Seattle Sounders Fall 1-3 At Houston Dynamo
by Dave Clark on Jul 30, 2011 7:58 PM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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There are a few things we can take away from this match. And even fewer will be positive towards this season or the next. The Seattle Sounders, despite being on the road, probably should have gotten a draw or better heading into this match against the completely average Houston Dynamo. But that didn't happen. Some of that was due to solid play by the Dynamo, but most of that was because of miscues and structural issues with Seattle team.
Sure, Brian Ching had an assist to go with his two goals, but much of the Dynamo success had to do with their exploitation of gaps between Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke and Tyson Wahl. This isn't to say that James Riley was perfect. He left some space for service into those gaps. This was probably the worst performance of the backline that we've seen. It wasn't one mental error, not two. It was a match that left them open to attacks from the Orange fairly often.
Only Kasey Keller prevented a worse result. Tonight he showed that he is an All-Star in performance, not just as respect for his nearly two decades of service with the National team and the Sounders. Some of the problems Seattle has can be addressed through coaching and film work. The problem of next year's keeper can only be addressed by finding another amazing player. Because Seattle without Keller is an average team.
On offense Seattle hasn't looked this weak for some time. Yes, there was heat, humidity and long travel, that doesn't justify the poor technique from Roger Levesque and Erik Friberg. It certainly doesn't make sense for Sigi Schmid to have kept Friberg in so long. The substitution patterns did not make sense either. While Levesque needed to come out, the height of Nate Jaqua wasn't the need at the time. Several balls just went too long for the tiring USL Sounder. Mike Fucito made sense then. When Pat Noonan came on more crosses were coming into the box, but it was Noonan himself that misplayed those balls, if anything he should have been the 3rd sub.
Some will focus on the referee. The referee didn't turn the ball over consistently. Sure, he allowed a very physical game, but by the second half Seattle knew that was going to be true and they must adjust to the circumstances. Begging him for more calls isn't an adjustment. It is an admission that the game as constructed is not going your way.
There are few reasons to feel good coming out of this match. None of them had to do with the result. All of them had to do with the play of Kasey Keller. Unless Seattle makes a significant addition in talent the window may close this season. If they don't make two the window may not be open in 2012.
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Just to be sure
What I take from this is that you don’t think Boss can step in for Keller without a drop in form.
Whatsoever would lead you to that conclusion?
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
Not even Boss
Just getting a League average keeper puts this team as a streaky average side.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I think that's overstating it a bit much...
I didn’t see today’s game, but a little perspective is useful here. While the our defense in the past few games hasn’t been up to where it was earlier in the season, I honestly can’t look at games we’ve won and see any where our defense was frankly bad, but Keller saved our bacon over and over. Generally, when we’ve won (and we’ve won quite a bit more often than we’ve lost), it’s been a team effort on defense, with the entire back line playing well. To my mind, we’ve only had one questionable game before this, and that -against Colorado - was more a matter of occasional breakdowns as opposed to being totally outplayed from start to finish. Think about it: the ManU match, as awful as the scoreline read, had almost all of the carnage against a second- or third-string back line, and, had it not been for a dodgy penalty call in Panama, we would have had a clean sheet with practically no serious threats from the home side.
One other thing to consider: the two games I mentioned (Colorado and this one) are also the two league games since Hurtado went out with his MCL injury. Put him back in the XI, and you’ve got a defensive upgrade no matter how you look at it.
I’m not saying we don’t need some improvements along the back line — Riley, like Leo, seems to be having age catch up with him, and Wahl, although a good offensive wingback, is far from a stellar defender — but I think the conclusion that, without Keller, we become merely a middle-of-the-pack team might be driven more by frustration at today’s result than a calm look at the facts.
by regnaD kciN on Jul 31, 2011 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You're forgetting the Portland and NYRB games
We won those handily, yes, but we also had some serious defensive lapses. The early warning signs of defensive issues were there – we just overcame them with plenty of scoring. Keller saved our bacon quite a bit in those matches as well.
Take away all that scoring from us, and you have the Houston game. Defense can’t carry this team when it needs to, that’s the problem. Subtract Keller from this team and I’m sure we drop a few places in the standings. Have to give him due credit.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Boss... wow...
Boss will not be the starting keeper next year, that is absolutely not an option. We might as well just put another defender on the field, it would be more effective.
by Dustin Titus on Jul 30, 2011 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions
sigh
when we are gonna actually win a game in Houston.
This had trap written all over it...
Houston isn’t a bad team, ugly, but not terrible. We’re still the “in form team” coming into it, we play horribly in the heat, we’re jet lagged, and haven’t slept at home in over a week. Honestly, if we had to have a blow up game, this one isn’t the worst. Eastern conference, trying to get into the play off race. Yes, we should have won this game, no, its not the end of our season.
Thanks for that....
Agree completely. And better on the road than at home.
In our last 3 league games we've let in 8 goals
It’s not a “one bad performance game” – it’s a trend. The only difference is we didn’t have our attackers bailing us out with a lot of goals this time.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
The substitutions made no sense
Noonan and Jaqua? Seriously? I don’t miss those guys when they don’t play. I was looking for Fucito to replace Levesque before the half and I am not even a member of the Church of Fucito. Levesque just does not bring what is required to the forward position. Seattle desperately needs a competent and reliable starting forward. I will take someone who is trying to be that guy over players who will never be that guy. Montero was phoning it in once again.
I do agree that Keller was pure class tonight.
(Huh, Drew Carey just wandered by my window.)
by AliasDictusTyrant on Jul 30, 2011 8:18 PM PDT reply actions
Montero was phoning it in?
Uh. Ok.
by Aaron Campeau on Jul 30, 2011 8:31 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Wow, I missed that line the first time I read it
Probably because it makes no sense
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Okay, I probably misstated that re: Montero
I thought this was an example of another match where he was effectively neutralized by a defense that I think another forward would have had less problem with. When he becomes frustrated it looks like his work rate drops off. Adapting to this situation is not his strong suit.
by AliasDictusTyrant on Jul 30, 2011 8:44 PM PDT up reply actions
When you only have one competent striker
It becomes easy for defenses to double-team him and neutralize him.
The Next Generation of the KC
by s0merand0mdude on Jul 31, 2011 2:33 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
So..... you're saying we should sign another striker?
Someone should tell Adrian
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
No excuses tonight
Hot, jet lag, ref…whatever, that wasn’t the reason we lost. One of our bigger problems is speed + talent at forward. Montero is talented but has no speed. Levesque is just plain slow, Jaqua, if he were any slower he’d be running backwards. Not the only problem I know, but one that annoys the crap out of me and I’m getting anxious waiting to hear if we’re actually going to get our DP.
Dare I say Sanna Nyassi is looking pretty good at forward for the crapids, maybe we shouldn’t have put all our speed eggs in one basket. Just saying.
And by one basket you mean?
Zakuani, White, Montero?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Montero?
Are you saying that he’s fast? I said talent + speed. O’brian white, yes fast but largely untested due to all his injuries.
Again I said
Talent+Speed. Tetteh..please he has A LOOONG way to go and talent? Yeah he might have some raw talent in there somewhere, but the operative word is raw.
I understand you guys are all about the whole #chuchoffucito thing, but until he starts producing something this season in regular play I’m not going to put him in the category of the type talent to which I was referring. I wasn’t speaking in averages.
If you just want to argue that’s fine, my point was that in my opinion we need some another great talent at a forward position that can combine with the great talent of the rest of the starting team to put the ball in the net.
So Nyassi has talent
Which he happened to not display in 2.5 years here, but it is clearly better than those that have displayed it.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Again missing my point
I had two separate points.
1. Need a forward with speed + talent. I did not mention Nyassi in that point
2. I’ve read on here time and time again that we based a lot of our strategy around Zakuani’s speed. Nyassi was a Zakuani like player and now that he seems to coming along in retrospect MAYBE it would be nice to still have have him.
Yes I did link them in one way or another and I keep forgetting that if I don’t spell everything out exactly right on this site it’s going to get picked apart, no room for implications or generalizations here.
I never once said I would like to trade ANYONE else on the team to have Nyassi back. I simply said it might be nice to have him back in my OPINION which I also thought was allowed here.
Having contradictory opinions is allowed and encouraged
as is debating those opinions.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I have written thousands of words about Sanna Nyassi
I liked him as a forward/cam at the USL-1 level, but he wasn’t developing as others had upon the move to MLS.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I think he's developed quite a bit
His shot in particular has come a long way. It’s unfortunate that the real turning point came at the end of last season so Colorado will be the primary beneficiaries. Hindsight being 20/20 I wish we had protected him over Jaqua.
by Dizzo on Jul 31, 2011 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sometimes I sleep
But his shot hasnt really improved. Scoring on Red Bull isn’t hard. And you’ll note that despite Nyassi getting more than a thousand of minutes than Fucito he is just now catching him in goals scored.
A singular hot streak does not indicate new skills.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Nyassi is actually putting a lower rate of SoG:Shots
this year than last. He’s at 37% for on-target. His conversion rate is barely over 10%.
For all of Fucito’s “problems” he converts at a much higher percentage, and does so against strong competition (unless you think the CCL is easy)
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
No
it’s not.
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
by Little old me on Aug 1, 2011 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions
And the point about Nyassi
was just saying that maybe in hindsight we should have held onto it since it looks like he’s starting to do well at forward.
Disagree
If he does develop, I doubt the same would have happened here. Perhaps with the injuries, but otherwise he wouldn’t have been given the playing time. Also, assuming we kept Nyassi we would have lost someone else who perhaps would have been more important.
Now that
is a good point, however, after OBW it would/could have been an interesting try at forward. My point was that right now .5 seasons after leaving he looks pretty good at forward, (see 4 goals in two game) with all the trialing we have had to do at that position, he might have fit in well there…we’ll never know.
There is nothing to suggest Sigi would have ever tried Nyassi out at forward
It was only Gary Smith’s tinkering out of necessity that figured this out, if we’re being fair.
Before Nyassi was moved to forward, his work in Colorado was verrrry similar to what he had done here.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Absolutely no argument on needing to adjust to the ref
but it was a serious case of whiplash between CONCACAF and MLS the last two games. Every time a Sounder ran by a San Fran player the breeze would knock them over and draw a foul if not yellow. In Houston you can apparently knock Flaco on his ass and barely get a talking to.
The officiating was am embarrassment last night.
Not saying the Sounders deserved a win or even necessarily a draw…they played very poorly overall. But the absolute thuggery that was allowed, particularly in the first half was inexcusable. And a lot of it was happening during dead ball situations. That match could have easily been being played 11 on 9 by the end. Absolutely disgraceful.
And it sure looked like Houston got away with a pretty obvious offside on the third goal.
by Kingdomer on Jul 31, 2011 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Houston
Today I was reminded of what I think of Houston. They’re tactics include decent attacking accompanied with harsh, physical play and cheap shots off the ball. The camera caught a few of them, I’m sure there were others. It really got to Flaco. Next to Colorado, I think I hate them the most. Thugball is really annoying to me. Poor teams play this way in an attempt to equalize things by getting the other team to run scared or retaliate tit-for-tat. If the ref isn’t on top of it, it turns into a mess. This was a mess.
I don’t really feel too badly about losing this match. Our streak couldn’t go on forever. We need to pick ourselves up and have a good CCL game Wednesday and get through to the group stage. After that, Saturday at KC will be an interesting test.
Totally agree that we need to do something in this transfer window. A big time target forward would probably be enough to ensure we’re in the SS race on the final week.
by K61 on Jul 30, 2011 10:14 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm getting very worried
That we’re not going to get a TF in this transfer window. And it sounds like OB White will be a while getting back. It’s actually our defense that has worried me the most over the last several games though. Our offense has bailed us out up til now but it couldn’t last. This was the worst I’ve seen us look. We couldn’t string more than a couple passes together most of the game. Houston did an excellent job defensively of stopping us by robbing us of possession almost at will. It was infuriating! The redding thing was bizarre too but I’m getting used to that by now and hate blaming refs for our own failings.
speaking of which...
Wasn’t OBW “reactivated” just before the Manchester United match? Where is he?
by CapHillSounder on Jul 31, 2011 7:02 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It takes a bit to get your fitness back if you haven't ran in 4 months
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Defense?
So tired of the focus being on the offence. Maybe we should pick up a few more midfielders and that will solve our problem. . .
Defence needs some better players esp on the outside. Pickup at least one good outside back so that Alonso would only have to focus on covering for one terrible defender. There literally should not be that much pressure on our inside backs.
Riley and Wahl are turds. Riley did not put himself in a position to block any shots/ crosses and just let Houston go at us the entire game. Same thing happened w/ ManU. He just stands there. . .
Good D would have been a 1-0 win today.
Both sides
needs to be addressed. Addressing all needs is piratically impossible during this summer transfer window with out make serious changes which could potentially backfire on us. You better off making those serious changes during the off-season when we aren’t dealing with guaranteed contracts or meaningful games.
It may just be that after losses, the negative commenters come out of the wood work
But this community has a meltdown over the smallest things. It’s almost as if we didn’t just come off a nine match unbeaten streak.
Were the defensive lapses miserable? Yes and it was tough to watch. They were mistakes that need to be addressed.
In a 34 match season you lay some eggs—and if it’s in 100 degree heat after a trip to South America, so be it. Everyone should take a breath.
Agreed...
…although, if you want to see “a meltdown over the smallest things,” you should become a Liverpool fan like me and follow their message boards after a loss (or even a draw, in most cases).
I’d say this would be a lot easier to write off if it hadn’t been for the loss in Panama — which really means that, if the ref down there hadn’t called an absurdly harsh penalty against us, we wouldn’t be talking about how the sky was falling (in the manner of the post currently directly below this one).
by regnaD kciN on Jul 31, 2011 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Unbeaten streaks don't mean anything
Pointing to them suggests that draws are a positive result. They aren’t; draws are as bad as losses. Both kill your PPM. Only wins matter.
And while we’ve had a good run of form lately — best in the league for a time — that’s not true anymore. Over the past five games we’ve LOST ground to LA. Supporters Shield is out of reach (only Dallas has a slim chance of catching them). We’re on pace to finish 11 back of LA.
So, playoffs. Think we can beat anyone in the playoffs? Yeah, one team, maybe even two. But compete against the top clubs? We are not there yet.
For all the talk of our poor forwards, it’s our defense that’s been melting down. Even after yesterday we have the second-best goals average, but our defense is VERY WORRISOME.
Draws on the road are positives
A good goal for the playoffs is 1.5 PPM. So, if you can consistently get draws on the road you’re most of the way there.
If your goal is "make the playoffs".
If your goal is “finish first”, i.e., “finish above LA and Dallas”, draws on the road are barely tolerable, as long as there aren’t very many of them. A draw and a loss impact PPM about the same — one measly point, or less than 0.03 over a season.
What matters are Ws.
NYRB are not a top side. I don’t care how many famous names they have; they’re not very good. We SHOULD beat them, every time. We did beat RSL in Utah, which is our most impressive result.
Even for the SS winners road draws are important
Road draws plus home wins gets you to 2.0 PPM. That’s just above the LA Galaxy PPM. Of course every team has losses and upsets. But the team that can consistently draw on the road has a good shot at the SS.
Your last point is what I'm more concerned about
Nothing to do with the Houston result: I am not sure we can beat the top teams in the playoffs. We do seem to struggle to compete with the top-tier teams in league play.
If you think about it, the only team that could be considered a “top side” that we’ve beaten was NYRB – and it was a side missing 5 of their best players. We lost to Dallas, LAG, and I’m nervous about the upcoming match against the Crew. We barely pulled out a win against Philly in the last minute during a match that I would say we were out-played. Colorado is the only team we’ve beaten that wasn’t missing their best players – but we still let in 3 goals and barely pulled that off.
We don’t have a habit of beating the top teams in the league, and that’s why I’m not sure that punching a ticket to the playoffs necessarily means big things for us. I want to see us beat the better teams in league play to have that confidence that we’d go far in the playoffs.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Seattle has the 4th best record against top 8 Sagarin teams
better than RSL even. LAG, FCD and Crew are better against the teams in top 8.
And Seattle beat Salt Lake at Salt Lake.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Let's hope we only have to play RSL en route to the MLS Cup then! ;)
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Bad mistake
Our chance at an MLS cup may have ended with sigi’s decision to embarrass our team by benching our starters in the Man U match. Our confidence is clearly gone. You can keep telling yourselves that our team is fatigued but in all reality we are still shocked and beat down. The Sounders are starting to fit right in with seattle sports. All the talent in the world, but a front office and coaching staff that lacks common sense. Just a shame, we were so hot for a minute.
by seahawkshos040 on Jul 31, 2011 12:35 AM PDT reply actions
I think the above comment may be a bit over the top, but...
he does make a valid point. The team tonight was disjointed. It seemed as if we didn’t know what to do with the ball. Guys would make a run one way, and the pass would go another. Guys would hold the ball too long looking for something to do with it. That comes from lack of confidence, and it was evident tonight.
As much as many here want to rationalize it away, in not only soccer but in all aspects of life, getting pummeled by a superior opponent will destroy a man’s confidence. The nine match unbeaten streak has been followed by 270 minutes without a goal from the run of play. What has changed? The same team that looked unstoppable two weeks ago now has a ‘deer in the headlights’ look about them. (I don’t think Boss has a concussion, he’s probably still in a corner somewhere twitching in the fetal position).
I’m not saying it’s the end of the world or the sky is falling. I don’t feel real good about Wed, nor do I feel very good about our trip to KC, but I believe Sigi will get the guys believing in themselves again before too long. The ManU debacle will not turn us into Toronto. I argued BEFORE the ManU match that the ManU result would matter, and it has. Midseason friendlies can hurt us in real competitions. What we witnessed tonight is the price we pay for making a few bucks off grandstanding with the big boys. The team believed in themselves before and now they don’t. Was it worth it?
The shellacking by ManU hurt us going into CCL and has hurt us on the MLS table. I offer this not as a harbinger of doom for the future, but as a showcase of what can happen when you mess with someone who is (figuratively and literally) out of your league.
by central_scrutinizer on Jul 31, 2011 1:53 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
If El Flaco scored at the beggining of the game,
we would not be talking about lack of confidence at all. That was great buildup, and there are no excuses for him missing that opportunity, but even better players miss chances, so life goes on. I do not think there is any correlation between Mudt defeat and our loss against Houston.
In addition to terrible defending, there are some other factors contributing to our loss last night. The players looked tired immediately. They showed Roger in second or the third minute of the game, and he looked so tired. I think the long trip to Panama has to do something with it. Any trip to Central or South America from Seattle is just brutal. Rosales was not effective at all yesterday. He tried, but I am not sure if it was due to good scouting by Houston, or him just being tired, but we missed his crosses and ability to create chances. We created maybe one or two clear opportunities. It did not help that we were down by two goals by 20th minute, so we have to chase the game, which is not an easy task, especially when is hot like yesterday. Hopefully, we can learn from this one and move on. Sounders should not spend a lot of time thinking about this loss, but they should concentrate on Wed. match and try to overcome one goal deficit.
Hilarious.
I’m not sure where people get this image of the team as a bunch of Kurosawa style disgraced samurai that are ready to fall on their swords because of a bad result in a friendly.
Seriously. I’m pretty sure they’re a little more mentally tough than that.
Completely off-topic
I just watched 13 assassins last night. It’s an absolute must watch for anyone who likes samurai period pieces.
Why would the starting XI have a hangover from the match against United?
They played extremely well. I didn’t see many of the reserves that got pounded on the pitch last night. Not to mention that people seem to be forgetting that the massive defensive breakdowns started happening before the friendly.
by Jo-Jo on Jul 31, 2011 7:21 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Why?
Because they are part of the team. And the team got crushed. You win as a team, and you lose as a team. And if Sigi did not have that mentality instilled in his players, we probably never would’ve seen the team perform as it has since Zak went down.
If El Flaco has scored at the beginning of he game, that would’ve gone a long way toward rebuilding their confidence. But he didn’t. Once we get a few goals and a few points, the confidence will come back and this will all be behind us. But in the meantime, we may very well give up enough points to take us out of the race for the Shield. And to say that the difference between the team we saw against Colorado and the team we saw against Houston had absolutely nothing to do with the ManU match is purely delusional. Against both Colorado and Houston, the Sounders gave up 3 goals. But against Colorado, the team believed in themselves, believed they could win, and did it. In Houston they didn’t.
Again, I’m not trying to suggest that there’s anything here that a little confidence and a decent run of form won’t fix. I am suggesting that a misdeason friendly can have an effect on a team in real competitions, and the FO should consider that when scheduling them.
by central_scrutinizer on Jul 31, 2011 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
So the leftover mental image of facing Vidic and Ferdinand
scarred Flaco so much that he expecting to get a call that he wasn’t going to get?
Levesque was slow yesterday because he thought it might be Evra that he was facing?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
It's an overreaction to suggest that the ManU match destroyed our team.
It’s an underreaction to suggest it had no effect whatsoever. An appropriate reaction is somewhere in the middle. Most of the commentary I’ve seen here on this subject is either of the “end of the world” variety or of the “no effect / doesn’t matter / match played in a vacuum” variety. All I’m really trying to do here is establish the point that neither of those two positions is completely correct.
In all aspects of life, successes and failures both have effects on an individual’s psyche and will have an effect on future decision making. The ManU match had an effect on the team. How much of an effect is certainly debatable. You may argue that the effect is fairly minor or that it’s fairly significant. But the position that the ManU match was 100% irrelevant to the last two results OR the position that the ManU match began the Sounder Apocalypse are equally misguided.
I know how we are about politics here, so I’ll tread lightly. In politics, sometimes the parties are so entrenched in their positions on either side that they can’t see the clear and obvious truth in the middle. This subject seems to be taking on that characteristic.
by central_scrutinizer on Jul 31, 2011 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I would pretty much agree
I’m not sure how much ManUtd had to do with any of this, and as I said I think it would have been similar no matter the score, but there probably was some loss of momentum if for no other reason than it was an unnecessary distraction. This is why many of us are generally against friendlies — any kind of friendly — midseason.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 31, 2011 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions
This whole line of reasoning is so bizarre
It’s as if people believe that if Sigi the Sounders had lost, say 3-0, to ManUtd that we’d have won the next two games. Fine, if you want to believe the ManUtd game took away our momentum, you are free to do that. But wouldn’t a loss in less embarrassing fashion have done that anyway?
I really don’t think that game had anything to do with the performances in the last two, as it’s not a lack of confidence that I’m seeing hurt the Sounders. I’m just seeing some sloppy play.
Let’s also keep in mind that we’re talking about a grand total of one loss in MLS play since the ManUtd game.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 31, 2011 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Okay but I am losing confidence in the team
And would not at all be surprised to see us eliminated from CCL and lose to KC. Our last several come from behind wins have been from great offense and some luck. We keep giving up goals early and wear it as a badge of honor to come back for a win. Our defense has been really shaky for a team that WAS a legit SS contender. That’s where I think we need to focus our effort for the remainder of the season…DEFENSE.
by Zakuani11Fan on Jul 31, 2011 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree with all of that
But none of it has anything to do with the ManUtd friendly.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 31, 2011 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Except for the fact that lack of scoring problem of late started with the Man U game...
I don’t think getting beaten by one of the best teams in the world is going to destroy the psyche of an MLS side, but l think pretending it has no effect is also a bit naive.
Anyone here ever play on a sports team as a kid? Did you ever play the state champs and get slaughtered? I did. It was an expected result but still kills your spirit.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
So Fucito whiffed on that shot attempt
Rooney was extraordinary?
Noonan hit the crossbar in Panama because he was still thinking about Vidic?
Or was it because sometimes players miss hit the ball, and other times players aren’t as good as they once were?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I think you're being too literal
It wasn’t a specific play or move or lack of capitalizing on a singular opportunity – it was the overall result. But as I said in the other article’s post, I’m going to drop this. I know it’s a subject that you will not have your opinion swayed on, and that’s ok.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Don't know if that's in response to me...
But I don’t think I’ve ever said it had literally no effect. I have said that the scoreline (7-0) was ultimately insigificant, which I still believe. Losing 3-0, for instance, should have had same theoretical effect, no?
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 1, 2011 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Can't speak for the Sounders players
but in relating to my own personal experiences: No, losing 3-0 isn’t nearly as hard on a team as losing 7-0.
Well…. if we’re to think it’s a psyche or confidence issue, anyway. Obviously tactics and talent haven’t changed. If we don’t agree that the Man U game had an effect on the players’ psyche – that answers that, because basically that’s what I’m postulating.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
If the effect was on offense...
Why would being shut out, no matter the score, make a difference?
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 1, 2011 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Seems like there's some overreaction here
Considering we were talking supporter’s shield a week ago, I think “streaky average” is overreacting. We’re streaky above average-bordering-on-elite, and one result doesn’t change that.
by Tohoya on Jul 31, 2011 9:04 AM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Re: Supporters Shield
It’s not overreacting when LAG, FCD, COL, and the Crew all pick up 3 points when you’re dropping them.
SSFC | What I do for fun: Sometimes-Interesting
by ABTsportsline on Aug 1, 2011 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Way too much overreaction here.
Yes, disappointment, but there are still points on the table and we’re a virtual certainty for the playoffs. Even if we don’t get the SS, we still have a great shot at a double.
Sure we should beat teams like this, but we came off of thousands of miles of travel in the last week. I’d be much more disappointed if this were a home game, or if we’d had a solid week of rest.
We do have concerns to address – I’m sure the front office knows that. Striker and defenders. They have begun to bring in new depth for the defensive corps (we don’t have anything concrete on the rumored offers for Ozzie). Hopefully as OBW and Hurtado return to health we’ll be set for a good second half run.
by magistermilitum on Jul 31, 2011 11:07 AM PDT reply actions
I wish there was a good way
to weave together a story combining how (im)proper the 500 away ticket allocation was and the actual impact of the ManU loss on the team going forward.
I’m betting we could get well over 1000 posts, have at least 15 super ridiculous ad hom attacks, and get at least a couple of accounts banned.
It would be sweet.
"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin
by Little old me on Aug 1, 2011 1:28 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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