Dave ClarkNormally I get excited when Prost Amerika asks me to do the players ratings. It allows me to deal in general impressions, rather than minute events. They allow me take subjective data and apply an objective rating, basically its like what I do for work, but for soccer. Frankly, this evening I find it hard. It isn’t fun having to rate players harshly, certainly not ones for a team which represents my city, my values.
Today, my general impression wasn’t about a referee jobbing them, it wasn’t one of those “better team loses” days. Today, the ratings are harsh. And likely the players would agree that they did not deserve to win.
Kasey Keller – From miscommunication in the opening minutes, to the Huckerby goal that was a poor attempt at collection this was Keller’s worst match in Rave Green. One that he will quickly forget ever happened. He can’t be faulted for poor defense, but the Quakes converted too many chances for Keller to be considered an average MLS keeper on this day. 4/10
Tyson Wahl – When Wahl is at his best he uses his positioning to force the opposition into poor choices, when he’s at his worst he’s flailing on the ground having been turned over by a winger. Too much space was given resulting in too many crosses, and Wahl did not contribute offensively as his long punts weren’t 50/50 balls, instead they were brief moments of rest before the next Earthquake attack. 3/10
Patrick Ianni – Generally plays a risky defense, a tactic suitable for when there is a centerback behind, but today, Ianni was said centerback. His only safety was Keller, and Ianni’s misplay went directly to a goal. On the opening cross, Ianni gave about a yard of space, that was about a foot too much. 3/10
Tyrone Marshall – Continues to win the headers, but his foot speed is lacking and he could not recover from a poor first touch with his chest that led to goal #4. With so many short goals from within the area Marshall should have been in the picture more and he wasn’t. 3/10
James Riley – A no-contact Red Card early the match dumped Riley from the pitch way too quick. His temper and aggressiveness put him in danger of getting a Caution, but he suffered more than was necessary. Both the attack and the defense suffered without Riley a problem considering he now misses a match for what Darren Huckerby clearly thought wasn’t a foul. 2/10
Steve Zakuani – Rarely had the ball at his feet today, the small pitch and playing down a man forced the Sounders to by pass the midfield too often, rather than string passes as they do when at their best. Zakuani was limited to only a few decent runs, but his crosses found no one, and Cannon saved his only Shot on Goal. That was the team’s best opportunity as well. 5/10
Osvaldo Alonso – Didn’t start the rapid transitions as he’s known to, scored an own goal due to poor communication, but still was decent, but only decent. There was a fine moment of forward defense reminiscent of Montero’s play in Giant’s Stadium, but Ozzie didn’t score. 5/10
Brad Evans – Forced away from his professional role early in the match, he took his national team spot as a right back. Serviceable there, but Evans did not contribute on offense, and was part of the punting style that the Sounders turned to in desperation, going away from their strengths. 5/10
Sebastien Le Toux – Continues a hard work rate, but looked best when operating as the forward during an interchange with Montero. Le Toux tussled with too many Quakes and helped to ratchet up the physicality of the match, but Sounders are a finesse team. His pursuit of Cannon was noble, but did not deserve a call either way. 5.5/10
Fredy Montero – Fell just short of the long pass too often, once literally falling. He didn’t apply pressure defensively allowing San Jose to place the ball well with their punts, and he didn’t do his primary job, to take shots and score. 4/10
Nate Jaqua – the target forward should have been the pivot in the box, the assist man with height once it turned into a punt and pray match, but Jaqua was so busy trying to win the ball defensively he wasn’t available for the deep pass. He fought, but didn’t figure in the action much. 5/10
Stephen King – Nominally came in as the center mid in a 4-1-3-1 (10 on pitch), he missed a clearance opportunity when he counted on Keller, and showed a little unfamiliarity with the first team, not quite passing where they were. 5/10
Sanna Nyassi – Came on as the right wing in the second half and showed some spark. His crosses and passes weren’t on target, but they were well thought. Nyassi pursued valiantly when a Quake blew past him, and that pressure was somewhat effective. 5.5/10
Sounder at Heart also runs +/- statistics, which attempts to guage how the presence of individual players on the pitch affects the team. Plus/Minus is basically a look at individual goal differential when the player is on the pitch.
It gauges how many more goals the side scores than it concedes when that player is on the pitch.
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