Seattle Sounders 2015 Season Thread

[dumbrabbit]

I think the away goal rule is dumb, but I'm willing to live with it.

 

[Smurf]

Yes I hope this quiets some of the Sigi haters, because his halftime adjustments moving Clint out to mid allowing Valdez to stay up top and not have to wear himself out was the difference IMO in the match.

Great to see us vanquish LA and exorcise that playoff demon, now all we have to worry about is health.............which doesn't look too good right now. Evans, Leo, Valdez, Ozzie and Pappa are all dinged up.

If we can't get somewhat healthy one of these younger faster clubs is going to run circles around us in the next round.

I still think its time for the Sounders to move on from Sigi..

Look, they won the game. but all three goals were absolute gifts by LA. And while the Sounders certainly won the 2nd half of that match, its been pretty typical of LA to fade after the first 45.

It was a good win for the team, considering the injuries. The players put in a tremendous effort. But the Galaxy were so very bad last night in defending. Almost comical.

Not sure, if i was a Sounders fan, I'd want to put too much emphasis on Sigi for exploiting that.

Does winning MLS cup change your opinion at all, should we win it?

Or do you feel that Sigi should be relieved regardless?

 

[Uncle Si]

It doesn't change my mind at all...But again, not a Sounders fan.

They came in as the 5 seed. and even stringing together a few results in a tournament isn't grounds to show the overall "program" is showing improvement.

I think Sigi is a fine manager. But his teams are set up rather blandly, and despite having two of the MLS' most technical players, the system behind them is fairly generic. I guess my issue with Sigi is one I hold for the MLS as a whole... it lacks creativity. Maybe i'd just like to see the MLS evolve beyond the Sigi's and Bruce Arena's with coaches like Porter (Timbers), Berhalter (Crew), Robinson (Whitecaps), Curtin (Union). Young, inventive managers willing to take chances.

I understand the league has trended greatly towards younger managers. Not a rip on Sigi as much as maybe just a hope to see a franchise like the Sounders with a younger, more creative manager

 

[Sgt. Largent]

It doesn't change my mind at all...But again, not a Sounders fan.

They came in as the 5 seed. and even stringing together a few results in a tournament isn't grounds to show the overall "program" is showing improvement.

I think Sigi is a fine manager. But his teams are set up rather blandly, and despite having two of the MLS' most technical players, the system behind them is fairly generic. I guess my issue with Sigi is one I hold for the MLS as a whole... it lacks creativity. Maybe i'd just like to see the MLS evolve beyond the Sigi's and Bruce Arena's with coaches like Porter (Timbers), Berhalter (Crew), Robinson (Whitecaps), Curtin (Union). Young, inventive managers willing to take chances.

I understand the league has trended greatly towards younger managers. Not a rip on Sigi as much as maybe just a hope to see a franchise like the Sounders with a younger, more creative manager

You're right, but if we had a healthy Clint, Ozzie, Marshall, Torres, Pappa, etc for the summer we would have won the SS by 10 pts.

So I do give Sigi credit for keeping this group of veterans hungry and motivated to keep the faith through all the bad luck, injuries and national call ups over the summer. That's not an easy task when you have veterans, it can turn south quickly when the losses pile up.

I still think the Sounders are too banged up to win the Cup, but I expect us to still fight like hell in the next round or two.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

That was Ross Fletchers last game. I don't know if the new guy will be in for the rest of the play offs or not. Hope it's someone good, watching the Timbers game on Root sports last night, their commentators voice was really annoying to me.

 

[Smurf]

That was Ross Fletchers last game. I don't know if the new guy will be in for the rest of the play offs or not. Hope it's someone good, watching the Timbers game on Root sports last night, their commentators voice was really annoying to me.

The entire rest of the playoffs will be televised on national TV, not local. That's why it was Ross' last televised game. I believe he will still have the radio calls with Kasey Keller, but I've been wrong before.

 

[dumbrabbit]

It doesn't change my mind at all...But again, not a Sounders fan.

They came in as the 5 seed. and even stringing together a few results in a tournament isn't grounds to show the overall "program" is showing improvement.

I think Sigi is a fine manager. But his teams are set up rather blandly, and despite having two of the MLS' most technical players, the system behind them is fairly generic. I guess my issue with Sigi is one I hold for the MLS as a whole... it lacks creativity. Maybe i'd just like to see the MLS evolve beyond the Sigi's and Bruce Arena's with coaches like Porter (Timbers), Berhalter (Crew), Robinson (Whitecaps), Curtin (Union). Young, inventive managers willing to take chances.

I understand the league has trended greatly towards younger managers. Not a rip on Sigi as much as maybe just a hope to see a franchise like the Sounders with a younger, more creative manager

You're right, but if we had a healthy Clint, Ozzie, Marshall, Torres, Pappa, etc for the summer we would have won the SS by 10 pts.

So I do give Sigi credit for keeping this group of veterans hungry and motivated to keep the faith through all the bad luck, injuries and national call ups over the summer. That's not an easy task when you have veterans, it can turn south quickly when the losses pile up.

I still think the Sounders are too banged up to win the Cup, but I expect us to still fight like hell in the next round or two.

I agree. I think we had one of the most complete rosters in the league at the time before Oba got hurt and Dempsey's suspension, we were in first by a mile in the SS race before injuries hit. If the Sounders were injury free they would have ran away with the Shield.

 

[Uncle Si]

All good points on Sigi....his experience is probably the main reason they are where they are.

 

[hawkfan68]

Injuries just keep hitting the Sounders....Evans has a hamstring injury. Defense is already suspect for the Sounders with Evans, without him...ouch.

 

[Vpk0718]

The problem isnt just the away goal itself, the problem is the home/away setup they're using for the next two rounds. I've always hated it. Unless you're playing a series of games like MLB/NHL/NBA do, then you don't deserve to play a second at home if you are a lower seed. And the 6th seeds should have to play entirely on the road and absolutely prove they are better than everyone else. If you're going to go with 6 teams, just do it the same way the NFL does.

 

[Smurf]

The problem isnt just the away goal itself, the problem is the home/away setup they're using for the next two rounds. I've always hated it. Unless you're playing a series of games like MLB/NHL/NBA do, then you don't deserve to play a second at home if you are a lower seed. And the 6th seeds should have to play entirely on the road and absolutely prove they are better than everyone else. If you're going to go with 6 teams, just do it the same way the NFL does.

Yeah...but then people would say we are copying the NFL instead of Europe....so its really not that different.

 

[dumbrabbit]

The problem isnt just the away goal itself, the problem is the home/away setup they're using for the next two rounds. I've always hated it. Unless you're playing a series of games like MLB/NHL/NBA do, then you don't deserve to play a second at home if you are a lower seed. And the 6th seeds should have to play entirely on the road and absolutely prove they are better than everyone else. If you're going to go with 6 teams, just do it the same way the NFL does.

Yeah...but then people would say we are copying the NFL instead of Europe....so its really not that different.

Well then it's an opportunity to make American soccer it's own. Make it unique. Once again I'm cool with the away goal rule. But have the higher seed be the home team first. At the end of the first leg if it's 0-0 then a 1-1 draw the next leg gives the higher seeded team the advantage and move on...

 

[Uncle Si]

Would be fair to give the higher team the choice. Not sure every manager believes,being home first is advantageous.

But that's the beauty if the away goal rule. It adds to the tactical chess match and approach the managers must make.

In terms of making the MLS different than Europe: aren't they already?

Two table format. No relegation or promotion. Two conference playoff systems, with each having a mix if different formats, that differ from the League promotion playoffs used in England. And an actual championship game that defines your true league champion.

It's very different and unique. Mixes some of European soccer and some of America's other sports playoff formats.

 

[knownone]

Looks like 3 games in 8 days is catching up to Seattle, they look a step behind, a touch off. Sucks being down 1-0 but it isn't a bad thing either, so long as they don't concede another goal in the second half. If Seattle is as good as we think they are they can grab a goal in Dallas.

Speed in transition is the only place Dallas is hurting us. If we're intent on playing such a wide open game, switching Azira for Rose would be a smart move.

 

[SeatownJay]

Seattle now up 2-1 with just a few minutes left.

 

[Uncle Si]

Big second half

 

[knownone]

The second leg will be interesting. Dallas relies so heavily on counters and set pieces to generate goals, i'm curious to see how they respond, they looked toothless trying to break us down from the run of play.

 

[hawkfan68]

Ivanschitz is a game changer. Dempsey is back to form. Dempsey has 4 goals in the last 3 games. He's on fire. A goal up going into Dallas.

 

[253hawk]

The MLS is doing it to keep teams from bunkering on the road (See: MLS Playoffs before 2014).

The playoffs have been much more entertaining since.

So whoever hosts the first game bunkers instead, so as not to give up those over-weighted road goals to the other team. Then at the very worst, they know exactly what they have to do in game 2 when they go on the road and can play much more aggressively, like getting possession last in college football OT.

It's royally stupid. Let's just make FG's, home runs, free throws, and hockey goals all count as double on the road in the playoffs while we're at it. Or just make it an odd-numbered series. If you get roasted at home, you're done. That's it. The other game is nearly pointless. Lose 4-1 on some flukes or dive-influenced FK's at home and blank the other team 3-0 in the next game? Too bad. Only Europeans could come up with such a lame system.

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

The MLS is doing it to keep teams from bunkering on the road (See: MLS Playoffs before 2014).

The playoffs have been much more entertaining since.

So whoever hosts the first game bunkers instead, so as not to give up those over-weighted road goals to the other team. Then at the very worst, they know exactly what they have to do in game 2 when they go on the road and can play much more aggressively, like getting possession last in college football OT.

It's royally stupid. Let's just make FG's, home runs, free throws, and hockey goals all count as double on the road in the playoffs while we're at it. Or just make it an odd-numbered series. If you get roasted at home, you're done. That's it. The other game is nearly pointless. Lose 4-1 on some flukes or dive-influenced FK's at home and blank the other team 3-0 in the next game? Too bad. Only Europeans could come up with such a lame system.

Jesus, you are salty. It is not changing soon, so get used to it or stop complaining. You are pissing into the wind.