No different workforce in MLS historical past has proven the extent of consistency of the Seattle Sounders, who are actually 13 to 13 within the MLS Playoffs Qualifiers of their historical past. Most significantly, they by no means completed 4th within the West nor seventh within the Ansar Defend race. That is undoubtedly fantastic.
However with all that success, they’ve by no means had an incredible season from begin to end. They gained the cheerleader’s protect in 2014, however that is the one yr they completed the common season atop the Western Convention and completed second for 5 consecutive years.
That is the yr they hope to alter that. Their roster is designed to win as of day one and so they should be capable of compete in each competitors they enter. However will they rise to the event? Solely time will show it.
Coach: Brian Schmitzer season 7
The principle additions: Albert Rusnak, Sam Adeniran, and Dylan Teves
Principal losses: Shane O’Neill, Nicholas Benezet, Brad Smith
(4-2-3-1) fry; Nohu, Arega; Yemar, Alex Roldan; Joao Paulo, Christian Roldan; Rusnack, Ludeiro, Maurice; Ruedias.
Whereas a number of MLS groups made headlines with costly transfers, the Sounders quietly made what could possibly be the most important transfer of the season once they lured Albert Rusnak away from Actual Salt Lake in a free agent deal. Rusnák grew to become the primary designated participant to alter groups through free company, and at 27, he has lots of good years forward of him. In distinction to these international transfers, Rusnak has already confirmed that he can produce within the MLS and is coming off 11 objectives and a season 11 assists. Furthermore, he can play any of the three attacking midfield factors, which ought to turn out to be useful if Nicolas Lodeiro wants a while.
Traditionally, The Sounders have gotten off to a gradual begin – final yr’s unbeaten 13-game streak to begin the season was fairly excessive – largely on account of their tendency to maintain their choices open till the summer season switch window. However this yr, they’ve one thing very near an improved slate from the beginning. That is the workforce that’s constructed to win now, which may embrace a critical run for a CONCACAF Champions League title that eluded modern-day MLS groups from this event (Seattle already certified for the CCL quarter-finals after dismantling Motagua 5-0 within the second leg of spherical of 16). Predicting something in MLS could be a fickle proposition, however the Sounders have the look of a workforce that would make historical past.
As thrilling as all of this can be, the cruel fact in MLS is that groups that look the very best on paper hardly ever win all of it. Take a look at final yr, for instance. The Columbus Crew have been coming off an MLS Cup win – over the Sounders, not much less – that introduced again most of their gamers, and nonetheless managed so as to add expertise (appears like anybody?). They ended up lacking out on the playoffs. The New England Revolution put collectively a document season final yr and misplaced their first playoff recreation. What can go flawed with Sounders? As deep as it’s, like all MLS groups, it isn’t limitless. It isn’t exhausting to think about a couple of key gamers altering the equation dramatically.
If your mates have been following MLS, they in all probability know that the Sounders have not missed the playoffs over their 13 years. What they did not understand was that regardless of scoring 60 factors, final yr was the primary time Seattle had didn’t advance to not less than the semifinals within the Western Convention. They grew to become the primary workforce in MLS historical past to be eradicated in a match by which they didn’t give up a single shot, falling on penalties to Actual Salt Lake. Sure, that also stings somewhat.
Going with the Hulk, not simply because it is large and inexperienced (though that undoubtedly helps). Just like the Hulk, the Sounders have two sides: They’re constructed by certainly one of MLS soccer’s best minds and are completely able to merely smashing issues once they’re too tilted. On the peak of their energy, there are few who can match them, however they don’t seem to be impervious to falling into Bruce Banner’s standing as he did in Infinity Warfare.
