Sounders v San Jose – Meaningless Statistical Guide to the Game

Both clubs have played six games at home and six games away. Quakes’ six road games have produced five defeats and a draw, scoring five and conceding 15. That’s 2.5 goals per game, which makes Sounders mere two on their last visit look paltry. Sounders have three wins and two draws at home, scoring nine and conceding three. Need I say that makes our average home score 1.5-0.5?

Steve Zakuani and Brad Evans scored that day, Zakuani with the first ever header in Seattle MLS history. Lamar Neagle has been added to the Sounders line up and will have the number 27. Nathan Sturgis and Arturo Alvarez were on the same USA U-20 squad and Schmid selected Sturgis at left back for the last game to mark him. But Tyson Wahl has shown impressive form in that role so it will be an interesting selection choice.

The Quakes have scored with four headers, twice as many as Seattle, but have also conceded seven. Now this is amazing. Of the other ten goals Quakes have scored, 80% have come from the left foot. They have scored just two goals with right feet, the lowest total in Western Civilisation – and probably Eastern, Northern and Southern too.

Quakes have conceded exactly two goals a game overall. Sounders have conceded a measly two from inside the six yard box all season, a tribute to their defensive stoicism.

San Jose have scored lead at half time three times, but only converted one into a victory. They have been level at half time four times, and not drawn any of them. They have scored first five times out of twelve, and conceded seven. Sounders’ figures are the opposite. In the seven where San Jose have conceded first, they have drawn one and lost six.

Fredy Montero has regained the Sounders lead in shots and SOGs (shots on goals) with 33 and 9. He has suffered 28 fouls, Seattle’s highest, but Nate Jaqua has committed 24. Arturo Alvarez has 28 shots but Johnson leads in SOGs with an admirable 19. Johnson leads with 20 fouls committed and Corrales with 21 suffered.

San Jose have kept no clean sheets. They have scored three twice, one more than Seattle. Despite the porousness of San Jose’s defence, they still haven’t conceded one between minutes 61 and 75 of games, but we’ll be damned if we can find any meaningful conclusion. They have conceded at least four in every other 15 minute time slot. They last kept a clean sheet on October 25th last year against Toronto. They haven’t won on the road since July 7th in Columbus, a span of 15 games. Seattle have give up one-third of their goals in the 15 minutes before half time.

Partick Ianni’s birthday is next Monday. The wee puppy will be just 24. Kasey Keller and Pablo Campos share the same birthday – only 14 years apart. That’s just ten less than Patrick Ianni will have been alive on Monday. Chris Eylander and Aaron Pitchkolan also share the same birthday with the Coloradan defender being a year older than the Washington goalkeeper. If he’s on the bench, you will clearly hear Chris yelling ‘grandad’ at him to disrupt his concentration. Probably.

California and Texas supply eight of the SJ players with Shea Salinas, Arturo Alvarez and Andrew Weber being the Lone Star boys. Don’t confuse the latter with Andrew Lloyd Weber who is a different person entirely. Nevertheless referring to him as “Phantom of the Opera” will probably annoy him.

Ryan Cochrane is from Portland. But he won’t be playing. A warm welcome would surely have awaited. Tyrone Marshall and Ryan Johnson are both from Kingston, Jamaica.

San Jose did have an outfield every minuter, Garcia, but they just traded him. Sigi Schmid has won eleven out of 21 games against San Jose with a further six draws. Now keeper Joe Cannon holds that honour alone. But you should see what James Riley said about him. Of course you will if you keep reading Prost Amerika. Bobby Convey at 988 minutes is their most appeared outfielder still at the club. But he’s out too. Jamil Roberts is their only outfielder with no minutes.

Jhon Kennedy followed by Nate Jaqua are Sounders most active players. They’re both suspended. With Hurtado’s suspension, Sounders most active player by the end of the night could well be Jhom Hurtado. Only Tyrone Marshall is within 90 minutes of him. Brad Evans at 979 and James Riley at 938 are also getting a lot of playing time. They are also beginning to look to be very important players.

Riley’s place at right back looks to be unchallenged now, especially as he looked so at ease with Freddie Ljungberg in front of him.

One more useless fact for you then we’ll let you go. Sounders have been fouled 137 times this season. 66 of those have been committed by California sides. After their sixth foul, California sides will have officially fouled Sounders FC more than all other 49 states put together. Let’s get that on their ballot paper rather than all that Proposition 8 nonsense.

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