Six things we want to see when Sounders host San Jose Earthquakes

An ordinary season fit that doesn’t subject is unfamiliar to the Seattle Sounders. Brian Schmetzer didn’t have one within the USL. In reality the closing time the Sounders had ultimate common season fit the place that they had already neglected the playoffs used to be 1983.

I’m going to desire a second. ‘83 was a long time ago. There are members of the coaching staff that weren’t born but.

Maybe with a historical past of good fortune going that a ways again taking part in in opposition to the San Jose Earthquakes — any other staff that honors historical past — is just right. There’s no longer actually a competition between those groups. There is historical past. Might as neatly proceed making historical past, despite the fact that destructive, with a staff that honors historical past, too.

Since the Sounders already neglected the playoffs they might move the direction of giving time to one of the crucial kids.

Give Léo Chú a runout

If anyone is aware of what Léo Chú is as a football participant may they discuss up? Because his time as a Sounder has integrated a couple of flashes of serious, a couple of being concerned indicators and a host of meh.

With 1,087 mins in all competitions with the Sounders, Léo has 2 objectives and a pair of assists. That’s no longer what any person will have to have anticipated.

It’s time for Chú to get a large run as a free-11, assume Zakuani for stylings. He’s no longer younger sufficient to simplest be fascinated with doable. He wishes to get started.

Test the Homegrowns

There are a couple of homegrowns whose roles aren’t moderately glaring. While Jackson Ragen, Josh Atencio, Danny Leyva and Obed Vargas appear locked into particular roles and use instances the following tier of skills from the Academy are nonetheless drifting about.

Giving Ethan Dobbelaere any other run at proper again or proper wingback will lend a hand the group perceive if he is usually a 2d possibility there.

Is Dylan Teves an all-arounder or only a late-scoring danger. Playing him in more than one roles on Sunday may lend a hand decide that. With Defiance, he performed each fullbacks, each and every central mid and each wings. Either take a look at that once more or dedicate to the Dawg to being a bench danger.

Reed Baker-Whiting wishes a job, too. The USYNT thinks that may play both wingback. Seattle wishes a wingback. Get him a while extensive left now to lend a hand additional that construction.

Maybe have Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez get a couple of mins at house as some way to acknowledge his sturdy Next Pro season.

Shutout

Seattle simplest has 3 shutouts since July. Saying that the protection has been dangerous wouldn’t be correct. The averages are if truth be told OK. The screw ups even though … they harm. What’s took place an excessive amount of this yr is just right defenders making foolish mistakes after which having to play from in the back of.

Pitching a shutout can be nice. Stefan Frei is 3rd all-time for shutouts and 3rd all-time for wins. His teammates want to proceed his numbers assortment, as a result of his time with Seattle is more than likely worthy of the Hall of Fame. Keep punching the ones numbers.

Sidebar: Brian Schmetzer is 2 wins from matching his totals from his USL technology all competitions overall and is impulsively drawing near Jason Kreis at quantity 8 at the MLS overall wins chart (in kind of 60% of the video games controlled).

Stunting

For some time now the Sounders’ vibe has been off. They haven’t been magical. The jaw-dropping moments weren’t there. Let’s get some warmth. Let’s watch them stunt.

There’s no higher sport for antique Nouhou. Seeing Jordan pull a Road Runner transfer is essential to our souls.

Nico dribbling extra dudes than you might have palms on a finger — sure, please.

Burn some moments into our reminiscence.

Heritage Cup, no longer since the cup is necessary — I identical to profitable things

No, the Heritage Cup isn’t necessary, except for the historical past it represnets. But I experience profitable things. I really like that Raúl and Nico and Jordan and Cristian are all forward of each and every San Jose participant at the scoring chart for the unusual cup.

I want it to keep that means.

I really like that the Sounders haven’t completed under San Jose within the MLS standings since 2012, the one time the Earthquakes have completed above the Sounders in MLS.

I really like that within the USL technology the Sounders and Earthquakes met two times within the Open Cup and the document used to be a good 1-1, +0 objective differential. In the FC Seattle technology? Seattle owned the sequence +12. In the NASL? Yeah, the Sounders owned that too.

Dominating groups for lengthy sessions of time is just right. Padding the ones numbers is just right.

Keep doing that.

Don’t be expecting a adolescence lineup

This is essentially the most tricky lineup projection for the reason that early appearances within the CCL again when Sigi used to be taking part in out video games in a bunch level with out hope. Predicting Schmetzer’s alternatives is tricky.

If he begins a veteran-laden lineup take pleasure in seeing Nico, who will have to have a banner within the rafters in the future. Take some pleasure in realizing that this core took the town to 4 MLS Cups, profitable two; to a CCL finals, profitable it and environment an attendance document; to a Leagues Cup ultimate. If there’s gotta be a lifeless rubber sport it would as neatly be with the best MLS staff from 2016 to the existing. Might as neatly give MLS an opportunity to catch up to the place we’re at.