Someone likes us (or something)

Certainly it can't be held too much against me that I want to revel in the fact that someone actually listened to the podcast and chose to add a link to it over on Goal Seattle.com. Someone thinks the job Troy and I have done so far doesn't stink. Well, rock on us!

That said, Troy and I have agreed to try to produce pre-game shows earlier in order to be able to post them well before the match. For the 2010 season, we will also be recording the post-game shows immediately after the match, on the way home from the game (when we travel together -- which is most, but not all, of the time).

Looking to the first play-off match tomorrow, as Keller is broken and Montero is sick, Houston will easily walk out of The T with a 5-0 devastating humiliation of the Sounders. You read it here first.

New England pregame podcast

Troy and I are going to make efforts to have both pre-game and post-game podcasts for each match. While this will certainly be easier for away matches, the ultimate goal will be to post remotely from Qwest prior to home matches (this would require better hardware/software on my part).

As the title suggests, our pre-game for tomorrow's match is available now here: Tribe 131 Sounders Pow Wow. In case you were curious, this podcast features our theme song (getting more moronic with every show).

Let us know what you think.

Tribe 131 Sounders Pow Wow Podcast is now up

And as promised, I've done went and posted the first show (in all its messy glory). With a bit of work, the sound quality may improve (although the background noise in the car probably won't).

Please comment here (or there) with suggestions, etc. I have submitted the podcast to iTunes but probably won't get listed there for a week or so.

Here is the link: Tribe 131 Sounders Pow Wow

What if the trend continues?

At what point does a loyal fan (me) give up hope? I'm not suggesting I'm going to stop cheering for the boys, or even bad mouth any part of the squad or coaching decisions but really, shouldn't I lower my expectations?

If I simply stop thinking the Sounders are going to break their home scoring slump, then I can't possibly be disappointed when they don't score a goal at Qwest, right? I should simply take solace in their uncanny ability to find the back of the net other places around the league (including 4 goals in two matches at RFK) and root for a 0-0 draw when Dallas comes to town in October, right? I'll just cheer louder for the back four and Mr. Keller in hopes of preventing a goal we certainly can't equalize.

In other news, I should have the link to the Tribe 131 podcast (which now has a name "Tribe 131 Sounders Pow Wow", thanks Troy) posted later this evening, probably very late. With any luck, we'll be recording another podcast after the New England match and I'll be sure to post here when the new shows hit the interwebs.

And one more thing, New England should beat us by three.

Trade thoughts?

Troy and I got into a discussion yesterday centering on who should be traded from the Sounders FC and the reasons why.

I will not speak for Troy, as he has the ability to add a comment to this particular thread and is more than able to elaborate on his thoughts there. However, I will say the conversation started when Troy suggested we trade Brad Evans as we could get something for him. This didn't just fall from the ether, Troy let me know that Dwayne De Rosario was traded to Toronto FC for Julius James, who has now been traded from Houston to DC United for a third round draft pick in 2012. So essentially Toronto got De Rosario for nothing. I however, found Julius James to be a solid defender and worth significantly more than Houston does. I made this point to Troy at the match vs. Houston at Qwest and again at Starfire. I thought Julius James was underrated and apparently Houston thought quite little of him.

This led to Troy's suggestion of trading Evans. I didn't outright disagree but thought perhaps we should have someone on the field with the speed of Zakuani on the right wing, who could perhaps keep up with Stevie Z and be in the area for crosses originating from the left. Oh wait, said I, we already have Sanna Nyassi. Troy countered with Nyassi's poor crossing to date to which I put forth, perhaps if Sanna was allowed to get more experience in match situations, his touch would become better.

We both agreed, on the ongoing thought we should trade Montero for a forward who has a better work rate. Yes, Montero has scored ten goals this season and for that we are grateful (and humbled). However, when 9 of the 11 men on the Sounders run and fight for the ball on almost every play, it is certainly the one that doesn't who sticks out. (Who is number 10 you ask? Well, depending on the week, Keller could be number 10.)

I say, start Nyassi on the right side, tuck Ljungberg under Jaqua up front and try to get Nyassi ready for next year. Le Toux can sub for Zak, Nyassi or Evans depending on who is getting gassed around the 60 - 65 minute mark.

What say you Tribe on the thoughts of trades?

How shall I question thee?

All right, I openly admit that I have not coached a team to the finals of any sport so my thoughts on the coaching decisions made our embarrassing 1-0 loss to RSL should be taken with a heaping tablespoon of salt.

First, why was Brad Evans playing right back? Given the same situation (Le Toux being injured and no Riley available), my first instinct would've been to put Ianni in the middle and move either Hurtado or Marshall to the right side.

If that wasn't practical (both center backs said, "Hell no!"), put Ianni on the right.

If that wasn't an option, put Tyson Wahl on the right side (or the left and move Gonzalez to the right).

If that wasn't an option, move Keller to the right side and let Boss take over the net.

I don't consider Evans in the back line. Not just because I don't think it's too good an idea but that then leaves an empty space in the midfield, which as we've seen leads us to...

Second, why did Vagenas start in the midfield? I admit I have not been impressed with his play at any time during the season and this game merely cemented my belief that he is not the player we need in the midfield. For argument's sake, let's say I completely lost my senses (or believed that Bob Bradley's choice of Evans in the back line was divine) and I'd agreed to have Evans as my right back (replacing Riley) and now had a spot in midfield to fill.

Sturgis would've been at the top of the list for the vacancy, followed closely by Ianni, Levesque, Nyassi, Fucito and then Walz. Look there, Vagenas never made the list.

In the event we don't make the post-season, I will call this the match that made that horror possible and not the freakish mishap against San Jose.

You have been warned.