SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. AUSTIN FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. It is said they keep it weird in Austin, Texas. I can get behind that, but it will curry you no favour at Royal Brougham Park this Sat. Sounders FC match-day two in league football. Buckle up.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. Austin FC.

Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, 2 March 2024 CE.

At Stake: Pretty much same as last week. Can we score enough goals to win matches this year? If we win, we move up to solidly mid-table. If we are defeated we sink into the bottom third of the league, which would be unacceptable. We’re meant to honour Ozzie for a great career with us. Let’s hope the side can put on a display worthy of it.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: 950 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

The home opener. Time to honour Ozzie, who has signed a ceremonial one-day contract so he retires a Sounder. The energy level in the ground will be massive. With a scratch of luck that eluded us last week, plus the energy in the park, we may produce a result worthy of the occasion.

All hands to action stations. This is not a drill. Gather your mates and head to the ground if you’re healthy and have the means. If that’s not manageable it’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips. You know what to do. Make the most immense noise on the planet so that we might set off the local seismic devices again. FOR OZZIE AND THE EVERGREEN!!! GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!

Thought Thomas did quite well for us on his debut last Sat.

Expect him to be between the sticks against Austin.

(photo credit: soundersfc.com)

The Good News

Although we dropped the points at Figueroa Street, there is good reason for optimism. If you look at the stat sheet, we had a significant edge in possession, shots were close to even with a marginal edge to LAFC, shots on goal were level, blocked shots were level, we were better passing the football by over 100 passes and more than five percentage points in accuracy, we had twice as many crosses, and LAFC had to foul us 17 times (picking up two bookings along the way) to keep us down. We didn’t get outworked, we were just unable to get a break, and sometimes that’s the difference in professional football.

de la Vega scored a penalty kick on his debut. And young Andrew Thomas looked the part between the sticks in his debut. These are good things.

Sounders were bossing the second half of the match last Sat but just couldn’t find that bit of quality to break through. One of the reasons for this was the substitutes that come on at 58’ and 64’, newboy, Danny Musovski for Ruidiaz, Baker for Alex, de la Vega for Chu, and Arreaga for newboy Nathan. We were much better after these substitutions. Hopefully those four lads will be rewarded for their work with a place in the team this week.

The Gaffer tried a new thing!!! He went to a 4-4-2 and got Jordo and Raul on the pitch at the same time. It didn’t work out, but Schmetzer should be commended for trying something new. I wonder if he’s gonna run the 4-4-2 again.

Aside from a minor injury suffered by Raul, no one was injured in the match. Which is well, because a third of the squad is out due to injury (and one player who’s just been dropped for an, as yet, unexplained reason). Raul is supposedly good to go, has been cleared to play, and is eligible for selection.

The Bad News

First the obvious. We dropped the points at LAFC.

Nearly a third of the squad is out. Baker-Whiting, starting ‘Keeper, Frei, and Rodrigues are all out with hamstring issues, Joao Paulo has a hip issue, Rusnak is still troubled by his ankle, and Nathan and Gomez Andrade have been dropped (for inexplicable non-injury related reasons) for Saturday night. We have the depth to carry on and get results. The question is, “Can we?”

Scab refs aren’t making any of this any easier. It’s a shame that this labour dispute, and subsequent lockout, has been pushed to the edges of everyone’s awareness. You bet your sweet arse though that if there are enough busted calls, it’ll become an issue then. I hope no players get hurt over PRO Referees not wanting to properly compensate their officials. I mean, that’s just Corpo greed right there. It’s gross.

Some of the things I noticed last match: Our spacing was atrocious, and we weren’t using the width of the pitch. This made it extra easy for LAFC to defend us. We didn’t respond well to pressure, and there were some unforced errors in our passing game. The finishing was atrocious. Build up play was often slow and predictable. The worst thing of all is that these are some of the same issues that hurt our attacking play last season. It’s got to be sorted out in training. Preki, Andy, and Freddy - you’ve got your work cut out, mates.

Word has it that Austin intends to play a similar high-press to what LAFC done last week. Let’s hope we’re better at breaking the press this time ‘round after some training and film review.

The Side I Would Select

We’re paying tribute to Ozzie’s great career on Sat. Least the lads can do is defeat Austin to show respect. Also it’s been a week since the last match, so let’s put our best foot forward. To be fair, we played much better in the second half last Sat. Let’s have that lot in the team then. I’m guessing 4-4-2 is getting scrapped, but I hope not, as it was good to try a new thing, and for that I give the Gaffer credit. My selection in a 4-4-2 as follows.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Arreaga

RB     Baker

LW     de la Vega

LM     Vargas

RM     Atencio

RW     Cristian

LCF     Musovski

RCF    Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Kudos to the Gaffer for trying a 4-4-2 in the name of getting both Raul and Jordo in the match at the same time. I’m guessing he’ll abandon this idea in favour of the old 4-2-3-1 for Sat. My best prediction for Saturday’s team.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Arreaga

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM    Atencio

LF     Chu

CAM   Cristian

RF     de la Vega

CF     Morris

Intangibles

Scab refs.

PRO Referees, who have locked out members of the Referee’s Union for MLS matches over a labour dispute, are not releasing MLS referee assignments until day of match. Great.

General notes on personnel

Austin FC transfers IN:

Obrian (FC Dallas) re-entry draft

Cleveland (Seattle Sounders FC) free

Biro (Mirassol SP) undisclosed

Burton - reserves

Rubio (Colorado Rapids) free

Hines-Ike (DC United) free

Austin FC transfers OUT:

Asensio (Orange County SC) free

Bruin - retired

Djeffal (Orange County SC) free

Keller (FC Cincinnati) swap - 3rd Round pick in 2024 draft

Lundkvist (BK Hacken) free

Ocampo-Chavez - released

Redes (Olimpia Asuncion) free

Rodriguez (Sporting Kansas City) free

Urruti (CA Platense) free

Lima (New England Revolution) €255,000

Romana (CA San Lorenzo) €689,000

Las (Louisville City FC) loan

Djitte (Bandirmaspor) loan

Comparison against common opponents

n/a

Know Thine Enemy

Austin as they lined up against the Loons in their 1:2 defeat on 25 February at McKalla Place.

GOALKEEPER

Brad Stuver, 32

United States

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew SC (2/0), New York City FC (7/0), Austin FC (99/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Played his university football for Cleveland State (71/0).

DEFENCE

Zan Kolmanic, 23 (Kolmanic suffered a season-ending injury in last week’s match)

Slovenia

Notable Clubs: NK Maribor (44/0), Austin FC (58/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Verzej, Mura 05, and Maribor. Won a Slovenian league title with Maribor.

Matt Hedges, 33

United States (5/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (310/18), Toronto FC (14/0), Austin FC (7/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Played his university football for Butler (59/12) and North Carolina (26/6). Won an MLS League Championship and US Open Cup double with Dallas in 2016. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup with United States. Twice named to the MLS Best XI. Named MLS Defender of the Year 2016.

Leo Vaisanen, 26

Finland (26/0)

Notable Clubs: HJK Helsinki (3/0), PK-35 Vaanta (9/1), Rovaniemen Palloseura (46/1), Den Bosch (45/6), IF Elfsborg (76/3), Austin FC (22/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Kapylan Pallo and HJK Helsinki. Named to Veikkausliiga Team of the Year 2018.

Jon Gallagher, 28

Ireland

Notable Clubs: Atlanta United FC (16/4), Aberdeen (22/1), Austin FC (94/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Beachside SC and Home United. Played his university football for Notre Dame (84/39).

MIDFIELD

Alexander Ring, 32

Finland (44/2)

Notable Clubs: Tampere United (4/1), HJK Helsinki (27/2), Borussia Monchengladbach (14/0), 1.FC Kaiserslautern (76/8), New York City FC (113/10), Austin FC (94/10)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by VfL Lannesdorf, Bayer Leverkusen, RSC Anderlecht, and HJK Helsinki. Won two Finnish league titles in 2010 and 2011 with HJK Helsinki. Won a Finnish Cup with HJK Helsinki in 2011. 2011 Finnish league Rookie of the Year.

Daniel Pereira, 23

Venezuela (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Austin FC (88/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Virginia Blue Ridge Star. Played his university football for Virginia Tech (26/6). Has youth caps for Venezuela.

Owen Wolff, 19

United States

Notable Clubs: Austin FC (54/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Columbus Crew SC, Atlanta United FC, and Austin FC. Has 10 caps for United States at youth levels, with three goals.

FORWARD

Emiliano Rigoni, 31

Argentina (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Belgrano (73/8), Independiente (46/15), Zenit St. Petersburg (47/5), Atalanta (12/3), Sampdoria (8/0), Elche (22/1), Sao Paulo (53/6), Austin FC (41/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Belgrano. Won three Russian Premier League titles, a Russian Cup, and a Russian Super Cup with Zenit St. Petersburg.

Gyasi Zardez, 32

United States (68/14)

Notable Clubs: LA Galaxy (131/34), Columbus Crew SC (110/54), Colorado Rapids (26/9), Austin FC (29/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by LA Galaxy. Played his university football for Cal State Bakersfield (56/38). Won an MLS Cup with LA Galaxy. Won two CONCACAF Gold Cups with United States. Named 2018 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. Won an MLS Cup with Columbus. Won a Campeones Cup with Columbus.

Ethan Finlay, 33

United States (3/0)

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew SC (150/30), Minnesota United FC (95/19), Austin FC (69/10)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Played his university football for Creighton (79/43). Named to MLS Best XI 2015.

Familiar Faces

Former Sounders goalkeeper, Preston Burpo (143/0) is currently Goalkeeper Coach at Austin FC.

Former Sounders and Puerto Rico goalkeeper, Terry Boss (1/0), is currently a Coach at Austin FC.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Thomas, Castro, Arreaga, Baker, Bell, Hawkins, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Kitahara, Leyva, Vargas, Chu, de la Vega, Morris, Musovski, Cristian, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Austin from:

Stuver, Cleveland, Bersano, Hedges, Jimenez, Hines-Ike, Cascante, Gallagher, Vaisanen, Biro, Finlay, Ring, Pereira, Driussi, Wolff, Valencia, Fodrey, Rigoni, Burton, Rubio, Zardes, Obrian.

Injury List

(Sounders injury report sourced per Greg van Belle. Austin injury report is best guess as their Department of Jamming Communications had not yet posted their match notes as of 9.13 p.m. Friday night)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), Frei (hamstring), Gomez Andrade (fitness), Joao Paulo (hip), Nathan (dropped), Rodrigues (hamstring), Rusnak (ankle).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Austin -

OUT: Kolmanic (season-ending injury).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Driussi (hamstring as of last week), Vaisanen (was injured last week, severity unknown).

Discipline

No players suspended from either club.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves have signed three new midfielders, Faysal Bettache (23) Played with St.Louis City SC2 last season, Burke Fahling (26) formerly of Sounders FC Academy played for Pittsburgh Riverhounds last season, and Sebastian Gomez (17) of Sounders FC Academy. Welcome to the squad, lads! Do us proud.