Seattle Sounders 2015 Season Thread

[Glasgow Seahawk]

They are barely hanging on to the final playoff spot and it's now getting to the point of hoping that the Timbers and Quakes lose games because the Sounders are finding ways not to win games. A win today secures a playoff spot, what to the Sounders do? They settle for a draw.

Dempsey has had minimal impact in recent games. He has lost a step since his hamstring injury. I have gut feeling and it's getting stronger than this may be his last season with the Sounders. Especially now that they have picked up Ivanschitz and Valdez.

I think he's been a bit of a bust given the salary he's making and the expectations. I feel Oba has made him better than he is. His better performances seem to have been for the USMNT which even lately haven't been great. Wouldn't mind trading him to dump his salary and do all we can to sign up Jordan Morris. Then invest Dempseys salary on defense with Scott getting closer to retirement and Marshall walking a concussion/health tightrope. We could probably get two decent defenders in this league for what Dempsey makes.

I wouldn't call Dempsey a bust, he and Oba work REALLY well together and he still changes the way teams defend us.

I will say he's too old to be going back and forth with USMNT duty. Dempsey was on fire until the USMNT matches started up again, then he got hurt and tired going back and forth through the summer.

RSL is out of the playoffs, so I don't imagine they're going to put up much of the fight. So if we lose or draw our last match and miss the playoffs, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

I take nothing for granted, we haven't played too well and RSL are a bit of a bogey team for us.

 

[Chapow]

A win today secures a playoff spot, what to the Sounders do? They settle for a draw.

I always find comments like this really bizarre. I mean, there is another team out there that is also trying to win the game. In fact, Houston was playing for their playoff lives. Anything but a win would knock them out of playoff contention and they couldn't pull it off. Do you think Houston was trying to win or did they also "settle for a draw" even though it meant missing the playoffs?

It's not like someone said "Would you guys like to win, lose, or draw today?" and the Sounders said "You know what? We'll go ahead and take the draw." Pretty sure they were trying to win and just weren't able to pull it off. It happens. A lot. To every team.

BTW, I think the Houston keeper deserves some credit here too. That was one hell of a save on Dempsey's free kick in the 89th minute.

EDIT: Or did I just completely misunderstand what you meant and you believe that the Sounders were playing for a draw?

 

[hawkfan68]

A win today secures a playoff spot, what to the Sounders do? They settle for a draw.

I always find comments like this really bizarre. I mean, there is another team out there that is also trying to win the game. In fact, Houston was playing for their playoff lives. Anything but a win would knock them out of playoff contention and they couldn't pull it off. Do you think Houston was trying to win or did they also "settle for a draw" even though it meant missing the playoffs?

It's not like someone said "Would you guys like to win, lose, or draw today?" and the Sounders said "You know what? We'll go ahead and take the draw." Pretty sure they were trying to win and just weren't able to pull it off. It happens. A lot. To every team.

BTW, I think the Houston keeper deserves some credit here too. That was one hell of a save on Dempsey's free kick in the 89th minute.

EDIT: Or did I just completely misunderstand what you meant and you believe that the Sounders were playing for a draw?

I believe the Sounders were happy with the draw considering they went down a goal. These are games very good teams win. With the amount of talent the Sounders have, draws should not be happening on a regular basis lately as they are. It should be wins. They shouldn't have to fight for their playoff lives, they should be where Vancouver, LA, and FC Dallas is sitting right now. That's all I'm saying. At times it seems they rather go into games looking to draw than to win. Personally, I hate draws but that's another whole topic. If I could change the system, I'd eliminate the draws altogether.

 

[Chapow]

I believe the Sounders were happy with the draw considering they went down a goal.

This I couldn't disagree with more. Of course they would rather a draw than a loss, but I don't believe for a second that they were anything but disappointed that they didn't come away with a win.

At times it seems they rather go into games looking to draw than to win.

The only time I believe this is the case is when they are on the road against a very good team and they are missing most of their best players due to injury, international call ups, and suspensions. Even then, I don't believe they are looking to draw per se, but understand that without 5 or 6 of their best players their best chance at a result is 1 point instead of 3.

These are games very good teams win. With the amount of talent the Sounders have, draws should not be happening on a regular basis lately as they are. It should be wins. They shouldn't have to fight for their playoff lives, they should be where Vancouver, LA, and FC Dallas is sitting right now. That's all I'm saying.

This I pretty much agree with. I don't mean to excuse away their performances lately, but for whatever reason they just have not been able to get back to their early season form. They were far and away the best team in the league for the first 3 months of the season and then that gawd awful USOC game against Portland happened. The wheels came off in a pretty major way during/following that game (injuries, international call ups, suspensions, DUI's) and they just haven't been able to put it all back together. It sucks man, I can't help but wonder how this season would've gone if Oba hadn't gotten injured and Clint hadn't decided to tear up the refs notebook in that damn USOC game.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

So how does SKC's loss tonight affect the Sounders play off chances? Would love to see SKC not make the play offs.

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

So how does SKC's loss tonight affect the Sounders play off chances? Would love to see SKC not make the play offs.

No effect. We either need SJ to lose to Dallas or any positive result from our match on Sunday. We could still technically finish second in the conference with a win, a Galaxy loss, then having Vancouver and Portland both draw.

So, we want SKC to beat LA and we are also Rapids and Dynamo fans.

This is predicated on me believing that we hold the tie breaker over SKC.

 

[hawkfan68]

If the Sounders win, they're in the playoffs. If they don't win, the playoff picture gets more complex.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Ross Fletcher is leaving after the season. I never really took to him compared to Arlo White but he is better than a lot of MLS commentators. Hopefully we get some decent again. I still find it weird when I hear American commentators use the term 'turnovers' and other American football phrases in this game.

Edit: Going by his wife tweeting, it was a club decision rather than his own.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Ross Fletcher is leaving after the season. I never really took to him compared to Arlo White but he is better than a lot of MLS commentators. Hopefully we get some decent again. I still find it weird when I hear American commentators use the term 'turnovers' and other American football phrases in this game.

Edit: Going by his wife tweeting, it was a club decision rather than his own.

All the Twitter talk about this is it was a cost cutting move. Which doesn't make a lot of sense for a club that fancies itself the elite of the MLS in every aspect.

My only guess is since Keller did not also get let go, this is more about either Keller's salary (wanting more), or he didn't gel/like working with Ross.

Fletcher was just OK for me, nothing special...............especially compared to Arlo.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Ross Fletcher is leaving after the season. I never really took to him compared to Arlo White but he is better than a lot of MLS commentators. Hopefully we get some decent again. I still find it weird when I hear American commentators use the term 'turnovers' and other American football phrases in this game.

Edit: Going by his wife tweeting, it was a club decision rather than his own.

All the Twitter talk about this is it was a cost cutting move. Which doesn't make a lot of sense for a club that fancies itself the elite of the MLS in every aspect.

My only guess is since Keller did not also get let go, this is more about either Keller's salary (wanting more), or he didn't gel/like working with Ross.

Fletcher was just OK for me, nothing special...............especially compared to Arlo.

I don't think Keller is worth the money if that is the case. He seems too much of a homer. I thought Zakuani was really refreshing when he filled in this season as an analyst.

 

[Smurf]

Depends on the name they bring in to replace him.

Seems a odd situation.

The Club seems to have changed its direction in terms off fan presentation over the last few years. With well known people like Shane Evans, Matt Gaschk and now Fletcher leaving the organization.

 

[JSeahawks]

LA at Seattle should be fun.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I don't think Keller is worth the money if that is the case. He seems too much of a homer. I thought Zakuani was really refreshing when he filled in this season as an analyst.

I like Zak too, but he'd be more of a color commentator, like Keller. That still leaves a play by play opening.

idk, it seems silly to me. Fletcher wasn't Arlo, but he was good. No reason to make a change just for change sake if it wasn't about salary.

As far as The Galaxy coming? I'm hoping that the Sounders are finally getting healthy enough to be on some good form.

But the Galaxy seem to have our number in the playoffs, so a win would be most awesome to exorcise those demons.

 

[hawkfan68]

Sounders are due to send the Galaxy packing from the playoffs. I hope they do since the lame way the ended up losing to them in last year's playoffs.

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

Tonight at 7pm on FSN. Elimination match.

 

[Uncle Si]

Tonight at 7pm on FSN. Elimination match.

Yeah, really hoping for more pre-game commentary today. People just nervous?

 

[SeatownJay]

Tonight at 7pm on FSN. Elimination match.

Yeah, really hoping for more pre-game commentary today. People just nervous?

They're playing L.A. in the playoffs. I've already resigned myself to a loss tonight.

 

[Smurf]

Tonight at 7pm on FSN. Elimination match.

Yeah, really hoping for more pre-game commentary today. People just nervous?

I'm working nights right now so hard to keep active here.

I am extremely confident we can get the job done.

While I don't think we keep a clean sheet we have the fire power necessary to win.

LA has been off of their norm since the arrival of Giovani Dos Santos. It is very easy to see them slide.



Looking forward to the game.


Prediction: 3-1

Keane

Dempsey, Marshall, Martins.

 

[CurryStopstheRuns]

Tonight at 7pm on FSN. Elimination match.

Yeah, really hoping for more pre-game commentary today. People just nervous?

Work

 

[Uncle Si]

Thoroughly enjoyable first half thus far... LA really coming on since the 2nd goal