SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. COLORADO RAPIDS

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Colorado Rapids fly down from their lofty perch in the Rocky Mountains to be our guests in The Evergreen. Cue John Denver music.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. Colorado Rapids.

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

When: 12.30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 16 March 2024 CE.

At Stake: Can we score goals, with any mean consistency? Can we defeat a re-tooled Colorado side who may be nothing like their predecessors that finished 28th (next to last) in the league last season? Can we do better than a 0:0 draw at home?

Where to Watch: Apple TV. Apparently you don’t need MLS Season Pass for this weekend. Whether or not you have to be a subscriber or not to Apple TV…well…I’d imagine you’d have to be? Also on Fox.

Where to Listen: En Ingles - 950 KJR AM and En Espanol - El Rey 1360 AM.

Despite the Gaffer’s protestations to the contrary, the respite from last Saturday’s postponement in Chester was a positive thing. It allowed some of our injured players some more rest. This is probably a good thing.

But that was last week, and this is this week. Colorado Rapids are the visiting opponent. They were abject shite in the league last season. To be fair, in contrast, their reserve team rather ran roughshod over the MLS Next Pro. But that’s there. Not here.

In the world of supporter culture though, none of this means anything. We are invincible, and the enemy - completely disorganised rabble. Pretenders. Imposters.

In the world where people can read and retain information, we know what we have to do. We turn up in silly numbers at the ground. When that’s not possible, we round up our people at pubs and in dwellings, to deliver support by raw willpower and psychic energy. All right…so that’s arguably at odds with the read and retain info…grant me a bit of poetic license here…I live in the back. The point is that we support. We are supporters. Ones who support. It’s what we do. On the terraces, at the ground, in the pub, in our dwellings. Yell. Sing. Annoy the neighbours, but at no point imply direct liability to me for asking you to do so. Be loud. Be present. Be kind to each other. We are a massive dysfunctional family and I love you all. Our boys need some chuffing up and it’s us that’ll see it done. C’MON YOU SOUNDERS!! C’MON!!!!

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

Barring weather or an act of divine mayhem, we may actually get to see a football match on Saturday.

The Good News

We may have Rusnak back.

Theoretically, on paper, we have a damn good team. We just haven’t gotten it together yet. The brain says to me, “It’s just a matter of time. We’ll be fine.” My heart is utterly tortured by our inability to score goals. Things should shake out just fine…………right?

Always good when we play at home. The Brougham End in full song. Breeze coming in just off the Puget Sound. Another glorious day in the history of the club will unfold. Anything is possible.

Jordan Morris, Raul Ruidiaz, Cristian and Alex Roldan, Leo Chu, and Albert Rusnak. This is a fine list of attacking players. As good as any in the league, arguably better. The scoring drought can’t possibly last…………right?

We have an elite defence, bolstered by Nouhou, Ragen, Arreaga, and Gomez Andrade. Although Frei is injured, Andrew Thomas has deputised well in his absence, a credit to the fine instruction of Tom Dutra, who trains our goalkeepers. Given a chance, Thomas will keep the ball out of the net, with the able assistance of his back four and our defensive midfield.

The Bad News

Rusnak will likely be used as a sub, assuming he hasn’t hit a setback by his ankle, with the match likely decided by that point and not much time left on the fucking scab referee’s watch.

Frei and Joao Paulo - likely still out, along with de la Vega, Baker-Whiting, and Rodrigues. Nathan is dropped as he is sorting things out, presumably in Brazil, don’t look at me like that, I live in the back. I told you!

It’s unlikely that this is that same Colorado team. Not just from the usual, grotesque amount of player turnover from season to season in MLS, but because they actually changed managers and brought in some new players. Price, Yarbrough, Wilson, Nicholson, the core of their old guard, are gone.

In are Rafael Navarro on loan from Palmeiras, Yanks’ goalkeeper Zack Steffen, on a free from Manchester City, Omir Fernandez from the Red Donkeys on a free, Yanks’ midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, from AZ Alkmaar for €2.73M, Loffelsend from the Salt Lake for €91,000, and Nate Jones from Austin FC for €230,000. Bluntly put, this won’t be the same team we did the double over last season (by scores of 4:0 and 1:2).

The fact that Colorado won away at Salt Lake should throw some water on any type of optimism we might have. We struggle to win at Salt Lake in the best of times. Sometimes because of the altitude. Sometimes because… (mumbles, trailing off unintelligibly).

It seems our team has two settings: 1. Impenetrable defence, no scoring. 2. maybe some scoring, gaps that make us weak at the back. Let’s hope we can strike a better balance come Saturday.

The Side I Would Select

Time to go back to the old 4-2-3-1.  If only to try to right the ship. Time to make some changes if only to shake things up a bit. I’d choose Baker over Alex at right-back. I’d have Cristian back at right-holding midfield and give Rothrock a chance at right-forward. Cristian back in his old #6/#8 role further solidifies an already excellent defence. Baker as a fresh breath of air on the right, and a defender who is more likely to actually defend well. Rothrock because he scores timely goals, and we need more of that. Morris is just fine at centre-forward. He’s not scoring because the service from midfield is terrible.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Baker

LDM    Atencio

RDM   Cristian

LF     Chu

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Rothrock

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Easiest team to scout in MLS. Schmetz will return to the 4-4-2 until he brings Rusnak on as a substitute with roughly 30 seconds left in the match, when we’ll switch to a 4-2-3-1…long after any change would make a difference.

GK    Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LCM   Atencio

RCM   Vargas

LW     Chu

RW     Cristian

LCF    Ruidiaz

RCF    Morris

Intangibles

Scab refs. Weirdo weather, as a high of 69ºF is expected on Sat…nice. Perfect weather for football, but for the environment…not so much.

General notes on personnel

Colorado transfers IN:

Rafael Navarro (Chicago Fire) undisclosed

Anderson - re-signed

Larraz - re-signed

Stewart-Baynes - draft

Fernandez (New York RB) free

Steffen (Manchester City) free

Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar) €2.73M

Beaudry - academy

Loffelsend (Real Salt Lake) €91,000

Frederick - draft

Jones (Austin FC) €230,000

Vines (Royal Antwerp) undisclosed fee

Cabral - reserves

Diack (Nantes) loan

Colorado transfers OUT:

Beitashour - retired

Price - released

Rodriguez - released

Vallecilla (Universidad Catolica) free

Yarbrough (San Jose Earthquakes) free

Diaz (Saprissa) free

Leyva (Seattle Sounders FC) end of loan

Gutman (Chicago Fire) €417,000

Wilson (Queens Park Rangers) free

Nicholson (Motherwell) free

Alves (Cuiaba) undisclosed fee

Miguel Navarro (Talleres) loan

Galvan (Banfield) loan

Keita (Bohemians FC) loan

Tavares (FC Porto B) end of loan

Gersbach - buy-out

Ilic (Sarpsborg 08FF) loan

Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) €137,000

Comparison against common opponents

n/a

Know Thine Enemy

Colorado as they lined up in their 1:2 victory over Salt Lake at State Street on Saturday 9 March.

GOALKEEPER

Zack Steffen, 28

United States (29/0)

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew (76/0), Pittsburgh Riverhounds (9/0), Manchester City (2/0), Fortuna Dusseldorf (17/0), Middlesbrough (42/0), Colorado Rapids (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by West Chester United, FC Delco, and Philadelphia Union. Played his university football for Maryland (48/0). Won two English Premier League titles and one English League Cup with Manchester City. Won a CONCACAF Nations League with United States. Named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year 2018. Named to MLS Best XI 2018.

DEFENCE

Sam Vines, 24

United States (9/1)

Notable Clubs: Colorado Rapids (56/2), Royal Antwerp (44/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Pride SC and Colorado Rapids. Won a Belgian Pro League title, Belgian Cup, and Belgian Super Cup with Royal Antwerp.

Andreas Maxso, 29

Denmark (2/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Nordsjaelland (108/3), Osmanlispor (20/1), FC Zurich (28/0), Brondby IF (96/5), Colorado Rapids (36/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Brondby IF and FC Nordsjaelland. Won a Danish Superliga title with Brondby.

Moise Bombito, 23

Canada (4/0)

Notable Clubs: Colorado Rapids (14/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by CS St. Laurent. Played university football for Aigles du College Ahuntsic, Iowa Western CC (39/5), and New Hampshire (16/4).

Keegan Rosenberry, 30

United States

Notable Clubs: Reading United (14/1), Philadelphia Union (80/3), Colorado Rapids (144/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Spirit United, Penn Fusion, and Philadelphia Union. Played his university football for Georgetown (90/4). Won the 2016 MLS Fair Play Award.

MIDFIELD

Connor Ronan, 26

England

Notable Clubs: Wolverhampton (8/0), Portsmouth (16/0), Walsall (11/0), Blackpool (10/1), Grasshoppers (30/1), St. Mirren (27/7), Colorado Rapids (37/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Copperpot JFC, Rochdale, and Wolverhampton. Won an English EFL Championship title (2nd Tier) with Wolverhampton.

Oliver Larraz, 22

United States

Notable Clubs: Colorado Rapids (5/0), San Diego Loyal (12/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €125,000

Notes: Developed by Colorado Rapids and MSV Duisburg.

Cole Bassett, 22

United States (1/1)

Notable Clubs: Colorado Rapids (100/20), Feyenoord (8/0), Fortuna Sittard (10/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Colorado Rush and Colorado Rapids.

FORWARD

Djordje Mihailovic, 25

United States (11/3)

Notable Clubs: Chicago Fire (73/7), CF Montreal (61/13), AZ Alkmaar (23/1), Colorado Rapids (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes - Developed by Chicago Blast and Chicago Fire. Won a Canadian Championship with CF Montreal. Son of Former Washington Diplomats midfielder Aleks Mihailovic.

Rafael Navarro, 23

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Botafogo (62/18), Palmeiras (47/2), Colorado Rapids (13/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Full name: Rafael Navarro Leal. Developed by Fluminense and Atletico Goianiense. Won a Brazilian Serie B title with Botafogo. Won a Recopa Sudamericana, two Brazilian Serie A titles and a Supercopa do Brasil with Palmeiras.

Omir Fernandez, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: New York RB (112/15), Colorado Rapids (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by New York RB. Played his university football for Wake Forest (44/18).

Familiar Faces

Chris Little has coached for Colorado Rapids since 2021. Little was formerly a coach at Seattle Sounders FC Academy (2017-2018) and for the Sounders FC Reserves (2019-2020). For eight matches last season, Little was interim manager for Colorado Rapids.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Thomas, Castro, Arreaga, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Chu, Morris, Musovski, Cristian, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Colorado from:

Abubakar, Anderson, Bassett, Beaudry, Bombito, Kevin Cabral, Remi Cabral, Diack, Edwards, Fernandez, Harris, Jones, Larraz, Lewis, Loffelsend, Maxso, Mihailovic, Rafael Navarro, Priso, Rosenberry, Steffen, Stewart-Baynes, Travis, Yapi, Vines.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), de la Vega (hamstring), Frei (hamstring), Joao Paulo (hip), Nathan (dropped), Rodrigues (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Colorado -

OUT: Chacon (knee), Ronan (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Loffelsend (hamstring).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players suspended from either club.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves begin their 2024 MLS Next Pro campaign against FC Austin II at Parmer Field. Kick-off set for 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time Friday 15 March.

There is some intrigue here, as Sounders FC Reserves lost to Austin FC II in the MLS Next Pro Cup Semi-Finals last season, 0:1 at Starfire. There was an incident with an Austin player who was warming up in touch and put his hands on a Sounders Reserves player. Mayhem ensued and at the end of it, the referee displayed a massive error in judgement, sending off one of our players who was in the match for defending his teammate but only sending off a player who was warming up for Austin. Our lads went a man down, and it cost us the match, and any chance at the MLS Next Pro Cup. Given what happened last season, there will be no love lost between these sides this time ‘round.

I looked to see if I could find a record of the actual incident on YouTube, but it was edited out of the official match highlights. You only see the aftermath with Cissoko being sent off for defending his teammate. I do hate that type of editing that gets rid of the evidence of what actually occurred.

The MLS Next Pro matches are supposedly available via Apple TV, but I’ve had better luck with YouTube. Good luck, lads. Make us proud.