Looking backward to spring of 2021, we haven't had a good run of form other than the short one at the beginning of this season. Does this correlate to losing Gonzo? Either way, is our form primarily a tactics problem or some other coaching related issue?
This has been a somewhat popular suggestion and while I don't want to dismiss it entirely, there's scant evidence beyond the timing. The reality is that Atlanta hasn't exactly been great under Gonzo, we still managed a very good CCL campaign and I'm not sure he'd have made a huge difference.
The Monterrey game now feels close to a dead rubber. Any chance we punt it and play the kids? Or are we still likely to go ideal XI, due to long layoff afterwards + the psyche risk to getting mauled by Monterrey at home?
Also, any whispers that the FO is getting frustrated with the coaching staff? We have had injuries + some players under-performing, but it still feels hard to say we don't have the horses
Where do we go from here? I'm usually very optimistic about the club and squad but lately it's been hard to justify investing the time. Who's to blame for all this? Who is going to step up and lead this team back to the Sounders standards.
Not going to try to convince you to invest time in something you're not enjoying, but I do think this team is due for a pretty massive roster reset that will go along with the brand refresh and Longacres opening next season. Who knows if that will all lead to better results, but this team will definitely be more interesting in 2024.
I should clarify that I meant investing time in this tournament. My expectations were low going into it and with the Monterey result it's a done deal. I am very excited about 2024 and haven't given up on the team at all. Thanks for the reminder on all the good/fun stuff coming soon.
Because of our contract and salary cap restrictions combined with the fact that the best market for players is the summer transfer window, are the Sounders likely looking at a full year from now until having an exciting, high performing team again?
They might hold a spot or two open for the summer, but considering they will likely have at least two open DP spots and potentially a significant TAM budget in the winter, they'll probably spend a good chunk of that before the season starts.
If Vargas and Atencio are in a period of stagnation in their growth, should the coaching staff move Rusnak back to pair with JP?
Move Roldan (if healthy) back and rotate Nico/Morris/Rusnak at the RW/RF position? Or do we just hope one of them elevates their game in the final months o the season?
Think we'll probably see Rusnák next to JP against Monterrey. If that works, we'll probably see more of that, but the fixture congestion over the final stretch of the season will demand a fair amount of lineup juggling. Atencio and Vargas will hopefully both get plenty of minutes.
I know GMs hate to be reactive, but what is your read on what Craig might be thinking in response to the games since his interviews where he said this team has the talent to go all the way?
I think there was at least some discussion about needing to do something after the RSL game. I'm still not sure if something will actually get done. Waibel may or may not actually believe in the roster, but the reality is that unless they're willing to buy out an expensive player, they don't have much room to make changes.
Every team has to deal with injuries. And every good team has to deal with international call ups. Are the Sounders’ injury rates any worse than our opponents’?
Looking backward to spring of 2021, we haven't had a good run of form other than the short one at the beginning of this season. Does this correlate to losing Gonzo? Either way, is our form primarily a tactics problem or some other coaching related issue?
This has been a somewhat popular suggestion and while I don't want to dismiss it entirely, there's scant evidence beyond the timing. The reality is that Atlanta hasn't exactly been great under Gonzo, we still managed a very good CCL campaign and I'm not sure he'd have made a huge difference.
The Monterrey game now feels close to a dead rubber. Any chance we punt it and play the kids? Or are we still likely to go ideal XI, due to long layoff afterwards + the psyche risk to getting mauled by Monterrey at home?
Also, any whispers that the FO is getting frustrated with the coaching staff? We have had injuries + some players under-performing, but it still feels hard to say we don't have the horses
I’d say close to zero chance of that. They’ve got three weeks off after this, potentially. No reason to rest
Just grasping at straws, trying to make it make sense.
Where do we go from here? I'm usually very optimistic about the club and squad but lately it's been hard to justify investing the time. Who's to blame for all this? Who is going to step up and lead this team back to the Sounders standards.
Not going to try to convince you to invest time in something you're not enjoying, but I do think this team is due for a pretty massive roster reset that will go along with the brand refresh and Longacres opening next season. Who knows if that will all lead to better results, but this team will definitely be more interesting in 2024.
I should clarify that I meant investing time in this tournament. My expectations were low going into it and with the Monterey result it's a done deal. I am very excited about 2024 and haven't given up on the team at all. Thanks for the reminder on all the good/fun stuff coming soon.
Because of our contract and salary cap restrictions combined with the fact that the best market for players is the summer transfer window, are the Sounders likely looking at a full year from now until having an exciting, high performing team again?
They might hold a spot or two open for the summer, but considering they will likely have at least two open DP spots and potentially a significant TAM budget in the winter, they'll probably spend a good chunk of that before the season starts.
If Vargas and Atencio are in a period of stagnation in their growth, should the coaching staff move Rusnak back to pair with JP?
Move Roldan (if healthy) back and rotate Nico/Morris/Rusnak at the RW/RF position? Or do we just hope one of them elevates their game in the final months o the season?
Think we'll probably see Rusnák next to JP against Monterrey. If that works, we'll probably see more of that, but the fixture congestion over the final stretch of the season will demand a fair amount of lineup juggling. Atencio and Vargas will hopefully both get plenty of minutes.
I know GMs hate to be reactive, but what is your read on what Craig might be thinking in response to the games since his interviews where he said this team has the talent to go all the way?
I think there was at least some discussion about needing to do something after the RSL game. I'm still not sure if something will actually get done. Waibel may or may not actually believe in the roster, but the reality is that unless they're willing to buy out an expensive player, they don't have much room to make changes.
Every team has to deal with injuries. And every good team has to deal with international call ups. Are the Sounders’ injury rates any worse than our opponents’?
I doubt our injury rate is abnormal but we have had some odd ones, to key players combined with other lengthy absences.
The sad truth is there aren't a lot of juicy rumors to share.