Seattle Sounders Vs. Chivas USA, Matchcard: Projected Lineups, Broadcast Info, Statistics

by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 12, 2011 12:01 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

I'm not sure I entirely believe in the concept of a "trap game," but if one ever fit the bill, this is it. The Seattle Sounders are coming off a very tough stretch that saw them playing emotionally and physically draining games once or twice a week for about a month. They face a similar stretch coming up. Playing at home, fully rested on an afternoon that should have glorious weather against Chivas USA will undoubtedly look like the easiest games they'll play for quite some time.

Don't let that fool you, though, Chivas USA is a pretty solid team. Probably even more solid than their 7-8-8 record suggests. If you're thinking this is a good chance to get some players a little extra rest, think again. The Sounders are still in the Supporters' Shield race and if they hope to stay there, they'll need three points.

Our projected lineup reflects that mentality. Most of these spots seem pretty well locked up, except maybe who starts at forward alongside Fredy Montero. We're guessing Roger Levesque is back there, although it would be cool if O'Brian White could make an appearance. The other big question is who starts at center back next to Jeff Parke. We're projecting that Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is ready to go after playing in this week's reserve game.

The Chivas USA is pretty much what they've been using for the last several weeks, but it was provided to us by Alicia Ratterree of The Goat Parade. It seems like they've settled on a backline from right to left of Zarek Valentin, Michael Umana, Heath Pearce and Ante Jazic. Justin Braun appears to have finally displaced Marco Mondaini as the permanent starter and Alejandro Moreno has slid back in next to him after getting back from Copa America.

PDF: sounders-chivas 0813

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I think we win, but

Chivas has a lot of quality. It won’t be easy. I will still be disappointed with a tie though, as our team is returning to full strength. Great to see OBW missing on the injury report.

Side note: can someone tell me what times this game will be replayed?

by agtk on Aug 12, 2011 12:53 PM PDT reply actions

Yellow Card Accumulation

(I posted this belatedly in the SKC matchcard thread, so I’m reposting here)

During the SKC match, Arlo mentioned that Fredy and one other player had 4 yellow cards accumulated.

In future game day cards, can you include yellow card totals or players with 4 YC? Any of these would be cool:
-Players with 4 YC
-Players with 4 YC (and how many games until they drop to 3)
-Players with any YC and count

I understand there’s limited space. Maybe you can narrow a column or add another line at the bottom.

Thanks for listening,
Trayton

Fan of: Cardinals, Blues, Sounders, Yellow Jackets, Wolverines, Rams, and Blazers.

by ColinMacLeod on Aug 12, 2011 1:31 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Source data

And to answer my own question, here’s the official list:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/mls-disciplinary-summary

Carrasco and Montero have 4 yellow cards with 2 and 1 game remaining for “Good Behavior Incentive”

Fan of: Cardinals, Blues, Sounders, Yellow Jackets, Wolverines, Rams, and Blazers.

by ColinMacLeod on Aug 12, 2011 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

can do

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.

by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 13, 2011 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions

(Psst)

That matchcard says “LA Galaxy” at the top.

I agree with everything except “Sounders are still in the Supporters’ Shield race”.

by Fnarf on Aug 12, 2011 2:02 PM PDT reply actions

By PPG

We’re not projected to be that far behind LAG.

Is it likely? No. But Sidereal’s 10%-ish figure seems about right. With over a quarter of the season left to play, it makes sense to ACT as if we’re still in the SS race; if LAG has a rough stretch for a week or two, and RSL continues its slide, we’d still be right in the thick of it with a really good shot at taking it.

If, in three or so weeks, we’re still on the same PPG pace as we are now (and so is LAG and FCD and RSL), then I’d say, yeah – throw in the towel on the SS and just go for playoff positioning (3rd place or 2nd place in the West gives us a bye in the first round of the playoffs, which would be huge).

by Orothar on Aug 12, 2011 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't agree

We are certainly in the race for the supporters shield between the top 4 teams of the West. Just keep winning is all we can do. The match in Dallas and home against RSL will be our two real challenges, but I imagine that LA will slip up along the way too.

by python6114 on Aug 12, 2011 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions

ugh

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.

by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 13, 2011 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions

We're definitely in the race

Whether we’ll win it is one thing, but you can’t deny the team has a shot.

Writer: CougCenter Twitterer: @GradyClapp

by Grady Clapp on Aug 13, 2011 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

I still disagree

Second place is well within reach (0.04 PPG behind Dallas). First is not (0.21). Each additional win is now worth only 0.05, and that number decreases as the season goes along. We are currently on pace to finish with 62, seven back of LA. Seven points in twelve games (eleven for them) is not going to happen.

Note also that we are currently losing ground. Ten points over our last five matches, versus twelve for them. The better we play, the further we fall behind.

Note also that no team in the league has won five matches in a row. We would need to do that to get close to them. But it’s unprecedented; not even LA has done it. If you add our last eight matches — our best string by far, 6-1-1, to our current total, we’re still behind them.

Relying on “LA will slip up” ignores the fact that they haven’t so far. The two times they’ve had mediocre stretches, they’ve still been better than us over the longer stretch. And of course they have crushed us head-to-head, and also just destroyed the second-best team, Dallas.

They’ve got us. They’re coasting to the finish now. It’s not as close as it looks.

by Fnarf on Aug 12, 2011 2:39 PM PDT reply actions

Much stranger things have happened

Just because they haven’t slipped doesn’t mean they won’t.

Even if wins only add .05 to our PPM, a loss subtract close to .07 from theirs. Two wins for us with two losses for them, and it’s basically a tied ballgame.

by agtk on Aug 12, 2011 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions