LOS ANGELES GALAXY v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC - MLS CUP SEMI-FINAL - AVALON BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Didn’t we just leave this town? No matter. In the words of the immortal Hip-Hop artists De La Soul “Stakes is high”. Galaxy have been a perpetual thorn in our side over the years. Would be nice to give an old smash in the face to thems that are so often our obstacle to shiny trophies and such. Don’t judge me! I’ve just had a massive carby meal.

What: MLS Cup Semi-Final, Los Angeles Galaxy v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Avalon Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

When: 7:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Saturday 30 November 2024 CE.

At Stake: I mean…this is the only trophy left to try and win this season. A seventh place finish in the league is good, considering where we are. Still, it’s no substitute for silverware in the trophy cabinet.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. Twellman again. Why is Apple punishing us? Is it a Microsoft thing?

Where to Listen: iHeartMedia Audio Stream (???, what the fucking fuck? what’s happened to KJR?), Sounders FC Mobile App, and the old reliable El Rey 1360 AM. Perhaps this is our sign that we should be addressing our fluency in Central American Spanish.

I want to write an inspiring thing. That’s difficult though as I feel dead inside, but it’s not about me. It’s about our Boys in Green, and ours who follow. So the pressing of each key to write feels like a hammer-blow in slow-motion. I’m 100% taking the piss as I’m writing, on some stellar cider with serious punch. I’m listening to a playlist focused between 1979-1984, like a frightened child clinging to a plush toy in the midst of a nightmare. I only show you my vulnerability because I trust you all so much.

Despite all this…let me be clear. I love our Boys in Green. That never changes. They play to the best of their gifts, do their best to look after us and each other, and generally work their arses off to be better footballers. I am appreciative of their efforts after every match. I remember training two-a-days for Suffolk County CC when I played football, badly, back in the days. It’s fucking hard work. Shit tonnes of running, mountain-climbers, running with your teammates literally on your back. No one sees you toiling on the training pitch. They just see the matches, the end result. So many of us chipping away at the work, but only so many of us would be in the team or used as substitutes. I know that struggle, from personal experience.

It was a massive achievement for us to defeat LAFC at Figueroa Street last Sat. I loved that we shoved their previous dominance right in their glaikit faces. Maybe this unexpected victory means that all things are now possible in this cup run. If all of you believe, and I believe, why can’t Sounders dreams once again come true?

How are you lot doing? Like all of you, I’m ready for another proper Sounders victory. Two in two weeks? Why not? Lads are on form. Our way is to scratch and claw for every victory, every result. That’s Sounders football, straight away. Youngers through veterans the effort is there. The hunger. The focus. I see you, squad!

If you can make it down to the Southland, yet a second time, and you have the means and the inclination, I highly recommend it. I wish I could go and be with you lot for this crucial fixture. Look after each other. Tie your scarves proper. Be kind. Be loud. Be present. Be bright.

For those of us who remain in The Evergreen the task is as it always has been and always will be. Support as hard as we can from such a great distance. I’ll say it the way I’ve always said. For us here, it’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips. This is how we football. This is how we support the lads. ECS and all of its sub-groups will be together in this. It’s a massive energy. We will wield it like a sword, and the fates willin’ cut Galaxy apart.

Why not us? WHY NOT US!!!

Strap in you lot. Are you ready for the woolyness? It’s Galaxy v. Sounders under the Saturday night lights. GO ON!!! GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!! SOUNDERS FOR THE CUP!!!

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

Our Academy lads were good enough to beat Valencia’s in 2019 for the Generation Cup.

This is the way.

The Good News

Sounders will be riding high, after jouncing LAFC out of a cup tournament for a change. This feeling, minus complacency, could give us the edge we need to progress to the cup final.

Although Galaxy score tonnes of goals (2.23/match in all competitions), the Sounders are equally stingy in defence (1.07 goals conceded/match). Sounders finished with the best defence in the league. We will attempt to ride this to victory.

Jordan Morris looked like a man possessed when he hit the 109’ extra-time winner last Sat. That’s the Jordo we need to win matches in this tournament. WELL DONE, JORDO!!! I BELIEVE IN YOU LADDIE!!!

There is precedent for a Sounders victory. In the Leagues Cup, on 8th August at Royal Brougham Park we defeated them by a resounding score of 3:1, with goals coming from Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, and Alex Roldan. We must find a way to victory again, together.

The Bad News

Galaxy score over two goals a match in all competitions (2.23). If they hit two on Sat, it will be difficult to overcome that sort of deficit, at best.

Galaxy don’t really lose at home. Ever. Their home record in all competitions is 15-4-1. They’ve only lost one match in 20 at home.

Galaxy have feasted on both Colorado and the Loons in the MLS Cup,  outscoring them by an aggregate of 15:3 over three matches.

Galaxy have Riqui Puig (estimated transfer fee of €15M), Gabriel Pec (estimated transfer fee of €8M), Joseph Paintsil (estimated transfer fee of €9.5M), and ageing German midfield maestro Marco Reus (estimated transfer fee of €5M even at the venerable age of 35). Do we have answers for this kind of star power? We did against LAFC. Can we manage it again?

It has to be pointed out that our victory might not have been possible against LAFC, had defender Maxime Chanot not scored an own goal in the 59th minute to equalise at 1:1. LA Galaxy are unlikely to provide that level of assistance come Saturday night.

The Side I Would Select

Why break with a winning formula? This side in the 5-2-1-2 shape we played at Figueroa Street last Sat.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Bell

CH     Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade (If he’s fit)

RB      Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

CAM   Rusnak

LCF     Morris

RCF    de la Vega

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

The only changes I’d expect are if Gomez Andrade is injured, and Nouhou for Baker-Whiting who is nursing a calf injury.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Bell

CH     Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade (If he’s fit)

RB      Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

CAM   Rusnak

LCF     Morris

RCF    de la Vega

Intangibles

The Referee for our MLS Cup Semi-Final will be Guido Gonzales Jr. The same official who presided over the Quarter-Final at Figueroa Street.

LA Galaxy results with Gonzales as Ref: 1-0-2

Sounders FC results with Gonzales as Ref: 2-1-1

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

Parente - reserves

Reus (Borussia Dortmund) free

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

Ferkranus (Brisbane Roar) undisclosed fee

Aguirre (Guadalajara) undisclosed fee

Vivi (Saprissa) loan

Perez (Nashville SC) loan

Bibout (FC Tulsa) loan

Comparison against common opponents

SJ 1:3 LAG

LAG 4:3 SJ

SJ 0:3 LAG

SJ 1:2 LAG      LC

SJ 3:2 SEA

SEA 2:2 SJ

(against SJ: LAG 4-0-0 +7, SEA 0-1-1 -1) edge LAG

LAG 3:3 STL

STL 2:1 LAG

STL 1:2 SEA

SEA 2:0 STL

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

SKC 2:3 LAG

LAG 4:2 SKC

SKC 2:1 SEA

SEA 2:0 SKC

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

LAFC 2:1 LAG

LAG 1:2 LAFC
LAG 4:2 LAFC

LAFC 2:1 SEA

SEA 0:3 LAFC

SEA 0:3 LAFC LC

SEA 0:1 LAFC USOC

LAFC 1:2 SEA MLSC

(against LAFC: LAG 1-0-2 0, SEA 1-0-4 -7) edge LAG

VAN 1:3 LAG

LAG 4:2 VAN

SEA 0:2 VAN

SEA 1:1 VAN

VAN 0:3 SEA

(against VAN: LAG 2-0-0 +4, SEA 1-1-1 +1) edge LAG

ATX 2:0 LAG

LAG 2:1 ATX
SEA 0:0 ATX

ATX 0:1 SEA

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

LAG 2:2 RSL

RSL 0:1 LAG

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

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

MIN 2:2 LAG

LAG 2:1 MIN

LAG 6:2 MIN

SEA 2:0 MIN

MIN 2:3 SEA

SEA 2:0 MIN LC

(against MIN: LAG 2-1-0 +5, SEA 3-0-0 +5) edge SEA

LAG 2:1 HOU

HOU 2:1 LAG

HOU 2:2 SEA

SEA 1:0 HOU

SEA 0:0 HOU MLSC

HOU 1:1 SEA MLSC

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

LAG 3:1 DAL

DAL 2:0 LAG

DAL 0:0 SEA

SEA 3:2 DAL

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

CHI 2:1 LAG

SEA 2:1 CHI

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

LAG 3:2 COL

COL 1:3 LAG

LAG 5:0 COL MLSC

COL 1:4 LAG MLSC

SEA 1:1 COL

COL 0:1 SEA

(against COL: LAG 4-0-0 +11, SEA 1-1-0 +1) edge LAG

LAG 3:2 POR

POR 4:2 LAG

POR 1:2 SEA

POR 1:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 POR

(against POR: LAG 1-0-1 -1, SEA 1-1-1 0) edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Galaxy as they lined up against the Loons in their 6:2 MLS Quarter-Final victory at Avalon Boulevard on 24 November.

GOALKEEPER

John McCarthy, 32

United States

Notable Clubs: Philadelphia Union (21/0), Inter Miami (21/0), Los Angeles FC (26/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (32/0)

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

John Nelson, 26

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (30/0), FC Cincinnati (24/0), St. Louis City SC (17/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (23/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €700,000

Notes: Developed by Internationals SC. Played his university football for North Carolina (41/1).

Maya Yoshida, 36

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 (46/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €350,000

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

Emiro Garces, 23

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Deportiva Pereira (53/1), Los Angeles Galaxy (9/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €700,000

Notes: Full name: Carlos Emiro Garces Torres. Won a Colombian league title with Deportivo Pereira.

Miki Yamane, 30

Japan (16/2)

Notable Clubs: Shonan Bellmare (100/3), Kawasaki Frontale (133/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (33/0)

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, 25

Catalonia (2/0)

Notable Clubs: FC Barcelona (42/2), Los Angeles Galaxy (68/23)

Estimated Transfer Value: €15M

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.

Edwin Cerrillo, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (87/0), Los Angeles Galaxy (44/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by FC Dallas. Cerrillo has played at youth levels for United States (2/0).

Marco Reus, 35

Germany (48/15)

Notable Clubs: Rot Weiss Ahlen (43/5), Borussia Monchengladbach (97/36), Borussia Dortmund (294/120), Los Angeles Galaxy (6/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Post SV Dortmund and Borussia Dortmund. Won two German Cups, and three German Supercups with Borussia Dortmund. Three times named German Player’s Union Bundesliga Player of the Season. Won Bundesliga Breakthrough of the Season. Bundesliga Top assist provider. Named six times to the Bundesliga Team of the Season. Twice named Footballer of the Year in Germany. Germany national Player of the Year.  UEFA Team of the Year. UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.

FORWARD

Gabriel Pec, 23

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Vasco da Gama (168/25), Los Angeles Galaxy (33/16)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

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

Dejan Joveljic, 25

Serbia (6/2)

Notable Clubs: Red Star Belgrade (21/11), Eintracht Frankfurt (4/0), Anderlecht (5/1), Wolfsberger AC (34/18), Los Angeles Galaxy (106/34)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Sloga Junajted and Red Star Belgrade. Won two Serbian SuperLiga titles with Red Star Belgrade.

Joseph Paintsil, 26

Ghana (15/0)

Notable Clubs: Tema Youth (22/10), Ferencvaros (25/10), Genk (130/30), Ankaragucu (33/11), Los Angeles Galaxy (29/10)

Estimated Transfer Value: €9.5M

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

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

LA Galaxy from:

McCarthy, Micovic, Scott, Yoshida, Zavaleta, Nelson, Neal, Yamane, Aude, Cuevas, Garces, Reus, Fagundez, Delgado, Cerrillo, Parente, Brugman, Puig, Vivi, Berry, Joveljic, Paintsil, Ramos, Bibout, Pec, Lepley.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Baker, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, De la Vega, Joao Paulo, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Leo Chu, Minoungou, Rodrigues, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

LA Galaxy -

OUT: Caceres (Achilles).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Musovski (quadriceps), Rothrock (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Baker-Whiting (calf), Gomez Andrade (hamstring).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players are suspended from either team.

Fun Fact

Saturday's match marks the eighth time Seattle and the LA Galaxy have met in the MLS Cup.

LOS ANGELES FC v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC - MLS CUP QUARTER-FINAL - FIGUEROA STREET, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

“…If we shadows have offended

Think but this and all is mended:

That you have but slumbered here

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,

No more yielding but a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend…”

– William Shakespeare

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. It’s a trip down to Mordor– I mean Figueroa Street where the shadows lie. Through sheer grit and stubbornness, we’ve made it this far. Is that a feeling of foreboding in my stomach…or is it just too much caffeine?

What: MLS Cup Quarter-Final, Los Angeles FC v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Saturday 23 November 2024 CE.

At Stake: Although Miami won the league, we do have a chance to win MLS Cup, which would be a nice consolation prize, and most of our supporters will feel like we won the league if we can manage to win it. It’s our last chance for a title this season. If we are defeated, we’ll have been put out of three different cup competitions at the Quarter-Final stage or later by LAFC. Also, should we be defeated, we will have had zero trophies in the past two seasons. Put simply, LAFC have spent their way to supremacy and we haven’t kept up. The real question is, can we play mistake-free Sounders football, and make a bold statement in that it takes more than who spends the most on wages and transfer fees to win in the domestic game?

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. I will seriously consider listening to the Spanish language commentary featuring Rodolfo Landeros and Mariano Trujillo, as I find Taylor Twellman insufferable. I wish the simulcast for KJR was available for away matches. I suppose you could try to manually synch it…but I digress.

Where to Listen: KJR 93.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

The realist would say, ‘we’ve seen this film four times now, we know how it ends’. The optimist would say ‘you never know how things are going to break in MLS on any given match-day’, and that’s a fair point, as Sounders finished 7th overall in the league yet couldn’t manage to defeat 29th place bottom-dwellers San Jose in two attempts. The point being, statistics and results trick us in to thinking we can predict results in MLS, but you’d pull your own hair out tryin’.

The record against our newfound rivals from the Southland this season is clear to see. They’ve put us out of two cups this season, and are looking to make it three. Their fans would like nothing better, and are licking their chops to jeer us off the pitch and out of their ground. Our supporters are desperate for the paradigm to change. To make it so LAFC are the ones caught out, back on their heels flat-footed, struggling to cope with our attacks, runs, passes, shots, etc.

If you’re making the trip to Los Angeles, try to link up with your brothers and sisters in Green. Tie your scarves proper and look after each other. Be loud. Make them hear you. Make it so you can be heard on Apple TV’s audio board, even though they turn down the crowd noises because they’re terrified they’ll lose sponsors over the odd swear word. Bloody Puritans. Inspire our Boys in Green (or Red, if for some unknown reason we wear the change kit) to victory.

If you haven’t the means to travel to the away match. It’s us, here, in The Evergreen. One of the most beautiful corners of the world. Sky of blue. Sea of green. We’ve got to channel a massive amount of psychic energy, and support the lads as best we can. Press the gain ’til the neighbours complain. It’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Pie and chips for boats and ships. And as for West Sound Armada, I’ll see you lot at Crane’s Castle and we’re gonna kick things up to a respectable level, yeh?! Time for us to put the sound in Sounders. C’MON YE!!!

The stage is set for high drama. The players have rehearsed their lines and donned their costumes. The scenery has been painted. The blocking has been blocked. The marks put on the boards. The orchestra is tuning up. Soon the lights will go up, the overture will play, and the curtain will open.

It’s MLS Cup football, under the Saturday night lights at Figueroa Street. Stay on your toes and grasp the settee for support. It’s gonna be a wooly one. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!! SOUNDERS FOR THE CUP!!!

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

If you go by the numbers, there’s not even any point.

But as the old saying goes “That’s why they play the games”.

The Good News

We have a decent amount of quality in our team. Not really any super-stars, capable of taking over a match single-handedly, but a good, solid, skilful, hard-working team, with a good amount of depth in the squad to bolster the side.

If the midfielders can provide a decent through ball, Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz are capable of using their pace to get behind the defence and score goals. On penalties and free kicks, Albert Rusnak is the go-to man.

Sounders literally have the best defence in the league, with goalkeeper Stefan Frei, defenders Nouhou, Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gomez Andrade, and Alex Roldan. Ably assisted by the likes of Joao Paulo, Cristian Roldan, Josh Atencio, and Obed Vargas should things break down. Our defence conceded eight less goals than LAFC in the league, and defending is what we’re known for. That’s Sounders football. It isn’t pretty, but you can’t reasonably argue the efficacy of it.

Players like Atencio, de la Vega, Joao Paulo, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Leo Chu, Minoungou, Rodrigues, and Rothrock are decent creative players when they use their skills to open up space for others, work one-twos, and/or pass with precision. Will they get the chance to create? How many amongst this lot will actually be in the team come Saturday?

The danger men for Sounders are Jordan Morris (13 goals), Albert Rusnak (10 goals), Raul Ruidiaz (8 goals), and Paul Rothrock if he’s fit (5 goals). Our best playmakers have been Rusnak (12 assists), Morris and Obed Vargas (4 assists each).

The Bad News

I’ll let the results speak for themselves here, it’s not pretty:

LAFC 2:1 SEA

SEA 0:3 LAFC

SEA 0:3 LAFC LC

SEA 0:1 LAFC USOC

(against LAFC: SEA 0-0-4 -8)

We are overmatched. There is an arms race in MLS, in terms of signing star players, and we are being left behind. Gabonese international Denis Bouanga scored 20 goals this season, assisted on 11, and has an estimated transfer fee of €10M. Polish international Mateusz Bogusz scored 15 goals this season, assisted on seven, and has an estimated transfer fee of €8M. Goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, is a former French international who has won a World Cup title. We don’t have answers for that. LAFC’s tactics are arguably more effective, their football more attractive to watch, and you can make the argument that Steve Cherundolo is better Manager than Brian Schmetzer. Counterpoint: Schmetzer does have the edge in experience, and to be fair, has been in a position, since the days of Dempsey and Martins are long gone, where he has to do more with less, seemingly every season. LAFC pose questions that Sounders as a club, struggle to answer. I take no pleasure in writing this, but it must be said.

As miserable as it is for visiting sides at Royal Brougham Park, so will it be at Figueroa Street for ours. I expect a churning pit of unimaginable noise. To say it’s going to be difficult for the lads is a massive understatement.

It will likely take a mistake-free match to defeat LAFC. It’s possible, we have a decent amount of talent and no one battles harder than our lads. It’s going to take some doing though.

We need disciplined play from our midfield and forward players. We try to create overloads on the wings long after that space has been closed down and crimped, by both the opposition defence compounded by our own players crowding each other. Spacing is key. Creating space for teammates with unselfish runs is key. Disciplined wing play is key. Sharp, quick, and unpredictable ball movement is key. Support play has to be better. Any Sounders player with the ball should have at least two unmarked options to pass to. Movement off the ball has to be better. Set pieces have to be better. The timing and quality of off the ball runs has to be better. Our finishing has to be better. That I have to write any of this, outlines the seriousness of the problems. These are fundamental aspects of football that should simply be understood by professionals, and failing that, repetition of these fundamentals should be a principal focus in training.

The Side I Would Select

It’s pretty clear we have to do something different, as we’ve lost all four matches we’ve played against this lot. I would want to change the formation, and maybe make subs around 50th-60th minute when a player might have an actual chance to make an impact and influence the match. Although it’s a bit late in the year to make dramatic changes, you could do as there were two weeks of training before this match. We’ve tried 4-2-3-1 against this lot and it doesn’t work. Fuck it. Something’s got to change. I would put out a 4-1-3-1-1 shape. LAFC would never see it comin’. Would it work? I don’t know, but after losing all four matches we played against LAFC with a -8 goal difference, I’d say something has to change.

Rationale: Joao Paulo plays in front of the back four as an old skool stopper-centre-half/sweeper, playing destroyer in the role of a #6. As the full-backs are meant to provide the width, the three midfielders would support the attack, with Vargas dropping back into the #8 role when needed to support the defence. Ruidiaz plays as striker, behind Morris, who will use that tank of a body he has, holding as an old style centre-forward, facing away from goal looking for Raul, and the midfielders making late runs near the top of the attacking Penalty Area. Cristian and Rothrock (if he’s fit) can come on to change the match and defensive shape on 50’-60’ if needed.

GK     Frei

LB     Baker-Whiting (Nouhou if he’s fit)

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

DM     Joao Paulo

LM     de la Vega

CM     Rusnak

RM     Vargas

ST     Ruidiaz

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Sounders football is played in a certain way. The club and the coaching staff genuinely believe that running that strategy back match after match, disregarding results, is our best chance of winning. Against anyone except Columbus, LAFC, and Miami, I would agree. Expect us to play anti-football, daring LAFC to push up numbers in attack and attempting to counter-attack with pace and skill when we can win the ball. The overarching philosophy being, ‘No, you lot go ahead and attack full-on, we’ll settle for penalties if we have to’. This is what I think we’re likely to see, in the expected 4-2-3-1 shape. I wouldn’t expect changes of any kind, excepting injury or illness.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou (if he’s fit)

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM   Joao Paulo

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock (if he’s fit)

CAM   Rusnak

RF     de la Vega

CF     Morris

Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday night’s cup tie is Guido Gonzales Jr.

LAFC results with Gonzales as ref: 3-3-2

Sounders FC results with Gonzales as ref: 1-1-1

General notes on personnel

LAFC transfers IN:

Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) free

Dellavalle - reserves

Campos (Santos Laguna) €4.6M

Angel (Atletico Nacional) free

Martinez (Monagas SC) €3.2M

Atuesta (Palmeiras) loan

Chanot (AC Ajaccio) free

Kamara (Chicago Fire) free

Muller - reserves

Giroud (AC Milan) free

Musto - reserves

Hasal (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) free

O’Brien (Nottingham Forest) loan

Marlon (Shakhtar Donetsk) free

Luca Bombino - reserves

Rosales - reserves

Wibowo - reserves

Ochoa - reserves

Vela - re-signed

LAFC transfers OUT:

Chiellini - retired

Crisostomo (Tampa Bay Rowdies) free

Gaines - released

Jakupovic - released

Leone (Monterrey) free

Maldonado (Motagua) end of loan

McCarthy (Los Angeles Galaxy) free

Rosales - released

Torres (Tapatio) free

Traore (Phoenix Rising) free

Acosta (Chicago Fire) free

Crepeau (Portland Timbers) free

Palacios (Corinthians) free

Vela - released

Gonzalez (Sporting Gijon) loan

Krastev (Lommel SK) end of loan

Biuk (Real Valladolid) €4M

Fall (FC Barcelona) €2M

Angel (Phoenix Rising) loan

Gonzalez (FC Famalicao) loan

Ginella - released

Romero (Columbus Crew) €45,000

Comparison against common opponents

RSL 3:0 LAFC

LAFC 1:1 RSL

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

(against RSL: LAFC 0-1-1 -3, SEA 0-1-1 -2) edge SEA

LAFC 0:0 SKC

SKC 0:3 LAFC

LAFC 3:1 SKC USOC

SKC 2:1 SEA

SEA 2:0 SKC

(against SKC: LAFC 2-1-0 +5, SEA 1-0-1 +1) edge LAFC

MIN 2:0 LAFC

LAFC 2:0 MIN

SEA 2:0 MIN

MIN 2:3 SEA

SEA 2:0 MIN LC

(against MIN: LAFC 1-0-1 0, SEA 3-0-0 +5) edge SEA

COL 3:2 LAFC

LAFC 3:0 COL

LAFC 4:0 COL LC

SEA 1:1 COL

COL 0:1 SEA

(against COL: LAFC 2-0-1 +6, SEA 1-1-0 +1) edge LAFC

LAFC 2:1 LAG

LAG 1:2 LAFC

LAG 4:2 LAFC

LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG

SEA 3:1 LAG LC

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

POR 2:2 LAFC

LAFC 3:2 POR

POR 1:2 SEA

POR 1:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 POR

(against POR: LAFC 1-1-0 +1, SEA 1-1-1 0) edge LAFC

SJ 3:1 LAFC

LAFC 6:2 SJ

LAFC 3:1 SJ

LAFC 4:1 SJ

SJ 3:2 SEA

SEA 2:2 SJ

(against SJ: LAFC 3-0-1 +7, SEA 0-1-1 -1) edge LAFC

LAFC 3:0 VAN

VAN 1:2 LAFC

LAFC 2:1 VAN MLSC

VAN 3:0 LAFC MLSC

LAFC 1:0 VAN MLSC

LAFC 2:2 VAN LC

SEA 0:2 VAN

SEA 1:1 VAN

VAN 0:3 SEA

(against VAN: LAFC 4-1-1 +3, SEA 1-1-1 +1) edge LAFC

STL 0:2 LAFC

LAFC 1:0 STL

STL 1:2 SEA

SEA 2:0 STL

(against STL: LAFC 2-0-0 +3, SEA 2-0-0 +3) even

LAFC 1:0 DAL

DAL 3:1 LAFC

DAL 0:0 SEA

SEA 3:2 DAL

(against DAL: LAFC 1-0-1 -1, SEA 1-1-0 +1) edge SEA

ATX 1:1 LAFC

LAFC 1:1 ATX

SEA 0:0 ATX

ATX 0:1 SEA

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

LAFC 1:5 CLB

CLB 3:1 LAFC LC

CLB 0:4 SEA* *CLB had ½ team and field player as goalie

(against CLB: LAFC 0-0-2 -6, SEA 1-0-0 +4) Data tainted, comparison not possible

LAFC 0:2 HOU

HOU 0:0 LAFC

HOU 2:2 SEA

SEA 1:0 HOU

SEA 0:0 HOU MLSC

HOU 1:1 SEA MLSC

(against HOU: LAFC 0-1-1 -2, SEA 1-3-0 +1) edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

LAFC as they lined up against Vancouver in their 1:0 victory at Figueroa Street on 8 November. This victory won the Round of 16 MLS cup tie and secured advancement to the Quarter-Finals for LAFC.

GOALKEEPER

Hugo Lloris, 37

France (145/0)

Notable Clubs: Nice (72/0), Lyon (146/0), Tottenham Hotspur (361/0), Los Angeles FC (33/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Cedac Cimiez and Nice. Won Coup de France and Trophee des Champions with Lyon. Won the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Nations League with France. Named Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year three times. Named to Ligue 1 Team of the Year three times. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

DEFENCE

Ryan Hollingshead, 33

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (193/18), Los Angeles FC (93/11)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Played his university football for UCLA (81/16). Won an MLS League Championship and US Open Cup double with Dallas in 2016. Won MLS league and MLS Cup double in 2022 with LAFC. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Aaron Long, 32

United States (35/3)

Notable Clubs: Sacramento Republic (2/0), New York RB (139/12), Los Angeles FC (50/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Played his university football for UC Riverside (71/13). Won an MLS League Championship with NYRB. Named USL Defender of the Year in 2016. Named MLS Defender of the Year and MLS Best XI in 2018. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI in 2019. Named to CONCACAF Champions League Best XI 2023. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Maxime Chanot, 35

Luxembourg (72/4)

Notable Clubs: Beerschot (9/0), Kortrijk (82/5), New York City FC (165/5), Ajaccio (21/0), Los Angeles FC (23/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €400,000

Notes: Developed by Nancy and Reims. Won an MLS Cup, and a Campeones Cup with New York City FC. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Marlon, 29

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Fluminense (81/0), Barcelona (2/0), Nice (23/0), Sassuolo (65/1), Shakhtar Donetsk (12/0), Monza (28/0), Los Angeles FC (5/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Full name: Marlon Santos da Silva Barbosa. Developed by Fluminense. Won a Copa Libertadores and a Recopa Sudamericana with Fluminense. Won a Copa Del Rey with Barcelona. Won a Ukrainian Super Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Sergi Palencia, 28

Catalonia

Notable Clubs: Bordeaux (25/0), Saint Etienne (6/0), Leganes (71/0), Los Angeles FC (50/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by CF Badalona and FC Barcelona. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

MIDFIELD

Lewis O’Brien, 26

England

Notable Clubs: Huddersfield Town (123/8), Bradford City (40/4), Nottingham Forest (13/1), DC United (17/1), Middlesbrough (21/0), Los Angeles FC (9/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Huddersfield Town. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC. 

Timothy Tillman, 25

United States (1/0)

Notable Clubs: 1FC Nurnberg (6/0), Greuther Furth (80/2), Los Angeles FC (57/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by ASV Zimdorf, 1SC Feucht, Greuther Furth, and Bayern Munich. Won a German Supercup for Bayern Munich (as an unused substitute). Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

FORWARD

Denis Bouanga, 30

Gabon (45/11)

Notable Clubs: Lorient (38/10), Strasbourg (18/5), Tours (36/16), Nimes (35/8), Saint-Etienne (97/26), Los Angeles FC (70/41)

Estimated Transfer Value: €10M

Notes: Developed by SO Maine and Le Mans. Won MLS league and MLS Cup double in 2022 with LAFC. Won CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot (7 goals) 2023. Named to CONCACAF Champions League Best XI 2023. Won 2023 MLS Golden Boot (20 goals). Named to MLS Best XI 2023. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Mateusz Bogusz, 23

Poland (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Ruch Chorzow (32/5), Leeds United (1/0), Los Angeles FC (60/18)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

Notes: Developed by Gwiazda Ruda Slaska, and Ruch Chorzov. Won a EFL Championship with Leeds. Has played for Poland (44/7) at youth levels. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Cristian Olivera, 22

Uruguay (11/0)

Notable Clubs: Rentistas (32/6), Almeria (3/0), Penarol (15/0), Boston River (29/10), Los Angeles FC (31/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €6M

Notes: Developed by Arapey Mendoza, Potencia, Flores Palma, Danubio (AUFI), Cerrito, Danubio, Defensor, and Rentistas. Won a Uruguayan league title and Supercopa Uruguaya with Penarol. Won a US Open Cup with LAFC.

Familiar Faces

Former Sounders FC Coach Ante Razov is a Coach with LAFC.

Squads

LAFC from:

Lloris, Hasal, Ochoa, Marlon, Bombino, Rosales, Long, Hollingshead, Segura, Duenas, Murillo, Campos, Palencia, Chanot, Darboe, Sanchez, Atuesta, Tillman, O’Brien, Bogusz, Olivera, Musto, Martinez, Muller, Vela, Giroud, Kamara, Ordaz, Bouanga, Wibowo.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, De la Vega, Joao Paulo, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Leo Chu, Minoungou, Rodrigues, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

LAFC -

OUT: Dellavalle (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Castro (adductor), Musovski (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Nouhou (illness), Rothrock (quadriceps).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

No players are suspended for either team.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC have named the recipients of their team awards for the 2024 season.

Most Valuable Player: Albert Rusnak (10 goals, 12 assists).

Defender of the Year: Yeimar Gomez Andrade.

Humanitarian of the Year: Jordan Morris.

Golden Boot: Jordan Morris (13 goals).