The sayer of neigh!

The day after hasn't brought a glowing shimmer of love to my opinion of yesterday's disappointment in Colorado.

Certainly I could whine about our finishing, but talk about a dead horse (fell to the ground last season, rotting in the rain of Washington's extended winter).

I could add to the babble concerning our depth at midfield having reared its ugly head due to a rash of injuries. (Am I the only one who is calling for a SERIOUS look at the training staff of the Sounders at this point?)

Nope, I'll join the small group (could be just me) demanding Freddie be benched. Let's take a look at the numbers shall we? Two assists from eleven matches. Assuming any number I've read is accurate (let's not, okay), FL10 is making $600,000+ per year on his two year contract. That would make his rate of pay per match, approximately 20k. We would then have shelled out, to date, $110k per assist from our Swede.

Is this too much for everything else he brings to the table? I say yes. Will benching him for one match make financial sense (upping his rate per assist to $120k)? Not really. But at this point, who cares?

But Jonathon, you may argue, he brings other things to the table. Yes, he does. He pulls three defenders to him and doesn't get rid of the ball soon enough to make the opposition's positioning pay for the triple team, he mostly loses the ball. He also whines at the referees. Manages to hit free kicks into a one man wall (two times, so far) or not on frame. Hasn't produced a corner kick that resulted in a goal (out of 55 attempts). These things he has done.

Thankfully I haven't been keeping track of unforced turnovers this season as I thought the practice was overkill last year (the whole one game I did it), but I am guessing (from the non-clinical data I have...my memory), the numbers would be unfavorable. Not solely from Mr. Llungberg, either. This problem has been plaguing Tyrone Marshall the entirety of this season, long balls from the back, straight to the other team.

I've said this on the podcast and for the three of you who don't listen, I say call this season a wash, bring on the young lads (ya know, the ones who ran around against Boca and looked like they were enjoying themselves), get them experience for next year so we can at least field decent teams against Portland and Vancouver.

In other news, there was some movement in our Prediction League, not much, as we all expected some sort of showing from the boys in Green.

Jonathon: 15
Troy: 13
KP: 11
Bocasounders: 4
Jason: 2

I'm going on record right now and saying we will lose to New England 1-0 in a sleeper of a match at Qwest. I don't know if any of the Revolution will actually be able to produce a goal all by themselves, so I am forced to predict an own goal by Parke. Most likely off the head.

Kiddie Day at The T

As a season-ticket holder for the Sounders I have to ditch the family fifteen to twenty times a year to immerse myself in the rave-green, soccer-loving raucous stadium. At least when they're winning. When they play like crap the atmosphere is more sedate. But win or lose, good mood or dour I'm still ditching the family. As much fun at that is, and it is, occasionally I'm dumb enough to try to include my children.

Maybe I am crazy, but society made me what I am. Or not, but I firmly believe we are the product of the decisions we make and you have no one to blame but yourself for whichever predicament you're in. So it was my own fault that I had to try to corral two small children in a crowd of 30,000 people last season. The important thing is that I learned from that decision. I learned I'd never do that again. Instead I decided to take them both to a game this season - but only one at a time. Divide and conquer, that's my motto.

I exaggerate at times, Jack was a dream both times he went to games. He slept through both games. That does make him easy to manage but doesn't give him much of a chance to enjoy the outing, which is a good part of the reason I took him. Lucas presented a different problem. He doesn't want to sit through an entire game. I know that, but I take him anyway - time together, bonding, all that crap. So instead of a trip to Seattle for me to watch a game somewhat free of child-ditching guilt I tried to make this last occasion more enjoyable for him. I arranged for Jon to bring Xander along but didn't tell Lucas ahead of time. As much as Lucas said he was excited to go to the game, finding out the Xander was coming along was an actual thrill for him. But it wasn't the only surprise. As luck would have it, the Sounder commuter train was running this day (it only matches the soccer schedule a couple of times a year) so Jon and I chose to treat the boys to a train ride. What could be better?

A win would be nice, but the home team disappointed the faithful on this sunny Saturday. Oh well, Lucas found diversion in the stands. Tops on his list was the confetti. Jon and I have seats on the aisle so Lucas was able to scamper out on the steps to pick up the mylar flecks whenever he wanted. Which was far more often than a reasonable person would suspect. He also seemed to enjoy climbing up and down from his seat. Keep in mind that our section stands for the entire game, so a person of Lucas' size isn't able to see. Standing on the seat helps. Also, keep in mind his ticket was for another part of the stadium. Our section is sold out, but luckily contains some very considerate people. They "scooched" down again to make room for the kids.

This latest home loss leaves the Sounders winless in front of my boys, maybe they’re bad luck. Xander, for his part, watched the game and taught the rest of us some hand wavy magic-inducing nonsense. I only say that because the Sounders never did score so his magic isn't worth a shit.

Here there be predictions

In case you weren't aware, I went on vacation last week and didn't update the prediction table either before or after, so here I am including the last three games into the totals and my, what a silly mess we have here.

Jonathon: 15 (on a staggering 8 point gain from the SJ loss)
Troy: 13 (three each from LA and SJ)
KP: 10 (three from LA)
Jason: 2 (one from LA)

All other competitors, unchanged as predictions not received.

Perhaps next season, we'll give up on this here prediction league and try to get the entire Tribe into MFLS for their Prediction League, so we can all match heads on every MLS games and I won't have to keep this here running tally (cuz they do it automatically...and that's gooder).

Did we really get 3 road points?

A little stats for you, we have 12 points total.  That currently has us in the last playoff spot.  We have 7 home points  in 5 games and 5 away points in 4 games.  Last road win was Oct 24th 2009 against KC, so not too terribly long ago and over all we seem to play OK away from the T (that one is for you Troy).  This site has an interesting look at the playoffs, I always like to see which games affect the numbers weekly.  One last thing I dug up was this Strength of Schedule site, not that I put anything into it but we have played the toughest to date.

Now with all that said, and yes it is early to talk playoff, but if we can stay in the "hunt" till Blaise gets into town (and not just for media sessions) then I think we have a real chance to make it again this year.  I think overall the team played with much more energy this past weekend against the Red Bulls.  There were still areas of concern, CLEAR THE BALL defenders no need for extra touches.  Our midfield still needs some help (come back Ozzie) but it was much better, not sure that was so much Ianni as it was the V man playing better.  While I would say the attacking overall was better, we still need to SHOOT!!!  And I think Montero should come off the bench all the time, he at least ran a little for the 15 minutes he was in.

On to this week where we play San Jose.  SJ hasn't played the toughest of folks, but last year they did lay it on us (the other 4 to nil loss for the Sounders).  I am thinking we keep the wheels on the bus, Sounders win 2 - 1 with goals from Zak, Evans, and Opara for SJ.  This is a conference game at home, we need the 3 points.

My observations

First, Debra and I got some friends to watch Kasen and we were ready to watch some quality footy.  Well that, as you all know, couldn't be farther from the truth.  The boys by far had their worst game ever, there was no effort, no teamwork, no shooting (OK maybe there was one), I think my Co-Rec team could have beaten the Sounders on Sat.  The boys are having a sophomore slump and need to get some points such that when Blaise shows up and we have a real forward we might still have a chance to make the playoffs.  Anybody question how important Ozzy is to the team after yesterday?  I disagree with Sigi and think he could have made a difference in this game.


The Boys need to start playing as a team and SHOOTING THE BALL.  Can't win if you don't shoot right.  I find the fact that Sigi stated:

 We compete for spots every week. I’ve given some guys a longer leash than others. That leash just tore today.

really interesting and it makes me wonder what is in store for the lineup against Red Bulls (who also lost 4 - 0 this past weekend).  

The positive of the weekend, we get some money back for the crap we had to sit through - http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2010/05-May/Sounders-to-issue-refund.aspx

Last - Sounders are in last in the West solo, that is right bottom of the table (well not quite but you get the point)

Fingers crossed for some points this coming weekend, but I don't see that happening.  Sounders lose 2 - 0 with goals coming from Angel and Ibrahim.

-KP

Well, well, well...

Last week saw an impressive Seattle offense sputter and eventually shrivel under its own weight (or was that Nyassi's foul). But among us there were predictions, so let's get to 'em.

KP: 7
Troy: 7
Jonathon: 7
Bocasounders: 3 (no prediction received)
Christina: 2 (exact score)
Rick: 2
Marty: 1
Dave: 1
Jason: 1
Debbie: 1

I feel as though I am leaving someone out here. Let me know if you have proof of my idiocy (in regards to the scores).

What say you about the upcoming Landycakes/Buddle train heading through Seattle on Saturday?