The Tweet and Lowdown:
How does Rave Green top those crowds, the Fredy & Freddie Show from dynamite ’09 debut? More consistency in scoring would help. So would an MLS Cup appearance.
Setting
the Scene:
Chicago may have won MLS Cup in its inaugural season, but it’s hard to argue Seattle Sounders FC didn’t set the bar even higher in their first year. Top-level management boasted of becoming a “big-time club” and competing immediately -- and then backed it up. Splashy acquisitions of local native Kasey Keller and former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg preceded the hiring of pedigreed coach Sigi Schmid.
The Sounders then went on to win their first three games without conceding a goal, shattered MLS attendance records in the process, hosted friendlies against Chelsea and Barcelona and, oh yeah, won the U.S. Open Cup, nearly won the Supporters’ Shield and made the playoffs in the process -- all in their first year of existence.
If it ain’t broke, why fix it? Other than locking down key players like defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and midfielder Brad Evans, Seattle made few changes heading into 2010. Though the club will add Swiss striker Blaise Nkufo after the World Cup, which hopefully will help with some of its scoring inconsistencies last year. But with a successful debut season under their belt, Schmid’s crew may end up being one of the favorites to win the Western Conference.
Key Changes:
- Players In: Blaise Nkufo (FC Twente-Netherlands), David Estrada (UCLA), Miguel Montaño (Quilmes-Argentina)
- Players Out: Sébastien Le Toux (Philadelphia), Chris Eylander (released)
Star
Attraction: Fredy Montero
He was an unknown 20-year-old Colombian heading into 2009, but Seattle fans quickly realized why Sounders FC had pushed so hard to get him on loan from Deportivo Cali. Montero was a star from the get-go: He scored a pair of dazzling goals in the Sounders’ inaugural game at Qwest Field last March and didn’t look back. By the time the season was over, he had logged 12 goals -- tied for third on the league scoring charts -- and notched seven assists to boot. This season will be tougher on Montero, as the surprise factor is gone, but Schmid will still be leaning on the ’09 Newcomer of the Year to be Seattle’s go-to scorer.
Unsung Hero: Osvaldo
Alonso
Another of the Sounders’ unexpected stars last year, the Cuban defector still probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Seattle’s back line was solid in its inaugural year -- but without Alonso protecting the back four, there’s probably no way the club allows .97 goals per game, tied for lowest in the league. Schmid expects much of the same from his holding mid this year, and will ask him to get forward as much as possible, too -- Alonso's offensive skills are very underrated, and he has a mean shot from distance when he decides to uncork it.
Ready for Primetime: Steve Zakuani
The curse of the No. 1 SuperDraft pick is well-documented in MLS, but the former Akron star showed some real promise in his rookie year. He scored four goals, notched four assists and showcased some blazing speed from the left wing. This past offseason, the former Arsenal youth product had surgery to fix a long-ailing shoulder and worked like mad on his fitness. Along with Montero and Ljungberg, Zakuani makes up a trio of players with ridiculous one-on-one skills, and his pace sets him apart. The 22-year-old might be one of Schmid’s most dangerous weapons.
Storylines
to Watch:
For all that firepower, Seattle was maddeningly inconsistent in scoring. They bagged only two goals over a five-game span late last summer and were shut out over two legs in quarterfinal loss to Houston in the playoffs. Schmid knows that has to change, and made better movement off the ball one of his preseason goals for all of his men, from back to front.
The addition of Nkufo should help. Montero has yet to be paired with a strike partner who best complements his game (Ljungberg, ordinarily a midfielder, is still playing behind the Colombian in a deep position for now). As soon as the World Cup wraps, the Swiss national-team veteran will report to Seattle and provide a big, physical presence up front -- he has scored more than 200 goals for club and country over a 17-year pro career.
And it won’t be a minute too soon. The Sounders’ U.S. Open Cup title earned them a spot the qualifying stage of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. There may be no better showcase for Seattle’s up-tempo game, but depth is notoriously an issue for MLS squads in the tournament.
What
He Said:
“This year, coming into Seattle for other teams is a little different than last year. People didn’t know what to expect. They know now. It’s going to be raucous, it’s going to be packed, it’s going to be loud. We’re not going to be the surprise we were for much of last year. I liked our ability to move the ball, but we need to be better at breaking down defenses.”
-- Head coach Sigi Schmid
If
everything goes right:
From the stars to the fans, that atmosphere, the sea of green scarves and jerseys, Drew Carey and the Sound Wave marching band, there’s a lot to love about the Sounders. True, the danger of a sophomore jinx is very real, but it’s unlikely Schmid will stand for a team slumping on him. If history shows anything, the tactics-savvy coach will have made the necessary adjustments for a much-improved offense that doesn’t just rely on Montero and Ljungberg. From front to back, the Sounders are a solid, well-oiled unit. Making the playoffs again is a bare minimum; expecting them to challenge for MLS Cup isn’t at all out of the question.
