By JOSE M. ROMERO
As the final whistle signaled Seattle Sounders FC's fourth loss at home – that's right, fourth – in eight matches at Qwest Field, the Rave Green knew a bad loss to D.C. United would have to stay with them for 17 days.
The World Cup break has arrived, and coach Sigi Schmid is charged with keeping spirits up while devising an improvement plan for a club that has in large part been a disappointment this season.
There have been scoring woes, defensive breakdowns, a rash of injuries, and Thursday night, the one thing that fans could always seem to count on failed them. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller had a bad game, the captain responsible for the second of D.C.'s three goals and arguably United's third in DCU's 3-2 win over Seattle.
When Keller has had bad games, they have been very bad, for example, the 4-0 loss to the L.A. Galaxy at Qwest Field earlier this year. And the look on his face after he let a Chris Pontius shot glance off his hands and into the net late in the first half was one of shaken confidence.
Keller seems confident that he can still play at the level he expects to, but perhaps the time has come to ask just how much Keller has left at age 40.
"The guys work extremely hard and for me to let them down like that is frustrating," Keller said after Thursday's game. "I said my whole career that once I feel I can't do the job, then I have to stop doing the job. But I feel great physically. I feel good in training. Everything is going great. It's just frustrating with this game and with the L.A. [Galaxy] game that I've hurt the team when my job is to keep them in this game. "
Keller pledges things will get better on his end. But the Sounders have just 15 points and would not be in the playoffs if the season ended today.
"Frustrating on my part… no one is going to be working harder to try to get this right," Keller said. "I wanted to play another year but not if I don't play at the level I expect of myself, that the fans, the coaching staff, the players expect of me. I will work extremely hard to try to make it better."
So these are the Sounders in June: A reeling club at 4-6-3 that just lost to an Eastern Conference bottom feeder after breaking out for three goals five nights ago against New England. Even with a five-goal barrage in the past two games, Sounders FC has left too many goals off the scoreboard with missed chances.
"We are back to making mistakes and conceding goals. It's a problem we have and we need to stop doing it." midfielder Freddie Ljungberg said after Seattle outshot D.C. United 20-6.
On Thursday the Sounders were back to playing their game – controlling the run of play and getting chances, but being caught in bad positions on defense and forced to play from behind at home once again.
But there are signs of life. That scoring barrage, which included a Ljungberg-to Fredy Montero goal combination in stoppage time Thursday, the two players the Sounders rely on so much. And at some point after the break, the return of forward Nate Jaqua and holding midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, both sorely missed. And the arrival of Swiss international Blaise Nkufo, who will be in Seattle by mid-July at the earliest to provide what he promises to be added scoring.
Now it is break time, and that might be a good thing. The Sounders are still drawing huge crowds, but the team is becoming more frustrating to watch. ESPN2 caught a shot of a fan with his head in his hands after the score became 3-0 D.C.
A sight perhaps all too familiar at a place that opponents used to fear coming into.
"We need to do some soul searching and guys are having chats with each other to come back and make sure that we're sharper," Schmid said. "We come back and have 17 games left, there's 51 points. They always say you need one and a half points per game to make the playoffs. The points are out there. It's just a matter of us going out there and getting them."
Seattle is becoming predictable. Offense only comes from Zack and Ljungberg. Close down Montero, which is pretty easy and force them to cross the ball in with nobody in the middle that is strong in the air. As well, the poor crossing from Riley and practically no crossing from Gonzales. Close down the middle of the pitch and you pretty much force them to take mostly bad shots.
With FL on the outside, which might be his best position, there is nobody in the middle that has the technique and composure to hold the ball and slip it in. Can anyone honestly tell me that Brad Evans is a great CAM or Sturgis?
We really need Alonso back in the mix. He usually destroys everything coming his way and gives the back 4 another layer of protection.
P.S. Maybe Seattle can buy that guy James from DC. That kid had an awesome game and showed the kind of balls out defending needed from Seattle.
P.P.S. Sigi’s bench roster and subbing is really getting on my nerves.
And here i am as a Galaxy fan complaining about their first loss of the season…
As a Dynamo fan, I feel Seattles pain. It seems like each week the Dynamo end one of their streaks.
Last night, the Sounders looked like United did during their home games against the Revs, the Fire, and Colorado. Lots of possession but a largely toothless attack. The visiting team just soaked it all up and then sucker-punched and left with 3 points. While I’m happy with United getting the 3 points, I feel for Sounders fans because that kind of home loss is among the most deflating.
I’m not trying to pile on since as a United fan I have no room to do so this season.
Looks like the sounders should have gone after John Busch while he was available.
Manboobs FC
The Sounders miss Alonso a lot more than anyone is acknowledging. He is a great player and the glue in the center.
It was an article by Jose Romero, not Ives. Maybe you are just a Seattle fan upset about bad press….(insert sarcasm)
Lack of creativity and composure in the offensive third is killing this club; we dominate posession, get plenty of posession in the offensive third, take plenty of shots, but get very few REAL, DANGEROUS scoring opportunities becuase so many are half chances.
Get your crosses in the air more (like the one Montero scored on), make more dangerous, purposeful runs; some quick, darting passes around the 18; ANYTHING!!
This team needs work on attacking patterns more; playing it down the wings and getting very mediocre crosses in with blunt runs is not going to get us goals.
Bruce, relax! Ives has written and will write plenty more on the WC.
He vacations in Vegas. He was there last year too.
well i’m in vegas, and yesterday i was by the poolside in Aria hotel and who comes walking by w/ a hottie and small posse?….ronaldinho!, so you might be right or he may just be pisst and is partying left and right. would be very cool to see him in mls.
“Goalkeeper Kasey Keller had a bad game, the captain responsible for the second of D.C.’s three goals and arguably United’s third in DCU’s 3-2 win over Seattle.”
There is no argument on the third goal. Keller didn’t see the late runner and made a lazy run back then failed to clear. Just as bad as Keller’s play, is Sigi’s lack of imagination on attack. Run Ljungberg down the right, and Zack down the left, over and over and over, even when nothing goes on goal. It took until the 80 minute mark for Sounders to get a threat down the center.
Off topic a bit, but there seems to be a rumor out there that is gaining some big momentum and it has to do with Ronaldinho signing with the LA Galaxy, anybody know anything about it?
When they lost Alonso this team went into a nosedive.
Yeah really. Unfortunately, when Sigi has those kids, he will probably eat them to. Sigi is a great coach and I like the guy but if he does not seek some help for his eating habits soon, he will only be able to shop in Kohl’s elastic wasteband section.
now that’s funny!
Is Sigi having twins? Congrats to the proud parent.
Looks like the Sounders are becoming the Union. Dominance in possession, threatening chances, no end product, bonehead plays, too-little-too-late surges. Both could use a pure scoring threat for sure, but defensive solidity wins championships in MLS. Whether that means at the CB level (someone should have shut down Pontius’ first) or CDM level both clubs need an upgrade to settle things down.
Sigi Schmid needs to get on a diet before he collapses. He looks like a cartoon caricature.
The world cup starts in less then six hours and SBI is talking about the Sounder’s mid season woes. THE WORLD CUP!