Rankinator results differ from Realio’s (and the community’s) rankings

Over the offseason Sounder at Heart took a few different looks at how the team performed in 2017. We asked you to rank players in the Rankinator, while both Realio and Scott Burbidge looked at player performances with the First Team and S2, respectively. You also awarded players the best Offensive and Defensive Player of 2017. These differing methodologies produced differing results, most notably in the “best” player of the year. (Admittedly, using Realio’s ratings for “best” isn’t really fair to his system.) If the Rankinator offers the clearest indication, that it’s Mr. Stefan Frei that the Seattle Sounders community feels was the best of 2017.

Frei also won the SaH Defensive Player of the Year award. Clint Dempsey won the SaH Offensive Player of the Year. Cristian Roldan won SaH Best Young Player of the Year. Megan Rapinoe won SaH/RoValks Seattle Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Memorable Moment went to Roldan’s goal in the comeback win over D.C. United.

The Rankinator results are listed by ranking, player, average within the rankinator, links to Realio’s or Scott’s end of year writings, and status for 2018.

1. Stefan Frei: 2.7, Realio #6, returning
2. Cristian Roldan: 3.2, Realio #2, returning
3. Nico Lodeiro: 5.0, Realio #3, returning
4. Clint Dempsey: 5.1, Realio #4, returning
5. Chad Marshall: 5.6, Realio #5, returning
6. Gustav Svensson: 6.6, Realio #7, returning
7. Joevin Jones: 7.1, Realio #12, with SV Darmstadt 98 (Sounders control MLS rights)
8. Kelvin Leerdam: 8.6, Realio #8, returning
9. Will Bruin: 8.9, Realio #15, returning
10. Roman Torres: 9.4, Realio #18, returning
11. Osvaldo Alonso: 9.7, Realio #9, returning
12. Nouhou: 12.6, Realio #11, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
13. Victor Rodriguez: 13.2, Realio #1, returning
14. Jordan Morris: 13.6, Realio #17, returning
15. Harry Shipp: 16.1, Realio #10, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
16. Jordy Delem: 16.8, Realio #25, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
17. Tony Alfaro: 17.3, Realio #23, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
18. Brad Evans: 18.9, Realio #13, free agent
19. Oniel Fisher: 19.6, Realio #21, traded to D.C. United
20. Alvaro Fernandez: 19.9, Realio #14, released and signed with CA San Martin de San Juan in Argentina’s first division
21. Tyler Miller: 20.4, Realio #19, Scott’s recap with S2, selected by LAFC in Expansion Draft
22. Lamar Neagle: 20.6, Realio #20, free agent
23. Aaron Kovar: 21.4, Realio #16, Scott’s recap with S2, on loan to LAFC
24. Henry Wingo: 22.4, Realio #22, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
25. Seyi Adekoya: 23.6, Realio #24, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
26. Zach Mathers: 26.4, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
27. Bryan Meredith: 26.6, Scott’s recap with S2, returning
28. Victor Mansaray: 26.7, was on loan to FC Cincinnati and then waived, free agent after playing rest of 2017 with Umeå in Sweden’s third division
29. Callum Mallace: 26.8, Scott’s recap with S2, selected by LAFC in Re-Entry Draft

The biggest loss is clear — it’s Joevin Jones. There are other losses in the fullback depth chart though, as 2017’s top two right backs to start the season are now both gone, unless Evans chooses to sign here after flirting with Sporting KC.

And with that we stick a fork in 2017. It was a decent year with a slow start due to a wave of injuries that hit two position groups, injuries that slowed Jordan Morris, an injury that prevented Osvaldo Alonso from playing in the return to MLS Cup, and the dazzling return of Clint Dempsey from heart troubles. The only trophy was the Heritage Cup. In the standings Seattle was seventh for the Shield and second for the West. Brian Schmetzer continued to look every bit the part of an MLS manager in his first full year.

Now, it is on to 2018 with a quest to establish a dynasty, the opportunity to claim a new trophy in the CONCACAF Champions League, and a declaration to the world — you will hear us.

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.

This first competitive match is Feb 22 at 7:00 p.m. against Santa Tecla in El Salvador. Leg 2 is March 1 at 7:00 p.m. in CenturyLink Field. MLS play starts with LAFC coming to Seattle on March 4 at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN.