Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Our close personal friends from the Great White North, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, have the temerity to show their faces in the Evergreen after having a go at us last time, when they defeated us 0:2 at Royal Brougham Park. We haven’t forgotten. Prepare for a warm welcome…to Green Hell.
What: MLS league match and Cascadia Cup-tie, Vancouver Whitecaps FC v. Seattle Sounders FC.
Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.
When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 18 May 2024 CE.
At Stake: Vancouver have a maximum six points from two matches in the Cascadia Cup. The participating clubs only get three matches against each opponent for a total of six matches. If Vancouver should defeat us, they will continue to lead the standings for the Cup. If we are victorious, we will be level on points with Vancouver, although possibly still a tiny bit adrift on goal difference. I rate this match as a must-win for Sounders FC.
The stakes in the league are much more nebulous at this stage. Sounders are three points adrift of St. Louis for the last qualifying berth for MLS Cup. Although with only a third or so of the season played, and with 62% of the league qualifying, I’d say that’s not the primary concern for Saturday night and that the focus should be on Cascadia.
Sounders FC are currently 20th in the league on 13 points, 15 points adrift of leaders Miami. A loss could sink us as low as 26th place. A victory on Sat could see us climb as high as 18th place in the league, possibly as high as 17th if St. Louis take a beating (@CIN). In this scenario to get to 18th, Atlanta (@NSH), and New England (v.PHI), must do no better than draw. For Sounders to climb to 17th place, Cincinnati must defeat St. Louis by two goals or more. I think I have the maths right on this, but then you never know, I went to college and university for Graphic Design and Media Arts, so there ye go. For those of you watching the MLS Cup qualification race anxiously, it’s even more important for you lot to hope that Cincinnati deliver an absolute battering to St. Louis……although with St. Louis, should they take that massive beating, they may try to take it out on us when we travel to Citypark Saturday next. And no, St. Louis Citeh, I’m not capitalising all the letters in Citypark ye daft bastards. Learn how written language works, ye savages!
Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Where to Listen: 93.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM. Remember, should you choose to, you can access alternate home audio in the control layer of the Apple TV app and hear the KJR radio simulcast commentary rather than the Apple TV commentators.
Two bonfires to build in one week. Crikey, that’s a lot of bonfires. We’ve been having a go at this lot from British Columbia since 1974. Sure, your supporters are decent and cordial, and your city is lovely and your healthcare sys– Fuck it, we still don’t like your football team.
Attention all hands. All hands to action stations. This is not a drill. This is not a drill. Sound collision. Brace for impact. Prepare to repel boarders. I have faith in you lot, especially the Brougham Faithful, ECS and her sub-groups. We will stand together this day whether we are at the ground, or amongst friends and loved ones elsewhere.
It’s Cascadia Cup football, under the lights at Royal Brougham Park on a Saturday night. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS, GET IN!!! FOR CASCADIA!!!
Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”
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It looks so peaceful doesn’t it. You wouldn’t even know that mayhem was about to ensue when
Pacific Northwest rivals clash under the lights at Royal Brougham Park this Saturday night.
(photo credit: Michael Brunk)
The Good News
I would like to credit the Gaffer regarding the inclusion of Minoungou and Kitahara in the team midweek at Salt Lake. That was well done, and let’s see more of the same in league matches. Although we were defeated, both players did not in any way look out of place in the team. Every time we do this, we are making an investment in the future, so that when we need to use the whole squad, the players are accustomed to their roles, and more familiar with their teammates. It’s brave to try something new, and it’s brave to recognise the importance of our youngers in building our club’s future. Do this more often in league matches when the schedule gets cramped. Value our cup matches higher than league results. Do these things and the supporters will love you, and the club will benefit immensely with results on the pitch as well.
Whitecaps haven’t won a match in the league since they defeated us on 20 April with a record of 1-2-2 in their last five. Sounders are 2-1-2 over the same stretch. The ‘Caps struggled to beat Cavalry FC in the Canadian Championship 1:2 on 7 May, and UANL Tigres absolutely bounced them out of the CONCACAF Cup 4:1 on aggregate. I think we have an excellent chance to win if we tighten up our game.
Sounders have only lost once at home this season. Granted, that loss was to Vancouver, and that three of our five home fixtures in the league so far have been draws. Point being, we don’t fuck about at home, and the ‘Caps should expect an extremely difficult match.
Sounders FC’s defence is still holding, but at 1.23 goals conceded/match is marginally worse than Vancouvers (0.06 goals conceded/match difference). Given the ‘Caps recent form, we should be in with a shout.
Though our start to the season was extremely spotty, we’re starting to get some players back from injury, including Argentine starlet, Pedro de la Vega. We are 3-2-3 in our last eight matches, and that’s pretty damn good. Baker-Whiting, Vargas, and Ruidiaz have are also fit enough for selection.
The Bad News
It is really time for the Sounders to invest in, or make arrangements for, an alternate training ground at high-altitude somewhere in Washington State. There is no reason that our lads shouldn’t have the chance to get acclimated for high-altitude away matches in Salt Lake and Colorado. Or at the Azteca or other high-altitude venues. It certainly worked for the Yanks against Mexico when they started training in Colorado Springs prior to away matches at Mexico. C’mon Adrian Hanauer and Sounders FC ownership. Make it happen because science doesn’t give a ripe shit if we drag our feet on this.
Vancouver have played reasonably well on the road this season (3-1-2). The British Columbia outfit is statistically more likely to score two goals (1.50/match), and they’re playing marginally better defence than we are now as well conceding only 1.17 goals/match.
The danger men are White (5 goals), Gauld (3 goals), and Picault (3 goals). Raposo (3 assists), White (2 assists), Gauld (2 assists), and Picault (2 assists) can hurt you with scoring or setting up teammates. Vite and Cubas have assisted on two goals as well. Our defence has its work cut out for it, as always.
Goal scoring is still a problem for the Sounders FC, with only two goals scored in the last three league matches. We’ll need to do better on Sat to win.
The Side I Would Select
It’s Cascadia. There’s a three-day turnaround between the Vancouver match and the midweek US Open Cup 5th Round fixture against Phoenix Rising. So, in theory, the first choice players could play in both matches - if fit and rested. And that is exactly what I would do to maximise chances of taking points in the Cascadia Cup, and also the best chance to advance to the Quarter-Final stage of the USOC. Like a top Chess Grandmaster, a good football Manager has to think several matches ahead. Here’s who I’d have in the team to greet our friends from the North on Sat.
Rationale:
I’d play Hawkins over Ragen for three reasons. 1. Ragen played 83 minutes at Salt Lake midweek, 2. this will fully rest up Ragen for the Cup midweek, and 3. Hawkins is good enough to play in MLS league matches with no dip in quality from the first-chioce players. We need Rusnak for this match, but he played 65 minutes against Salt Lake midweek, and will need a sub at half-time, and who better to replace him than our Argentinian starlet, Pedro de la Vega who it seems has returned to full fitness? If that works out, Pedro might see himself in the team come midweek. Joao Paulo could also use a rest at half-time, no sense in wearing him out, as he played 45 minutes at Salt Lake, and It would be really, really smart if we had him in the team midweek against Phoenix. Maybe Baker-Whiting for Joao Paulo at the half, circumstances permitting?
GK Frei
LB Nouhou
LCH Hawkins
RCH Gomez Andrade
RB Alex
LDM Joao Paulo
RDM Cristian
LF Morris
CAM Rusnak
RF Vargas
CF Ruidiaz
The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select
Firstly I’d like to give the Gaffer credit for trying something new up in the Salt Lake. His decision to include both Kitahara, and Minoungou in the team, and also trying Kitahara at right-back, were brave and incredibly forward-thinking selections. The result might not have been what we hoped for, but the Gaffer solidly invested in our future midweek, by getting experience for two promising young players, and they in no way looked out of place playing league football. Kudos.
With Vancouver currently leading the charge for Cascadia cup you can expect the full-force compliment of the most experienced players we have to be in the team at kick-off.
GK Frei
LB Nouhou
LCH Ragen
RCH Gomez Andrade
RB Alex
LDM Joao Paulo
RDM Cristian
LF Morris
CAM Rusnak
RF Vargas
CF Ruidiaz
Intangibles
The referee for Saturday’s match will be Victor Rivas (85 MLS matches).
Sounders FC record with Rivas as referee is: 2-1-1.
Vancouver record with Rivas as referee is: 1-2-1.
General notes on personnel
Vancouver transfers IN:
Berhalter re-signed
Kreilach (Real Salt Lake) free
Picault (Nashville SC) free
Utvik (Sarpsborg 08) free
Halbouni (1.FC Magdeburg) undisclosed fee
Bendik (Philadelphia Union) free
Priso (Colorado Rapids) €137,000
Bovalina (Adelaide United) €135,000
Vancouver transfers OUT:
Campagna (Vancouver FC*) free *Canadian Premier League club
Habibulla (Sporting Kansas City Reserves) free
Hasal - released
Becher (AC Horsens) €400,000
Alexandre (Fortaleza) undisclosed fee
Comparison against common opponents
SJ 3:2 SEA
SJ 0:2 VAN
(against SJ: SEA 0-0-1 -1, VAN 1-0-0 +2) edge VAN
DAL 0:0 SEA
DAL 1:3 VAN
(against DAL: SEA 0-1-0 0, VAN 1-0-0 +2) edge VAN
LAG 1:0 SEA
SEA 0:0 LAG
VAN 1:3 LAG
(against LAG: SEA 0-1-1 -1, VAN 0-0-1 -2) edge SEA
SEA 0:0 ATX
VAN 0:0 ATX
(against ATX: SEA 0-1-0 0, VAN 0-1-0 0) even
LAFC 2:1 SEA
LAFC 3:0 VAN
(against LAFC: SEA 0-0-1 -1, VAN 0-0-1 -3) edge SEA
SEA 1:1 COL
COL 1:0 VAN
(against COL: SEA 0-1-0 0, VAN 0-0-1 -1) edge SEA
POR 1:2 SEA
VAN 3:2 POR
(against POR: SEA 1-0-0 +1, VAN 1-0-0 +1) even
RSL 2:0 SEA
VAN 1:2 RSL
(against RSL: SEA 0-0-1 -2, VAN 0-0-1 -1) edge VAN
Know Thine Enemy
Vancouver as they lined up in their 1:0 defeat at Colorado on 15 May. The diagram on the match report has the look of 3-4-3, but I have my doubts. I’d say more of an asymmetrical 4-3-3 with right-back Luis Martins overlapping, or a 5-3-2 with Ahmed and Martins as the full-backs providing the width.
GOALKEEPER
Yohei Takaoka, 28
Japan
Notable Clubs: Yokohama FC (41/0), Sagan Tosu (40/0), Yokohama F. Marinos (71/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (45/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €2M
Notes: Developed by Yokohama FC. Won a J-League title with Yokohama F. Marinos. Named to J-League Best XI 2022. Won a Canadian Championship with Vancouver in 2023.
DEFENCE
Ali Ahmed, 23
Canada (4/0)
Notable Clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (36/3)
Estimated Transfer Value: €2M
Notes: Developed by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Won a Canadian Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Named Best Young Canadian Player of the 2023 Canadian Championship.
Bjorn Inge Utvik, 28 (This player will serve a one-match ban on Saturday)
Norway
Notable Clubs: Sogndal (93/5), Sarpsborg 08 (122/7), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €700,000
Notes: Developed by Haugesund.
Ranko Veselinovic, 25
Serbia (2/0)
Notable Clubs: Vojvodina (59/1), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (120/5)
Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M
Notes: Developed by Vojvodina. Originally on loan to Vancouver, the Whitecaps exercised their option to make the move permanent on 18 October 2020. Won a Serbian Cup with Vojvodina. Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Javain Brown, 25
Jamaica (29/0)
Notable Clubs: Harbour View (27/1), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (85/2)
Estimated Transfer Value: €1M
Notes: Developed by Kingston College. Played his university football for South Florida (15/3). Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Luis Martins, 31
Portugal
Notable Clubs: Benfica (4/0), Gil Vicente (40/2), Granada (5/0), Osasuna (9/0), Maritimo (22/0), Sporting Kansas City (55/1), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (38/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000
Notes: Developed by Cracks Lamego, Boavista, Diogo Cao, and Benfica. Won a Canadian Championship with Vancouver in 2023.
MIDFIELD
Andres Cubas, 28
Paraguay (17/0)
Notable Clubs: Boca Juniors (28/0), Defensa y Justicia (21/0), Tallares (38/1), Nimes (48/2), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (56/1)
Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M
Notes: Developed by Boca Juniors. Won a league title and a Copa Argentina with Boca Juniors. Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Pedro Vite, 22
Ecuador (1/1)
Notable Clubs: Independiente del Valle (14/2), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (70/6)
Estimated Transfer Value: €3M
Notes: Developed by Independiente del Valle. Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
FORWARD
Levonte Johnson, 25
Canada
Notable Clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (15/0)
Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000
Notes: Developed by Botelho ST and Brampton YSC. Played his university football at Eastern Florida State (NJCAA) (20/10), Salt Lake Community College (NJCAA) (18/11), Seattle University (22/9), and Syracuse (25/11). Won a Canadian Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Brian White, 28
United States (1/0)
Notable Clubs: New York RB (47/15), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (96/36)
Estimated Transfer Value: €3M
Notes: Developed by PDA. Played his university football for Duke (73/23). Won MLS League Championship in 2018 with New York RB. Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Ryan Gauld, 28
Scotland
Notable Clubs: Dundee United (42/7), Sporting Lisbon (2/0), Vitoria Setubal (5/0), Aves (18/1), Farense (66/20), Hibernian (5/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (90/26)
Estimated Transfer Value: €7M
Notes: Developed by Brechin City Boys Club and Dundee United. Won Taca de Portugal with Aves. Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Won the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the MVP of the 2022 Canadian Championship.
Familiar Faces
Levonte Johnson, a Canadian footballer from Ontario, played for Seattle University (22/9) in 2021.
Squads
Sounders FC from:
Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Baker-Whiting, de la Vega, Joao Paulo, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Minoungou, Musovski, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.
Note: Lopez, Kossa-Rienzi, Brunell… were they returned to the Sounders FC Reserves, are they still in the squad? Maybe, maybe not. Nobody knows. Who can say? As long as it’s a transparent process, that’s the important thing [sarcasm].
Vancouver from:
Takaoka, Boehmer, Ahmed, Blackmon, Brown, Halbouni, Laborda, Luis Martins, Veselinovic, Berhalter, Bovalina, Cubas, Gauld, Herdman, Kachwele, Ngando, Priso, Raposo, Schopf, Vite, Johnson, Picault, White.
Injury List
(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)
Sounders FC -
OUT: Nathan (quadriceps), Rodrigues (hamstring), Atencio (hamstring), Leo Chu (adductor).
MATCHDAY DECISION: Gomez Andrade (quadriceps), de la Vega (hamstring),
Vancouver -
OUT: Adekugbe (calf), Kreilach (ankle).
MATCHDAY DECISION: none.
Discipline
(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)
Sounders FC: No players suspended.
Vancouver: Utvik is suspended and out this match. White is out next match if booked.
Fun Facts
I read up on the MLS short-term loan rules. I now know less than I knew before I finished reading the section. The important thing is that it’s not confusing [sarcasm].
Sounders FC Reserves face off against Minnesota United FC Reserves at 12 noon Pacific Daylight Time, Sunday afternoon at National Sports Center Stadium. I think MLS Next Pro matches are available on YouTube, and also via the MLS Next Pro website, if you’re thinking of tuning in. I mean, how rare is it to get a glimpse of the future? Good luck, lads. We’re pullin’ for ye!
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