It all came to a halt last night and no one should have been surprised, after Saturday the odds of playing in the conference final Sunday were long. And that’s no ones fault other than the players that put on the atrocious display in Salt Lake Saturday night.
In the past I’ve been impressed by Salt Lake, but after the last couple of games I think they have been shown to be typical MLS thugs. That’s not their problem, they play a style that works for MLS. It’s a league problem and Seattle has not built a team that’s equipped to play physical play-off football in that way.
The front office and coaching staff somewhere decided that they would build a team that played in the right way. They invested in young, talented players and put together a team that, when they are on, play about the prettiest football in the MLS. And that is something I can get behind.
When the season started I said this would be successful if this team 1) went deep into the playoffs, 2) was in the last four of the Open Cup, and 3) made it out the group stage of the champion’s league. Two out of three, and arguably over achieving on 2 and 3 makes for a good year.
Besides I do believe the big trophy is the Supporters Shield. This is the one I want Seattle to win, this year LA Galaxy were clearly the class of the league and deserved it. This is the trophy that you play 34 games to win. In 2011 and a balanced schedule everyone plays everyone else home and away, and the best side prevails.
The playoffs are interesting, knock out football by it’s very nature always is. But as we’ve seen over the last couple of years a streaky club that comes good at the right time can win it all despite finishing well down in the regular season.
Looking at the rest of the play offs, we’ve seen Kansas City and Houston make it deeper into the play-offs than Seattle. These are two teams proven to be clearly inferior during the previous 36 games, and what’s more one of them will be crowned “Eastern Conference Champions” Sunday. It’s all very silly, and football fans know it.
If you feel the 2011 season is a failure because we never lifted the MLS Cup then I’d ask you to consider a couple of things and look at the body of work over the last 8-months. Top achievement this year was finishing second in the league. In the cold light of day that opening day 1-0 loss to LA was the difference between winning the Supporters Shield and being second.
Don’t forget how much fun that 6 or 7 game tear through August was. The Sounders played some really good football and mowed down everyone put in front of us.
We made it out of a tough Champions League group; the 1-0 win at Monterrey was seismic in making people take notice of this side. Lastly, and you know how astounding that night was if you were there, we won a third US Open Cup.
By any definition this was a good year. In 30 years of following this game, this is the best year I’ve ever had as a supporter. And this was all achieved with maybe the best winger on the league out with a horrific injury for most of the year. I wonder how different Saturday night could have been with Zakuani, White and Rosales available, but it was not to be.
As disappointed as I am that Seattle are out, I’m more bummed the year is over. We won’t have competitive football until the beginning of March when the knock out stages of the Champions League gets going. As much fun as being drawn against a Mexican team would be, I’d like to have another crack at LA. We owe them and I’m starting to take this personally.
There is a lot left to happen before we get there. Signing Rosales to a long-term contract is important. Keeping Montero for another year would be good. Same for Alonso, he’s certainly on the radar of clubs in bigger leagues. While no one is ever going to replace Keller, we have to find someone to fill that gaping hole on the team sheet. Then there is Zakuani, will he be the player he was? Physically I’m sure he will be, but that’s only part of the healing process.
It’s going to be an off season with a lot of change and a number of questions that need to be answered. I can’t wait for competitive football to start again.
Thanks guys, it’s been a fun year and I appreciate how good it’s been.
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2 Comments
I agree that keeping the core of this team together is going to be tough for AH. I think Montero is good for another year hear, but after that I see him, Zakuani, Alonso and Fernandez all heading onto bigger sides elsewhere after next year.
This team has to work hard to top 2011
It does feel like unfinished business this year. Only three months until next year. GO SOUNDERS!!!