Can Martins lead Seattle to glory in 2015? Let’s start with the New England game.
By Steven Agen
The Seattle Sounders begin their defense of the Supporters’ Shield this Sunday, when they face off against MLS Cup runners-up New England. While the 20th season of Major League Soccer is still uncertain to begin on time, the entire league has gone ahead as if it will. This match preview, therefore, will out the CBA issues aside and do the same.
The story of this match will be fitness and absences. Plain and simple, neither team has sent their starters out for a full ninety yet; it will be a big ask for the eight players or more on each side who do. The impact of fitness on season openers was never more apparent than last year’s. Seattle subbed on Chad Barrett, Clint Dempsey, and Sean Okoli en route to a 94th minute winner against defending champions Sporting Kansas City. Whoever can remain steady in the last twenty minutes will almost certainly come away with the points.
Osvaldo Alonso, Jermaine Jones, and Lee Nguyen will all sit out this weekend. The biggest loss of the three, if forced to pick, would have to be Alonso. The destroyer has missed out on the entire preseason for Seattle, and the midfield doesn’t have the same bite to it without the Cuban. His groin injury could leave him sidelined for another month or more.
Speaking of losing bite, the loss of Jones and Nguyen is clearly a huge one for New England. With Michael Azira partnered by the ever-aging Gonzalo Pineda in the Seattle midfield, one could argue that Seattle may be overran if the Revs pair were playing.
New England will line up in their familiar 4-1-4-1. Charlie Davies and MLS returnee Juan Agudelo are just about equally likely to get the nod in the forward role. Beyond Agudelo’s return, the squad looks almost the same as it did in LA last December. Watch for Andrew Farrell, who moves into a center back role this season. Additionally, look out for former Sounder Sean Okoli. If his Twitter account is any point of reference, it doesn’t look like he holds his departure from Seattle in very high regard. Reports from the east coast suggest that his preseason performance with the Revs has earned him a place in the 18 this weekend. He assisted on Seattle’s goal against SKC last year- could there be another twist for him off the bench in a season opener, in navy blue this time?
Seattle, for their part, will stick to the empty bucket 4-4-2 that seems to have fallen out of favor with the rest of the league. I project Stefan Frei to see a back four of newcomer Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans, Chad Marshall, and Leo Gonzalez in front of him. The Azira-Pineda pairing will be complemented by Marco Pappa and Lamar Neagle on either wing. If Seattle are to feature more than one dimension to their attack, Neagle will need to effectively stretch New England vertically, and Pappa must be able to create space on the dribble. If they can, it opens up the room for Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins to combine up top, as they did so well last season. If Neagle and Pappa are ineffective, look for New England to clog the space just in front of their center backs to stifle Dempsey and Martins. There is the danger that Seattle’s attack currently doesn’t feature more than one consistent way to score.
Who ever knows with season openers? With Nguyen and Jones out, and 40,000 plus in the stands, I’d normally take the Sounders. With only one loss ever in a home opener, they’ve historically been good for the points. However, I fear the league may have passed by the oldest squad in the country- both tactically and in terms of personnel. Watch for Bunbury and his partner on the opposite flank to torment Seattle on the counter. A five man midfield may well be too much for Pineda and Azira to handle. I predict a second-ever loss in a home opener for the Northwest giants.
MATCH PREDICTION
New England 3, Seattle 1
Bunbury 17’
Pineda (PK) 39’
Davies 48’, 65’
