The Train Out of Ass-Ville
Dear Trixie,
Ah, such is the life of a sports fan. One game you’re saying, “This team really need to pull its head out of its ass and start working if we’re going to win some games and have a successful season.” The next game the team really pulls its head out of its ass and starts working and wins a game and it looks as if they might have a successful season. The next game, we’re right back to head-up-ass-ville. Let’s have a look at the game last weekend against the Revolution.
We had a really great first 20 or 25 minutes, even considering the howler that Stefan Frei let slip through his fingers (people have bad days, remember). And the last half hour, particularly the last 15 or 20 minutes, we were playing some lights out soccer. The thing is, a soccer game is 90 minutes, Trix.
But look at these stats. I can’t recall the last time I saw such discrepancy in possession and passing numbers.
748 completed passes. Compared to 258. 89% passing accuracy. Also, New England had 46 clearances. That is desperation made numerical, Trix.
Now, at the end of the day, we salvaged a point. Like many, I was relieved that we managed even that. But my feelings quickly changed to disappointment and frustration that we put ourselves in that position. We should never be scoreless and 3 goals down at home. It just can’t happen. Not if we want to be competitive. I was glad to hear some of these sentiments echoed by Coach Schmetzer. Alright, the goal from Nico was a great spark. And Bruin’s addition certainly lit a fire under the team as a whole. You can watch the pace of the game (and particularly the Sounders) really amp up and turn us into team that looks like one of the most dangerous in the league, a team that is exciting to watch, a team that won MLS Cup last year. When that front 4 of Lodeiro, Morris, Dempsey, and Bruin is clicking they make scoring seem like an inevitability. Throw in Jones streaking down the left side and whipping crosses in. Or Alonso collecting balls on the edge of the final third to distribute or take those long shots. This attack is beginning to look like the beloved hydra of 2014. We have only to wait with bated breath for the swoosh of the ball on netting, those flame throwers to ignite, and the roar of CenturyLink to deafen those in the surrounding area. Instead, the only inevitability was the bong of a shot hitting the posts or crossbar. I’m sure you’ve already seen it but just in case, check out this pic that Matt Doyle tweeted out of how many times the Sounders have been denied a goal by the frame.
Ludicrous. Look, the goals will come. Shots will zero in. That will be sorted in practice. But you simply cannot lapse and not play the middle third of a game. If you didn’t complete the middle third of a school exam, the best grade you can possibly get is 66%. And our performance was certainly unsatisfactory. Even if you give 100% effort two-thirds of the time, that’s still a two-thirds effort overall. Time to shake it off, take stock of our strengths and weaknesses from the last 90, and focus up for the next 90. Let’s make it a full 90 this time. First kick is in 30, Trix. No spoilers, as I’ll be on a plane and plan to watch the game late as soon as I’m able.
Fully Yours,
Uncle Nick
