Sounders are Floundering, Is it Time to Panic?
Even though the Sounders had an identical record as last year, and without the late season injury to Paul Rothrock, they made a good run. Three factors have been holding the Sounders back so far this year. The beginning of any professional season in any sport has injuries. One hopes that it isn’t to critical pieces to the puzzle, but it is always the case when players are trying to get back to top form. The second issue that they have is their pace of play. What the Sounders are trying to do isn’t working right now. The third part is how well the players gel with new additions and younger and more veteran players having to form one cohesive unit.
The “next man up” mentality is a bedrock for successful franchises. When the Patriots traded a key player, or a player was injured the next man would take on the challenge and work as a team to have success. It happens when a team’s mission is to dominate. That is the difference between a good stretch for a team and a dynasty. The Sounders have been in contention for winning the MLS cup since Brian Schmetzer took over the team. They have won 8 MLS Cups and titles since 2009. This year, injuries to Jordan Morris, Pedro de la Vega, Paul Arriola, and now Albert Rusnak, and Alex Roldan, as well having aging players and they have had a rough run. It is possible that Joao Paulo and Stefan Frei are approaching the end of their quality careers. So who is the next man up? Is it going to be Ryan Kent, who is trying to get into match fitness as well as Jordan Morris who should also be returning soon, it very well may be.
As for the pace of play, going into their last game against the new team from San Diego, they were ranked 4th in the league at time of possession. On rare occasions players would play a first time ball. Most of the time, they would take three or more touches. That discourages others from making hard runs which open up the defense. Seattle plays a possession game, but when they play it fast they are successful. Everything right now is slowed. Players getting back into form, the most talented players aren’t on the pitch, and so on. There is a time to dribble the ball, but connecting 1 touch passes is much more effective.
The Sounders have some young players that are learning, and older players that may have lost a step, but the potential is there. If Morris isn’t the 9, Ferreira has been stepping on the ball and Minoungou loses where he is at times. Right now the most skilled player for the Sounders is Rusnak, and the most athletic is fan favorite Nouhou, who just played in his 200th game. They don’t have Laderos or Ruidiaz to bail them out. With that said, there is enough talent on this team that with time, a deep run in the playoffs is foreseeable as they get fit and gel.
Comments