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After a poor start the Seattle Sounders FC did manage to grab themselves four points in an April that should have seen them with two or less. The May schedule is busy. It starts with three matches in eight days. It includes a Reserve match against a USL Pro team and ends with the Third Round of the Open Cup (opponent and team TBD).
Unlike that April, Seattle is favored to win at least one game. Even with their poor start and predictive numbers influenced by depth players rather than starters. May offers hope. As always, the club needs to perform on the field for that hope to be justified. Still the hope might only be for 4-7 points in the five MLS matches.
Green is a positive number for Seattle. Orange is negative. CPR is for sidereal's Crunchy Power Rankings
Away to Philadelphia Union(1 PM Saturday May the Fourth)
This weekends match is the best chance for away points. The Union are not strong at home, they are prone to give up goals and are the only team worse in week 10 Crunchy Power Rankings that the Sounders will face this month. It's also not an easy game for all the reasons that you expect - East Coast, injuries, away.
Away to Sporting Kansas City (5:30 PM Wednesday May 8)
Sporting is pretty awesome. For all the excitement of their multi-pronged attack they are a defense first team. Applying pressure throughout the pitch they force teams into poor passing situations and transition to the attack quickly. Seattle may have a few players fly into KC as they heal.
Home v San Jose Earthquakes (1 PM Saturday May 11)
The best chance for points in the month. The Earthquakes have not been very good. Of course neither has Seattle, but it is a home game against a team that will likely be looking to rebound from the losses of their "not Wondo" starting forwards.
Tacoma v Orlando City (4 PM Sunday May 12)
Home v FC Dallas (7:30 PM Saturday May 18)
Dallas is having an amazing season so far. At least they'll be the road team, but they are still pretty good. If they pull 1.25 points in road matches for the season they will have a strong road record. They are defensively stout in their 4-2-3-1 and have large forwards that can punish backlines.
Away to LA Galaxy (8 PM Sunday May 26)
The only team that Sagarin likes better than Dallas and Seattle faces them on the road. The good news is that by the end of May these measures will be nearly useless and the EJ/Oba tandem should be together. The bad news is that Landon Donovan will be full reintegrated into their squad.
US Open Cup Third Round (Tuesday May 28)
The Sounders could play a lot better at still be lacking the points to change the results based look at the standings. It is a tough month, but getting a couple wins and a couple draws would change the narrative. Eight or more points and the season is rescued (particularly if the wins are against the Western teams). The outlook is not good, but at least it isn't dire.