Sounder at Heart 2017 in Review

It was Sounder at Heart’s ninth season covering the Seattle Sounders, our first with a gold star above that double-shield of Rave Green and Capitol Blue. Jose and Spenser got hired away from working with us, which is wonderful. SaH continues to add new voices because we know that the diverse group of staff is a stronger staff and will continue to do that in 2018. We most often find new staff from our comments section and/or FanPosts. Our community is worth reading. Being a community is a huge part of what makes us special.

Let’s kick this off our year in review not with the most read stories, but those that required original reporting, because as we’ve said for some time, Sounder at Heart is more than just a blog. Many of us are former professionals (or still professionals in related fields). We will break stories, use our access and help you understand this sport around the Puget Sound better than anyone.

Our review is presenting a majority of stories as their headline and dek so you can see them again as they were when they were new.

More than a blog

Just as Brad Evans got healthy Sounders replaced him, again - Sounder At Heart
"But ultimately, I see myself as a right back now and in the future, until I stop playing."

Sounders owner explains why some season tickets had sudden price spikes - Sounder At Heart
Adrian Hanauer insists the total increase was only in "mid-single digits" while acknowledging big bumps on some seats.

Sounders 2 moving to Tacoma for 2018 season - Sounder At Heart
S2 will play in Cheney Stadium as stadium quest continues. A story we broke, that became official just a few days later.

S2 announces plans to move to Tacoma - Sounder At Heart
Sounders will partner with Tacoma Rainiers on a new soccer stadium.

Rumors

In 2018 we will continue to use the connections we’ve developed over the past 9+ years to bring you more stories, more news, more rumors.

Because what you read most were transfer rumors, by far. Here are the biggest of those from 2017, in order of most read to the ninth most read. The portion in italics explains whether it happened or didn’t.

Derlis Gonzalez heading to Sounders, according to Paraguay media - Sounder At Heart
Assuming reports are accurate, this would be quite the signing. It didn’t happen.

Keisuke Honda could be signing with Sounders ‘in coming hours’ - Sounder At Heart
Japanese star is on the outs with AC Milan and Italian reports say he’s heading to Seattle. It didn’t happen.

La Liga attacking midfielder linked to Seattle Sounders - Sounder At Heart
Could the Sounders be adding a second player, or is this Plan B? Victor Rodriguez signed as a TAM player.

Highly experienced Dutch right back joins Sounders - Sounder At Heart
Kelvin Leerdam is the first of what is expected to be several summer signings. He signed as a TAM player, the highest paid right back in MLS.

Alvaro Fernandez said he’s leaving Sounders - Sounder At Heart
Sounders midfielder told Seattle’s Univision station as much but left the timeline a little unclear. Flaco left midseason.

China pipeline flows both ways, Sounders set to sign Sweden int'l - Sounder At Heart
Gustav Svensson has reportedly signed with the Sounders to provide defensive midfield depth. The Swede would be a TAM talent, but his team in China is paying about 80% of his contract.

Lamar Neagle returns to Sounders - Sounder At Heart
Sounders acquire Federal Way product for the fourth time, sending a fourth-round SuperDraft pick to D.C. United. A regular in the 18 during the stretch run.

Sebastián Blanco back in Sounders sights - Sounder At Heart
Sebastián Blanco may be leaving San Lorenzo for Seattle or Club America. Poor dude wound up signing with the Timbers.

Talking through this Fredy Montero rumor - Sounder At Heart
Some Twitter account says he’s leaving China and possibly heading for the Sounders, but there’s a lot reason to be skeptical. Poor dude wound up signing with the Whitecaps.

These weren’t rumors, but negative stories that impacted the Sounders in different ways.

Roman Torres fully vindicated by LevyFilms footage of red-card incident - Sounder At Heart
Shot from behind the play appears to show Torres making a clean play on the ball.

Osvaldo Alonso seems to be venting about the Sounders' Protected List - Sounder At Heart
He’s using a meme to take a shot at the Front Office, maybe.

Sounders expose Osvaldo Alonso to MLS Expansion Draft - Sounder At Heart
Joevin Jones is only starter from MLS Cup final to be unprotected.

Joevin Jones’ Sounders future is suddenly in doubt - Sounder At Heart
At the very least, Jones will miss upcoming Cascadia Cup games. At the very worst, he’s done with the Sounders.

Joevin Jones will join German club in January - Sounder At Heart
Sounders left back will finish this season before joining Darmstadt.

Ozzie remains with Seattle, after possible damaging his relationship with the front office. Jones is no longer a Sounder. Torres’ option was picked up.

Ride of the Valkyries

Our sub-blog dedicated to the Seattle Reign FC does everything we do for the Sounders. They cover news, break stories, and help provide context to the region’s second most popular local soccer team.

Laura Harvey out, Vlatko Andonovski in as Seattle Reign coach - Sounder At Heart
A new era begins for Seattle Reign FC.

Reign FC owner responds to report of ‘unsustainable losses’ - Sounder At Heart
Bill Predmore re-asserts commitment to team and league while indicating team is looking for a new home.

A look at why Sounders attendance is awesome, while Reign attendance is mediocre.

And interviews with six Reign FC Originals — Rapinoe, Fishlock, Nairn, Reed, Barnes, and Kopmeyer.

Issues beyond the Sound

Sounder at Heart and ECS were also willing to speak out about issues that stretched beyond the hills and shores of Puget Sound. Our politics in sports coverage will always be obvious in the headline. If you don’t want to read it, don’t click.

Don’t do to Columbus what the NBA did to Seattle - Sounder At Heart
It’s not too late to stop the relocation madness.

ECS to Sounders ownership: Please deny Crew’s move to Austin - Sounder At Heart
"It’s not about saving that fanbase. We’re writing to you today to save our ideals."

ECS fills section with anti-fascist/anti-racist banners - Sounder At Heart
Two-poles are clearly a response to Sunday’s events.

Sounders owners weigh in on removal of anti-fascist, anti-racist banner - Sounder At Heart
Statement comes in response to fans being removed from B.C. Place for holding a sign denouncing fascism and racism.

We also love to have fun

Baldomero Toledo’s blown penalty call at least made a great meme - Sounder At Heart
Twitter had a lot of fun at Toledo’s expense.

Sounders fans unveil epic Decision Day tifo - Sounder At Heart
The display is the largest in club history

Rare on-field surrender cobra spotted - Sounder At Heart
Yes, that’s Jake Gleeson sporting the viral symbol of the defeated fan.

Olympia brewery makes Clint Dempsey-themed beer, sells it in Portland, hilarity ensues - Sounder At Heart
The beer is called "Deuce Juice" because ... why not?

Here’s the thing. We love the Sounders. We love the Reign. We love all things soccer in Puget Sound, and we are going to find ways to share that with you. Check out our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and we have the best podcast the Sounders community will ever hear. Nos Audietis are also on Twitter. Our Reign coverage is at Ride Of The Valkyries and is also on Twitter and Facebook. We maintain an apparel store with Web Community Tees.

We will cover news of kit releases and games. Because you love that stuff, and that stuff will happen again in 2018.

Sounders’ new kit is ode to history - Sounder At Heart
And you will all get stars.

Sounders at Toronto FC, MLS Cup: Streaming, news, highlights, analysis - Sounder At Heart
They lost.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that our most read game stories were related to the return to MLS Cup. We break down games with scouting reports, Three Questions, award winning gamethreads, recaps, postgame pontifications, player ratings and much more. In 2018 that means as many as 53 matches for the First Team, 38 for S2, 26 for the Reign and numerous matches for the United States national teams, while covering the World Cup performances of the Sounders that did qualify.

nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto

you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep

this is our Sound

Our staff’s promise to you is simple — we will give you professional quality content and never hide our passions.

• signed Dave Clark, Jeremiah Oshan, Susie Rantz, sidereal, Jacob Cristobal, Realio, Chris Tobin, Jacob Landsberg, Thurston Howell IV, arbeck, Jacob Sweeney-Samuelson, Brett Hightower, Sevenless, Scott Burbidge, Chris Blakely, Max Aquino

Here’s to a wonderful 2018.