to Seattle just in case, along with all of the sentimental reasons.
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