Several Seattle Sounders Starters Appear To Have Not Traveled To Monterrey

by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 22, 2011 11:10 PM PDT in Sounders: CONCACAF Champions League

Take a look at this photo (h/t @coulterchris) that recently appeared on SoundersFC.com. You'll find 18 Seattle Sounders. You'll also notice some conspicuous absences. Among the players not in this photo taken prior to Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League group stage match against Monterrey are Fredy Montero, Kasey Keller, Mauro Rosales and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. (@chamberiECS head-counted here)

I don't want to jump the gun, but I'd say there's a pretty good chance none of those players are going to be in the 18. I suppose that's not hugely surprising. With the Sounders in the middle of a 35-day stretch in which they will play 10 games in three countries in three different competitions, we all knew there were going to have to be some tough lineup decisions for Sigi to make. He alluded to some of those tough when he spoke on Sunday.

"For us it’s important that we balance off our work and our rest because we have two big games coming up when we come back: Columbus at home because we want to keep pushing the point total, and then we’ve got the Open Cup semifinal," Schmid said. "Winning in Monterrey is going to be a tough task, no matter what squad we send out there, but we feel we’ve got a good mix of players, where we can send out some players with experience who maybe haven’t played as many minutes as the other guys."

Like most of you, I was really hoping to see us go for the win in Mexico. Even without those four players, the Sounders are still capable of pulling out the victory. But I'd be lying if I said the task won't be harder.

Once I got over that initial disappointment, though, I have to admit I see the logic. The MLS games against FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew, as well as next week's USOC semi are all more important than a early group stage game in Mexico. Considering the temperature for Saturday's game was over 100 degrees and Tuesday's game is supposed to be similar, fatigue is a real issue.

Given this reality, I'm wondering how you would have played it. Would you have rather seen a weakened side play against the Crew on Saturday? Do you agree with Sigi's choice? Also wondering who you'd like to see start given this group of players?

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Not surprising at all, but still slightly disappointing.

I can’t fault Sigi at all for resting some of his key players in a match that will most likely be difficult to win. However, we were up 2-0 against them last year with a squad that I’d characterize as weaker than the 18 we’re bringing down there this year (H/T @chamberiECS) Boss, Ford, Wahl, Leo, Riley, Scott, Parke, Graham, Ozzie, Carrasco, Sanyang, Evans, Friberg, Flaco, Noonan, Fucito, Roger & Jaqua.

I’d expect to see a starting XI of:
Boss
Riley – Parke – Scott – Wahl
Evans(?) – Ozzie – Friberg – Flaco
Fucito – Jaqua

Or, at least something close to that.

by wyte_lightning on Aug 22, 2011 11:19 PM PDT reply actions

I like this line up

by Colin Johnson on Aug 22, 2011 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd bet

Noonan would get the start at RM over Evans. But I’d only put like a dollar on that bet cause I really don’t know.

by agtk on Aug 22, 2011 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions

You're probably right

I just couldn’t physically make myself type his name on there. Blech.

by wyte_lightning on Aug 22, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

For all that there needs to be rotation...

Noonan has done everything he can recently to demonstrate he shouldn’t see significant minutes in anything but reserve games. I’d be unhappy to see him take the field over Evans or Friberg when they’re at least somewhat rested.

by nimajneb on Aug 23, 2011 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

That lineup looks about right

Though if we’re sitting most of our veterans, I wouldn’t mind Ozzie getting a rest this game, too. Make him a second half sub if we’re protecting a potential point or three. The argument against it is he’s in arguably our best player, in phenomenal shape and our best result might very well be a 0-0 draw.

But fatigue has got to set in for him too at some point, so I would be okay with a Carrasco start here. Also not-so-bold-prediction: Sanyang makes his debut in ~~rave green~~ electricity

by wannascribble on Aug 22, 2011 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I bet we see Currasco over Ozzie

Evans in the middle again and Noonan on the right wing.

Friberg and Ozzie on the bench.

by blakec on Aug 23, 2011 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Im ok with this 18

I would’ve preferred to see Rosales and Montero but if Sigi thought they couldn’t play tomorrow, Saturday, and then Tuesday against FCD, I’d rather them sit tomorrow to play the other two games. I’m curious if Evans and Friberg start or if we put Carrasco with Ozzie in the middle in more of an empty bucket. I’d rather see a def lineup in Monterrey than at home on Sat.

by Colin Johnson on Aug 22, 2011 11:21 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

It sounds like

Sigi is prioritizing the Open Cup Semifinal over the CCL Group Stage match. I can’t say I can fault him there. If we lose in Monterrey, we miss out on 3 points few people outside of Seattle expect us to get. If we lose to Dallas, we get knocked out of the US Open Cup for the first time as a MLS franchise. We can still move on to the knockout rounds in CCL without any points in Monterrey. I would prefer to see us send all our starters, and I think Sigi would prefer that as well, but I think I actually agree with this decision, especially when we’re chasing after LA for the Supporters Shield and/or winning the MLS Cup, either of which could put us directly into the group stage in CCL next year.

On another note, we are actually playing in 5 countries over the next 10 matches: Mexico, US, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Canada.

by Randy Meeker on Aug 22, 2011 11:47 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Priorities seem to be in order, I think.

Noone really expects Seattle to go into Monterrey, the region’s defending champs, with this congested schedule and win. I’m pretty sure that unless we just dominate for 90 minutes and miss a ton of chances, all of us will be pretty ecstatic if Seattle walks away with a point tonight. Jason Kreis put it into the best perspective when he said “The US Open cup is the quickest way to the CL”(Not exacty quote, but it’s close). And in that regard, You want to put the best team out next week against FC Dallas because after that, you have a VERY favorable match up in the final, regardless of who wins the Eastern bracket, and it’s likely at home. I’m not counting out the Sounders for the shield or MLS Cup by ANY stretch, but if we want the best chance to be in the Champions League for a 3rd straight year, you have to put all your chips in on the easiest and fastest way in and that’s the Open Cup. I think Sigi and the staff were probably smart enough to realize that if they beat Dallas next week, the Cup is pretty much there’s to lose.

We’re runaway favorites to beat either Chicago or Richmond in the final. Not many people would argue that, I think.

by Jason Riptide on Aug 23, 2011 3:23 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Wrong "theirs"

And Im usually so good with those things…

by Jason Riptide on Aug 23, 2011 3:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Extremely sound strategy if true.

I personally rank them as:

1. CONCACAF, as it’s the path to a continental title, international glory & the Club Cup
2. MLS Cup/playoffs
3. Support’s Shield
4. US Open
5. Various Portland beatdowns

But, that said, all we have to do right now is advance out of the Group Stage, and if there is any game we can afford to lose, and are statistically MOST likely to lose, it’s IN Monterrey. So do you throw all your firepower there, or hold some back for the Saturday MLS match? Your goal THIS week is the MLS match.

Good call and obvious, if that’s what is going on.

by joesz on Aug 23, 2011 6:01 AM PDT reply actions

maybe a bit different...

for where we are at now. A USOC three-fer would just be too sweet to round out the silverware we have now (it also brings more respectability to that competition). Also think the MLS Cup comes before CONCACAF for now: let’s dominate in our own backyard first, then take on the world (one step at a time…). Sigi has the right idea rolling the dice with a mixed crew in Monterrey – it doesn’t rule out a win by any means (though missing Rosales hurts!) and it doesn’t knock us out if we don’t. Dallas will be hungry for revenge and silverware – we will need our best to win (playing against a full squad this time).

by scottbdr on Aug 23, 2011 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Sound and confusion

All of this makes perfect sense in the context of tonight’s game in Monterey with one caveat. If this was Sigi’s plan, what the hell was up with the startimg 11 in Dallas last Saturday? Yeah it ultimately worked but i would have expected Sigi to trot out his A line up in one of these two games. Sigi is obviously in full blown mad scientist mode right now and we all sit back and enjoy the ride.

by Abbott Smith on Aug 23, 2011 6:31 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Scott and Leo were tactical decisions for a more defensive approach

And Neagle can’t play tonight.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Aug 23, 2011 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Neagle's red card

In retrospect, Neagle’s red card forced Sigi’s hand. Gonzo had a great game and had earned a start and Scott was purely tactical.

Should make for an intersting 11 in the USOC SF. My guess is that if Evans is up to game fitness we’ll see Saturday’s lineup again with Evans & Flaco inserted instead of Neagle & Friberg. The Question will be does Scott start again?

by Abbott Smith on Aug 23, 2011 7:15 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Works for me.

I’d have brought a whole team full of reserves. Chances are we bring our A team and still come away with no points, at most a draw. We’re going to have to field subpar lineups at times with the congestion, and it makes the most sense to take our lumps in a match we has little chance of winning and which we do not need to win.

by Tohoya on Aug 23, 2011 6:55 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

A team full of reserves

resulted in a 6-0 drubbing in the second half to ManU. Sigi and Adrian won’t take that embarrassment again. We’re a deep team and can send a solid squad of starters and subs and have a good chance to steal points.

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

by ColinMacLeod on Aug 23, 2011 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm not concerned with embarassment

Nor should Sigi be. I’ll gladly be embarsssed once or twice if it gives us the best chance of advancing in and winning our competitions.

by Tohoya on Aug 23, 2011 11:11 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

But unlike in a friendly, goal difference matters

Giving up a huge number of goals would hurt us going forward in the competition. So there’s a difference in losing and losing extremely badly. If having a few starters in there makes the difference between losing 6-0 and losing 2-1, then it’s worth it.

by CarlosT on Aug 23, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

This is the hard part of playing in so many competitions.

This game, while it would feel great to win, just isn’t as big a game as the other 2 we have coming up in the long scheme of things. It has less of an impact in our chance to win a trophy, even if we lose we still will be in the running for CCL, but if we lose to Dallas i nthe Open Cup we are out.

"The fans are excited. And the stadium, well, it ignites with explosion."

by DarthGreedo on Aug 23, 2011 9:31 AM PDT reply actions

Don't cry for me Argent...um, Seattle

[rant on] I’m must now put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la-la in response to any complaints of fixture congestion, resting starters, the best team we have, etc. Quite simply, we had and have open spots on the roster and failed to do anything about them. We missed the open transfer window—oh well. And we are sitting in the current window apparently not doing much—golly, gee whiz. We absolutely do have the second best record in MLS (which does rock) but now we need to use our self-imposed “limited” resources and try to win what really is one of the largest games of the year. This will be the best team we have faced this year next to Man Utd, and winning this game would be an epic win on a global scale. Monterrey’s payroll is at least 10x greater than ours is and if they fielded a real team to play us, we should respond in kind. This is the result of the FO not doing ANYTHING to improve the team beyond the depth of Jaqnoonvesque up front and any help we may need in back. We didn’t necessarily need a Prince Tagoe, but we could well be using a Cillian Sheridan or like candidate right now. [rant off] That said, I will be glued to the TV set and screaming for the Rave Green tonight, but in my heart, I know that we are not “being all that we can be.”

by Brougham Hooligan on Aug 23, 2011 12:12 PM PDT reply actions

if it makes you feel any better

Monterrey will not be “all they can be” either. Several starters missing. They’ll field a weakened lineup probably similar to Pumas did against Dallas. The chances for an “epic win on the global scale” is pretty much nil, since Dallas already broke the seal. I want a win, too, but let’s not blow the importance of the second group stage game out of proportion.

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

by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 23, 2011 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

To be clear(er), my main points are

that we (1) have roster spots open and have not filled them; (2) we have known a very long time that we would most likely have this fixture congestion (esp. based on last year); (3) we have known for a very long time that would would be without Nkufo, Z, and (most likely) OBW this year; and (4) have not upgraded the roster at all. In the words of Billy Bean: “you have to always be upgrading, otherwise your f—-ed.” Just because I am saying we can be better is not saying that we currently suck. We could have another decent body (or two) to throw into this match and help us through the fixtures, and we simply don’t, and that IS ABSOLUTELY by FO’s choice. And that does not make me a Yankees fan….

by Brougham Hooligan on Aug 23, 2011 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

we could absolutely be better

you’ll get no argument there.

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

by Jeremiah Oshan on Aug 23, 2011 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think it's a question of limited resources

I think it’s a question of how best to use our extra resources.

by python6114 on Aug 23, 2011 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Correct move

I’d like to see us go all out for the open cup semi-final so if that means some of the key players only get 60 on Saturday that’s fine with me too.

Rosales deserves a break, Hurtado as well considering he’s still slowly coming back from his latest injury. Keller earned some time off with the family after his last save and Montero can get some rest.

We just have to get used to this idea of us actually being 16 players deep and can compete. The only player I’d be really worried about is Boss at goal. Everyone else might as well be a starter in the league other then maybe Jaqua as well as Boss.

by python6114 on Aug 23, 2011 12:34 PM PDT reply actions

When I say Jaqua

I mean whoever starts opposite of Fucito.

by python6114 on Aug 23, 2011 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Two strong teams...

I feel like we are at the point where we could field two completely different strong teams and have a good game. We have a lot of positions where two people could play who are both strong. For example, Wahl/Gonzalez-Neagle/Fernandez-Friberg/Evans. I think it is good that during this 18 day tough stretch that we continue to mix it up and keep everyone fresh.

by notoriusdrew on Aug 23, 2011 2:37 PM PDT reply actions