SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. This motherload of fixture clutter brought to you by pure Capitalistic greed, the bloviated monstrosity that is Leagues Cup, and the abject stupidity of Major League Soccer. Sounders FC will host our close, personal friends Los Angeles Galaxy in The Evergreen for a Sunday matinee that will feature aging players and/or incredibly fatigued players slogging one out for the glittering possibility of advancing as high as 20th place in the league.

What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. Los Angeles Galaxy.

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

When: 3:45 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Sunday 5 May 2024 CE.

At Stake: Should we defeat Galaxy, we may rise as high as 20th place in the league. Sounders FC are currently in 25th place on 9 points, 15 points adrift of leaders Inter Miami CF. Should we be defeated we will remain in 25th place. So in layman’s terms what’s at stake for this one match is really not that much.

Where to Watch: Apple TV and Fox Sports 1. As this is a home match, you may select the KJR FM simulcast as alternate audio from the control layer if you’re using the Apple TV app.

Where to Listen: 99.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

If ever our lads needed fierce support, Sunday’s match against Galaxy is one of those times. A decent chunk of the squad are dead tired, and they will need your cheering, chanting, singing, and generally carrying on to help them bash on though their legs be heavy.

It stung to be defeated by this lot at Avalon Boulevard on 30 March. One goal the difference in the match. I believe our close friends from the Southland are due for the sort of warm welcome, that only the Brougham Faithful are capable of arranging. Welcome the Galaxy to Green Hell.

If you have the means get yourself to the ground and round up your mates. If not, you know the drill. Pubs, dwellings, houses, flats, boats, ships. And power up your ability to deliver raw positive psychic energy to our Boys in Green.

It’s a Sunday matinee at Royal Brougham Park. C’MON YOU SOUNDERS! GET IN!

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

I mean, he’s just out of short pants and just on solid food, but that goal was fire.

The Good News

Puig is suspended, so at least we won’t have to face the former FC Barcelona player who makes his teammates as dangerous with his passing, as he is himself with the ball at his feet.

The victory at Philadelphia in the resumed match, will chuff up our spirits. This is definitely a good thing.

Stastically, we shouldn’t be able to beat Galaxy…but there are notable factors that suggest that maybe there are anomalies that should be considered before making an analysis based purely on results. The sending off of Jackson Regan against Vancouver by Ramy Touchan was one of the softest I’ve ever seen a referee mete out. Alex was later sent off in that match for a rather vicious tackle from behind that actually deserved a sending off and earned him a fine and a two-match ban. With both those players on the pitch, maybe it’s not a 0:2 defeat against Vancouver. Then Rosendo Mendoza sent off Frei for a foul actually committed by Cody Baker, for which he awarded DC United a penalty kick and sent off Frei for fouling the DC player who was considered to have a clear chance to score. Frei’s sending off has since been rescinded, but the damage was already done, and DC United prevailed 2:1. If Mendoza doesn’t make that mistake, maybe that match is a draw, or we win it. Conclusion: The numbers show LA Galaxy as a far superior team by virtue of goal scoring and results, but unpredictable and far-reaching circumstances generated by poor officiating may make our Sounders FC seem a worse team than they actually are.

The Bad News

There has been zero promotion for the US Open Cup tie against Louisville City FC, to be played in Tukwila on 8 May. MLS pisses and moans that no one wants to come to US Open Cup ties, but maybe they would if the match were held at a suitable venue, with seating for more than 4500 and they actually bothered to promote it the crowds would be bigger. This is the stupidity and short-sightedness that I have come to expect from MLS as a league. There is no respect for the second-oldest sporting tournament in North America, and the oldest tournament in United States domestic football. The way our club prioritises the different competitions we compete in is remarkably backwards, featuring a short-sighted all-eggs-in-one-basket approach.

MLS, in it’s infinite wisdom, re-scheduled the resumption of the Philadelphia v. Sounders FC match for three days before our US Open Cup tie against Louisville City FC. As a match resumption pins the players that were in the team and on the bench that day, some of our first choice players had to play two matches in four days. There will have to be significant rotation for first choice players either Sunday or Wednesday for the USOC tie. Guess which one the Gaffer will choose.

Puig’s transfer value is rated at €12M. We don’t have that sort of player. The Catalonian midfielder has 13 goals and 17 assists in 49 matches since joining Galaxy. In a like vein, Paintsil is transfer rated at €9.5M and the Ghanian winger has four goals and four assists in 10 appearances with Galaxy. We don’t have a €10M winger. And still there’s Gabriel Pec, with the Brazilian winger scoring two goals and one assist in nine matches with Galaxy. We do not have an €8M winger either. Galaxy paid nearly €18M for Paintsil and Pec, and got Puig on a free transfer from FC Barcelona. Where is the similar investment in our squad?

Let’s say we score enough goals to win on Sunday. Will our lads have enough in the tank to see it to the end? I think we could manage it, but we’ll have to see. Galaxy haven’t played a match in eight days. We’ve played two matches in eight days, so it’s not going to be easy, and I hope we rotate the squad well enough to keep our players off the trainer’s table.

The Side I Would Select

It’s a simple question of what type of team to field in a tournament that you play 34 matches no matter what, and a tournament where if you lose one time you’re out. Also simplifying the selection for me are the players that played both at DC, and then were compelled to play again in the resumption of the Philadelphia match, three days later. So no players that played significant minutes in both those matches, and no players who played both those matches who are 30 years-old or older, excepting goalkeepers. It’s a strong team. Baker-Whiting is expected to be available off the bench, so he could maybe spell Nouhou, so that Nouhou might be available to play at least one half in the cup tie midweek.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Bell

RCH    Hawkins

RB     Baker

LDM    Kitahara

RDM    Leyva

LF     Chu

CAM   Atencio

RF     Tevez

CF       Rothrock

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

This is my ninth year covering the Sounders FC. What I’ve learnt for certain over the years is that the Gaffer, and/or perhaps the Sounders Front Office and/or ownership, don’t value the US Open Cup. At all. With Schmetzer in charge we have never gotten to the Quarter-Final stage of US Open Cup. We used to win it. We have won it four times - only the original Bethlehem Steel FC has won more. But we don’t win it now. I don’t expect to see a team that different from the one that lined up in DC. Dollars to donuts, $10 gets you $20, Schmetzer will go for the points against Galaxy, and will short-sightedly select a team of first-team reserves and Sounders FC Reserves players for the cup tie come midweek.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Bell

RB     Cristian

LDM    Joao Paulo

RDM    Vargas

LF      Chu

CAM    Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     Ruidiaz

Intangibles

The referee for Sunday afternoon’s match will be Drew Fischer.

Sounders FC record in matches refereed by Fischer: 8-8-2

LA Galaxy record in matches refereed by Fischer: 3-4-11

Fatigue and possibly the questionable judgement of management. Hopefully no injuries.

General notes on personnel

LA Galaxy transfers IN:

Berry (Atlanta United) ATL gets LAG’s 33rd pick in 2024 draft

Nelson (St. Louis City) free

McCarthy (Los Angeles FC) free

Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale) free

Pec (Vasco da Gama) €9.3M

Paintsil (KRC Genk) €8.5M

Bibout - reserves

Lepley - draft

Scott (Columbus Crew) free

Garces (Deportivo Pereira) loan

LA Galaxy transfers OUT:

Alfaro (El Paso Locomotive) free

Calegari (Fluminense) end of loan

Klinsmann (Cesena) free

Leerdam (Heracles Almelo) free

Rosell - released

Sharp - (Hull City) free

Barrios (America de Cali) free

Costa (Fluminense) free

Chicharito (CD Guadalajara) free

Saldana (KFUM-Kameratene Oslo) free

Edwards (CF Montreal) €371,000

Judd (San Jose Earthquakes) €182,000

Boyd (Nashville) €701,000

Mavinga - released

Bond - released from contract

Comparison against common opponents

SJ 3:2 SEA

SJ 1:3 LAG

LAG 4:3 SJ

(against SJ: SEA 0-0-1 -1, LAG 2-0-0 +3) edge LAG

LAFC 2:1 SEA

LAFC 2:1 LAG

(against LAFC: SEA 0-0-1 -1, LAG 0-0-1 -1) even

SEA 0:2 VAN

VAN 1:3 LAG

(against VAN: SEA 0-0-1 -2, LAG 1-0-0 +2) edge LAG

SEA 0:0 ATX

ATX 2:0 LAG

(against ATX: SEA 0-1-0 0, LAG 0-0-1 -2) edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Galaxy as they lined up in their 2:0 defeat to Austin at McKalla Place.

GOALKEEPER

John McCarthy, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (21/0), Inter Miami (21/0), Los Angeles FC (26/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (10/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Played his university football for La Salle (74/0). Won an MLS Cup and an MLS League title with LAFC in 2022, by the most technical of margins. McCarthy played one match in the league last season for 90 minutes, and played three minutes at the end of the MLS Cup Final after Crepeau was sent-off, and then helped win the penalty kick tie-breaker. Named USL Rookie of the Year, USL Goalkeeper of the Year, and USL All-League First Team in 2014. Named MLS Cup MVP 2022. Awarded the CONCACAF Champions League Golden Glove 2023, and named to the CONCACAF Champions League Best XI 2023.

DEFENCE

Julian Aude, 21

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Lanus (25/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (32/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes: Developed by CBP Nicolas Avellaneda and Lanus. Has played for Argentina at youth levels (5/0). Won a CONMEBOL U17 title with Argentina U17s.

Martin Caceres, 37

Uruguay (116/4)

Notable Clubs: Defensor (26/4), Recreativo Huelva (34/2), FC Barcelona (13/0), Juventus (86/4), Sevilla (39/2), Southampton (1/0), Hellas Verona (14/3), Lazio (10/1), Fiorentina (56/3), Cagliari (14/1), Levante (10/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (29/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €250,000

Notes: Developed by Defensor. Won a Spanish league title, Copa del Rey, and Champions League with FC Barcelona. Won six Italian league titles, two Coppa Italia, and three Supercoppa Italia with Juventus. Won Copa America with Uruguay.

Maya Yoshida, 35

Japan (126/12)

Notable Clubs: Nagoya Grampus (71/5), VVV Venlo (54/5), Southampton (154/6), Sampdoria (72/3), Schalke 04 (29/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (22/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Nagoya Grampus. Won an AFC Asian Cup with Japan. Named to AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament 2019.

Miki Yamane, 30

Japan (16/2)

Notable Clubs: Shonan Bellmare (100/3), Kawasaki Frontale (133/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (9/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.6M

Notes: Developed by Azamino FC, Tokyo Verdy, Daiichi Gakuin HS, and Toin University of Yokohama. Won a J2 League title and J.League Cup with Shonan Bellmare. Won two J1 League titles, two Emperor’s Cup, and one Japanese Super Cup with Kawasaki Frontale. Named to J.League Best XI three times.

MIDFIELD

Riqui Puig, 24

Catalonia (2/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Barcelona (42/2), Los Angeles Galaxy (49/13)

Estimated Transfer Value: €12M

Notes: Developed by Jabac Terrassa and FC Barcelona. Youth honours for FC Barcelona. Won a Spanish league title and Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona.

Gaston Brugman, 31

Uruguay

Notable Clubs: Empoli (20/2), Pescara (153/18), Palermo (14/0), Parma (50/1), Oviedo (33/3), Los Angeles Galaxy (45/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Estudiantes de Rosario, Penarol, and Empoli.

Marco Delgado, 28

United States (6/0)

Notable Clubs: Chivas USA (37/2), Toronto FC (181/15), Los Angeles Galaxy (69/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Pomona United, LAFC Chelsea, IMG Academy, Cosmos Academy West, and Chivas USA. Won MLS Cup and MLS League double in 2017, and  three Canadian Championships.

FORWARD

Joseph Paintsil, 26

Ghana (15/0)

Notable Clubs: Tema Youth (22/10), Ferencvaros (25/10), Genk (130/30), Ankaragucu (33/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (10/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €9.5M

Notes: Developed by RB Ghana and Tema Youth. Won a Belgian league title and Belgian Super Cup with Genk.

Miguel Berry, 26

Catalonia

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew SC (34/10), San Diego Loyal SC (14/6), DC United (14/0), Atlanta United FC (27/1), Los Angeles Galaxy (10/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

Notes: Developed by San Diego SC and San Diego Surf SC. Played his university football for San Diego (72/38). Won an MLS cup and Campeones Cup with Columbus Crew SC.

Gabriel Pec, 23

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Vasco da Gama (168/25), Los Angeles Galaxy (9/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

Notes: Full Name: Gabriel Fortes Chaves. Developed by Vasco da Gama.

Familiar Faces

Galaxy forward, Miguel Berry played for the Sounders U23s (9/2) in 2017.

Galaxy defender, Eriq Zavaleta played for the Sounders FC (5/0) from 2013-2014.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nouhou, Ragen, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, Joao Paulo, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Chu, Morris, Cristian, Musovski, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

LA Galaxy from:

McCarthy, Micovic, Scott, Aude, Caceres, Cuevas, Neal, Nelson, Yamane, Yoshida, Zavaleta, Aguirre, Brugman, Cerrillo, Delgado, Fagundez, Lepley, Perez, Berry, Bibout, Paintsil, Pec, Vivi.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Nathan (quad), de la Vega (hamstring), Rodrigues (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Musovski (hip).

Note: Baker-Whiting was also listed as a matchday decision, but the Gaffer confirmed in a press conference that he would be on the substitutes bench for Sunday’s match.

LA Galaxy -

OUT: Joveljic (thigh).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: Alex is suspended, as he was sent off against Vancouver for “Serious Foul Play” and will serve the last match of his two-match ban on Sunday. He was also fined an undisclosed amount.

LA Galaxy: Puig is suspended for accumulated bookings and is out this match.

Fun Fact

Although we only bought one decent player in the winter transfer window, the Sounders FC have new corporate partners and loads of cool-looking new merch to sell you!