Sounders Look for Independence Day Win Against Galaxy

vagenas could we put him out to pasture already

Riley and Zak were the only players playing…. seamon strutted about a bit in the 2nd half… noonan was miserable. I hate to agree with anything Bud has to say… but… we are looking sorry right now.

Montero hasnt been trying for a while… lets just start montano for the remainder of the season to get him some experience alongside Nkufo…

In premier and other top leagues the oldest players on the team generally occupy bench space. Sometimes if a player is prolific and still fit they will still play in the starting eleven. Pete and Pat are a good example of players who would not typically be considered starting players. Once upon a time they may have had the quickness and strength but now they cannot handle the tempo of play and miss traps, passes and make risky mistakes. If you don’t have mids and forwards that can run at the defence and put pressure you don’t have anything at all. Seamon and Montano pushed further down the field took offensive chances made some crosses. All I saw from Noonan and Pete was shanks in front of goal, zero crosses, through balls to the other team and sloppy passing and slowness. Wish I could pick starting eleven each game…..

Seriously? I think people just remember Fred17 from last year’s campaign. I was critical last year, but the guy hustles much more this year- including last night.

Montero worked well, hustling and coming back on defense. Gonzales did a fantastic job, Zak look slow and listless and Noonan has the heart, but not the ability. Shoulda been up 2-1 at half if not for his whiffs.
Nice to see Jaqua if nothing else but to win a few headers.
Overall…no midfield is killing us. Passback Pete can help control and kill of a game we’re leading in, but won’t move forward. and Ianni can’t get it in his head that he’s not playing central defender.
Why don’t we start Sturgis anymore?

I will admit I am prejudiced against Montero, but one particular play in the 2nd half summed up (to me at least) his work ethic.

Jaqua was making the run into the box… montero was sitting at the top of the box… i dont know who passed a thru ball, but as soon as montero saw that it wasnt to him, he stopped dead in his tracks….

i know he isnt a big guy, but is it too much to ask for montero to at least try and make an effort to tie up the defenders giving jaqua a better chance at the ball?

As soon as montero stopped the defenders just side stepped montero and got a foot on the ball and jaqua didnt get the shot.

Aside from that play, I rarely see montero make an effort to beat any defender to a ball, and I really havent seen him do much tracking back…

I will say however, that because of my work schedule unless the game is on a basic cable channel I have to listen to the games on the radio, but last night the game I watched seemed to be a pretty accurate depiction of montero’s overall contribution to the team.. a day late and a goal short.

but its not just montero… there are others.

anyways….
end rant.

I should add that I was very impressed by how Montero and Montano played off each other… mabey that is a good combination?

I know that are midfield is looking pretty weak, but was it the right tactical choice to play in a 5-2-3 formation?