Postgame Pontifications
Win over KC was clear sign Sounders have turned the page
If you were waiting for a clear sign that last year’s struggles are behind the Sounders, the 4-1 win over Sporting KC should go a long way toward reassuring you.
Solid if unspectacular
Sounders were closer to dominant than bad in a 0-0 tie against the league’s best team.
It wasn’t a failure but road performances need to improve
Sounders need to clean up some little mistakes after losing first road game of the season.
‘Highlife Soccer’ is about more than sexy passing
Attractive as the Sounders play has been, the engine of their success is dogged defending and an ability to extend possessions.
Jordan Morris looks ready to explode
After an up-and-down 2022, Morris’s opened the 2023 campaign with one of his best-ever performances.
Club World Cup was something to build on
The performance was mostly positive, but there’s areas for obvious improvement.
Where do Sounders go from here?
Much of what ailed the Sounders in 2022 was on display in the season-finale and were indicative of what must be fixed.
Frustratingly fitting finish to Sounders season
How did a season with so much promise go off the rails?
Go ahead, tell us the odds
The tie against FC Cincinnati didn’t eliminate the Sounders, but it removed literally all room for error, much of which is out of their control.
Quite down, not quite out
Sounders seem to be losing a lot of "must-win" games but they still have a path to redemption.
Daring to be optimistic
The Sounders’ young midfield passed their biggest test in handling Austin FC.
We had fun ... let’s do it again
A playoff push still feels like a true long shot, but Nouhou at least reminded us how to cheer.
It’s the hope that kills
Loss to Orlando may have been the most painful one yet.
Hope is running thin
Sounders seem intent on letting the air out of the season in the most painful ways possible.
Finally, reason for hope
It wasn’t a perfect performance or even an ideal result, but Sounders showed us something they haven’t shown in quite some time.
It’s beyond time to ‘figure it out’
Sounders wasted another opportunity to solidify their standing, and are stretching patience thin.
One-goal losses are growing all-too familiar
Historically an area of strength, Sounders are struggling in close games.
Gutsy performance was exactly what Sounders needed
Maybe this was exactly the kind of win the Sounders needed to break out of their funk.
Time for change, not panic
Hopefully loss to Fire can serve as a "rude awakening."
Not playing up to their potential
Sounders are stuck in a bit of a rut right now.
Losing at home to Timbers has gotten old
Sounders were their own worst enemy in another frustrating home loss to Timbers.
Strong finish to first half of season
Sounders’ 2-0 road win over Toronto FC makes them 6-2-1 since their focus turned to MLS play.
Montreal’s press gave Sounders’ fits
Sounders had a chance to close out a glorious homestand, but instead will head on the road needing results.
Seeds planted during early season rotation now beginning to bloom
Sounders continuing to get results despite injury crunch.
Fun to watch, but not much learned
Sounders showed they can hang with the league’s best, but we kinda already knew that.
Sounders seem to be hitting their stride at just right time
The Sounders showed they can win even without most of their first-choice players.
Big-picture assessment of Sounders season
There’s plenty to be optimistic about as the Sounders get a much-needed break.
Letting points slip
Sounders can’t afford to walk away from winnable games empty-handed.
Grindy win was just what Sounders needed
They also threw in a bit of excellence just for good measure.
Not perfect, but very encouraging
It wasn’t quite a must-win, but Sounders got a result they badly needed.
Time to get back to business
Playing at Starfire was a welcome distraction, but there are bigger prizes in play than the U.S. Open Cup.
If past is prelude, the Sounders will be just fine
This is not the league start any of us wanted, but there’s still plenty of time to fix it.