By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Injuries and Changes: Sounders’ Season Woes

While the sky is not falling, ominous clouds are gathering around the Seattle Sounders. After another disappointing loss that is four and counting, Brian Schmezter’s club is in a bit of a tailspin. After a humiliating 5-1 home loss to the Portland Timbers, Schmetzer was looking for a fightback effort against Austin FC. The fightback was there at the beginning, but waned in the final minutes of the contest, which saw the Sounders limp out of Austin with a 3-1 loss.

”  I thought we were in the game until the end and what we needed was someone to step up and make more plays offensively,” said  Schmetzer in his post-game interview.

The logic seems flawed if you look at the stat sheet and see that the Sounders have allowed 8 goals and scored 2.

 INJURIES   TAKING A TOLL

 In Wednesday’s loss to Austin FC, the Sounders were down 1-0 in the 12th minute and leveled the score in the 26th, showing they had that fightback spirit. The Sounders clawed their way back into the game with possession with a purpose, quick off-ball movements, and passes that changed the pace of the game.  Albert  Rusnak was active in the middle of the field, moving from left to right. Paul Rothrock scored the equalizer on a hustle play after  Synder Brunell’s shot bounced off the right post.

Brunell was one of four changes Schmetzer made after the Timbers game. Danny Musovski started for the injured Jordan Morris, Pete Kingston started at right back for Kalani Kossa Rienzi, and Stuart Hawkins started at Center back for Tino Lopez. Musovski ‘s insertion into the lineup was unavoidable. Did Schmetzer make too many changes?  Hard to say. Maybe he was sending a message to the players. Compete or sit.  Message sent. Are the changes causing a lack of continuity and affecting performance?  Familiarity in practice is one thing, familiarity in a game another.

LACK OF COHESION

The constant change in the line is taking a toll on the team’s defense. Center back Jackson Ragen will miss the team’s next two matches after receiving a yellow card for yellow card accumulation and a second yellow card of the game in the 5th minute of stoppage time when the team was down 3-1.  While Schmetzer would like his players to fight to the end, recklessness is a game, and sometimes a season-killer. Ragen received the straight red when he leveled Austin Stricker Myrto Uzuni with an above-the-shoulder take down. There were several Sounders in a position to slow down Uzuni. The bottom line is that  Ragen will miss Saturday’s game at Philadelphia and the August 1st rematch with the Timbers in Portland.   The Sounders could see the return of   Yeimar, who traveled with the team. If Yeimar is unavailable, Schmetzer would have to start Tino Lopez and Stuart Hawkins.

MIDFIELD AFFECTED

The continued shuffling of the backline is having a major effect on the Sounders’ ability to build from the back. Nouhou has been solid on the left side, but inconsistent play from the young, talented Brunell is stalling the team’s counterattacks.   At times, a solid ball-possession triangle among Rothrock, Brunell, and Rusnak is missing.  Hassani Dotson has been the most consistent pivot, scoring a goal in the Timbers game and covering the defensive midfield for Kingston and Rusnak when they advance further upfield. Teams are exploiting the space between and behind   Dotson and Brunell.

STILL LOOKING FOR GOALS TO CHANGE GAMES

The lack of sustained possession from the midblock is leaving the striker on an island, with few touches.  Musvoski played 62 minutes before giving way to  Osaze De Rosario. In the 62 minutes, Musvoski had a total of 14 touches, three in the attacking third, and zero shots on goal. Jesus Ferreira had 28 touches in 90 minutes with zero touches in the Austin goal box.  Ferreira needs to get close to the opponent’s goal box. When he makes the runs, he is not receiving the ball.  A slight adjustment would be to have Ferreira tuck inside, leaving the wide flank to the right back.  Ferreira is more goal-dangerous when paired with Rienze.  For Schmetzer, the message is clear to his team  as a whole: “Be a team that is hard to beat on the road, collect points at home.”

GETTING BACK ON THE WINNING SIDE  

The Philadelphia Union have two wins, four draws, and ten losses this season. The  Union is the worst team in the Eastern Conference, if not MLS as a whole. To bag all three points, which is a must for the reeling Sounders, dictating pace, staying compact when defending, and flat-out believing they are the superior team are a must.  Belief means winning the one-on-one battles and making a play for your teammates. Those tangibles come from the heart, not familiarity with your teammate during a game.  


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