Sounders v Timbers Player Ratings
Player ratings this year will be provided by guest writers. Running the eye over the Sounders v Timbers game was a man who knows both sides well James Ritchie, the assistant coach of the Kitsap Pumas where he works alongside head coach and Sounders FC broadcaster Pete Fewing.
The Pumas played the Timbers in last year’s US Open Cup, and meet their Under 23 team regularly in league competition. We hope James will become a regular contributor to this feature.
Sounders
18 K. Keller (6/10)
Little to do in the first half but pick the ball out of his
net. Forced Josten wide in the second half but didn’t look quite as intimidating in the incident as we have come to expect.
3 B. Evans (7/10)
Worked hard. Did well getting up the field when he moved wide right in the final 20 mins. Rare high point for the home side on the night.
14 T. Marshall (5/10)
Not much to do. Subbed at half time after playing entire game in Vancouver.
34 J. Hurtado (6/10)
Timbers strikers rarely bothered him. A difficult game for a defender with little attacking DNA.
19 L. Gonzalez (5/10)
Did not do much. Not much to do really.
31 K. Souter (5/10)
Scottish lad did not get on the ball enough. No trouble for the Timbers. Ran into plenty space but didn’t receive enough passes.
8 P. Vagenas (6/10)
Worked hard in the middle of the park. Played it simple. Uses and conserves his resources well.
6 O. Alonso (6/10)
Started like a firecracker but fizzled out after about 20 mins. Did not create enough for the forwards to feed from, disappointing given his relative lack of defensive duties.
11 S. Zakuani (5/10)
Poor day from the big man. Missed a great chance for the Sounders to take the lead. Must improve his end product, or at east raise production in other areas to compensate.
10 F. Ljungberg (5/10)
Played as a withdrawn striker. Found some nice spaces but his
passing was not at its sharpest. You had to wonder what he needs to prove in a pre-season friendly. The team was diminished by his absence in the second half.
17 F Montero (4/10)
Lacked luster and light weight. Missed a great chance to equalise in the last minute. Very poor performance. He seems to have lost his own and the confidence of much of the crowd on this performance.
Substitutes:
45mins
(10 out) 24 R. Levesque (6/10) Worked hard for the cause as he always does. Hit an early volley too well.
(14 out) 33 J. Parke (6/10) Decent showing at centre half and right back. He’s been around this organisation for some time now without a deal. That may be about to change.
59 min
(31 out) 9 D. Estrada (6/10) Bright spark but a little light weight. At least he stays on his feet rather than embarks on a perpetual search for soft free kicks.
66 min
(11 out) 4 P. Ianni (4/10) Did little to impact the game compared to previous substitute appearances.
74 min
(8 out) 15 S. King (3/10) Little time to make an impact.
Portland Timbers
0 S. Cronin (7.5/10)
Couple of good saves. Handling was solid throughout. Cronin inspired confidence throughout the game though must have been surprised at the infrequency with wehich he was seriously tested given his own side’s lack of possession.
13 S. Keel (6/10)
Solid in his defensive duties in the centre of midfield. Gave his all to interfere with Sounders short passing.
15 I. Joy (7.5/10)
Big performance from the captain. He must have been happy with his night’s work. Portland fans were.
20 R. Smith (7/10)
Solid under pressure and not afraid to mess things up to disrupt the opponent’s flow. How the home side could have done with a little of his personality on a sticky night.
98 M. Danso (7/10)
Big strong centre back. Handled everything the Sounders could throw at him.
5 Q. Kirk (7/10)
Very good performance from the right back. Dealt with the pace of Zakuani well. The second USL right back in one week to do so.
14 J. Marcelin (6.5/10)
Decent game. Kept his shape well. Had a task and stuck to it.
8 R. Lopez (6/10)
Little winger did not produce much on a night where his side spent much time chasing down the ball.
23 R. Pore (7/10) Fought hard to close down the space in the midfield. Set up the game winner with an inch perfect cross while running at pace.
9 G. Obatoli (7.5/10)
Worked hard and fought for any scraps. Scored the winner from a Pore cross. The 22-year-old Nigerian looks to be an excellent addition for this season and beyond.
19 G. Josten (6/10)
Missed an open goal after taking the ball round Keller that would have killed the game but worked hard to alleviate the constant pressure otherwise.
Substitutes:
54 mins (8 out)
16 A. Nimo (5/10) Worked hard.
62 mins (9 out)
18 D. DeMartin (5/10) Did not trouble the Sounders but provided relief for the tireless starters.
72 mins (5 out)
17 S. Thompson (5/10) Slotted into the back line well.
87 min (19 out)
4 J. Cameron (no rating) No time to do anything.
89 min (14 out)
2 D. Gaudet (no rating) Only brought on to run down the clock.
What do you think of Ritchie’s Ratings? Add your views below, so we can get the heartbeat of the crowd to match the view from the press box.
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We thought that too at the time, but the official word at Qwest said Pore. So in the absence of any direct evidence contradicting the staff at the stadium, we had to acknowledge that Pore at had least been credited with the assist. However, we too thought Josten had supplied the pass. That said, the Americans invented the entire concept of the assist and most Europeans see it as a desire for another statistic, rather than anything remotely meaningful.
The assist on the Timbers goal was from forward George Josten (19), and not Ryan Pore.
Its true that when Evans is paired with Alonso in the central midfield he plays as more of a classic “box-to-box” midfielder, and when Vagenas is there the Sounders are really in more of a conservative mindset, playing something more like 2 holding midfielders. The fact is, I think Sigi is a pretty smart guy, and he obviously wants that option in his toolkit… and it has worked, particularly in back-to-back wins on the road over DC United, one of which, you’ll recall, won us a big shiny trophy, the other one of which somewhat righted a floundering Sounders ship in League play.
I like to drink and yell every bit as much as the next Supporter, but I would also like there to be a modicum of eduction behind what I’m saying. I just think the Vagenas-bashing amongst supporters is a bit un-called for.
I have been on the record numerous times in saying that I personally prefer Evans in that spot… I also think its disingenuous to blame the player for tactical decisions the manager — a championship winning manager — makes!
Oh yeah Pass back pete is not that good, haha. I mean I guess he trys his hardest.
I thought Levesque was poor. Gave up the ball a ton and probably could of hit that early volley a bit better, easier said than done of course.
Not sure about Montero’s 4, not a great game but he did create some chances.
I thought Leo played very well and was dangerous at times.
Overall though them team needs to score, so hard to give anyone a good rating.
Jake,
That’s superbly put. Can I add that Vagenas is a player who makes others player perform better? Especially Ljungberg. And he got Beckham sent off. That’s worth the money alone.
On most teams, the contributions of a player like Vagenas would be appreciated amongst the supporters — putting aside his salary for the moment, which I know is a considerable factor in the discussion — but I think he is doomed in the eyes of the Sounders supporters because he will always be compared to Alsonso, who managed to win the fans over in the Inaugural match and is appreciated for his intensity; and Evans, who as the “linking midfielder” in front of Alonso provides more verve going forward.
I’m not going to sit here and defend his salary. If the argument hinges on that then I’m afraid I have to concede that it’s far to much to pay a player who isn’t necessarily in your “best 11″ (although he’s firmly in the 15-16 deep rotation, as he deserves to be) but if the argument hinges on the perception that he simply isn’t a good enough player for the Sounders, then frankly, it’s egregiously weak.
Please stop trying to find ways to compliment Pass-back Pete.
Worked hard in the middle of the park: chases the ball a lot as he can’t read the game.
Played it simple: kills forward momentum by passing it back to the defense.
Uses and conserves his resources well: he’s old and costs us 150k+ in salary.