Internal Conflict

I was walking through the airport today when I saw some guys wearing green warm-up jackets with fluorescent yellow stripes. First 2 guys, then 5, then about 15. As I walked by one, I saw a Portland Timbers backpack and said to myself, hmmm, I wonder if this is their reserve team or something. I mean, surely it couldn't be their first team. And then I walked by Kenny Cooper and Sal Zizzo. I walked some more and I saw coach John Spencer and owner Merrett Paulson.

Suddenly I didn't know what to do. Generally I act like a 12-year old when it comes to celebrity sightings, especially when those celebrities are athletes. Part of me wanted to go up to one of them and have a chat. I mean, I'm sure they would appreciate being recognized as long as I wasn't invading their space. As a lifelong soccer player, I respect those that can play the game at the highest level. But these weren't just any professional soccer players. ..these were the hated Portland Timbers. There was no way I could go up to any of them to say hi. I dislike them too much to do so. I would be disrespecting not only myself, but the Sounders and all Sounders fans. So I didn't approach them.

But don't think it was an easy decision. I mean these guys do something for a living that I envy. I tried to think if there was anyway I could do it without feeling terrible afterwards. I tried to think if any of them played on the National Team - I could have justified chatting with them if they wore the stars and stripes (like for example, Landycakes), but no dice. No reason to talk to them.

Once I realized that I couldn't chat with them on a friendly basis, I then started to think about antagonizing them. Was I wearing any Sounders stuff or did I have any Sounders stuff? I did! I had my Sounders scarf with me....and then i realized what an ass I would be if I walked part them holding it in the air. So I didn't. Instead, I just looked from afar and called The Wife and J-Will.

I can give you three bits of information.

1. John Spencer is literally 5'3". Now I know why he has such a large personality.
2. Darlington Nagbe and another unknown player were in front of me online at McDonalds. He ordered a Medium Strawberry shake.
   
3. Troy Perkins and Cooper were in front of one of my co-workers on lineat the gift shop. He is a sports fan, but when asked if he could provide me with any info on what they bought, he told he didn't know because he didn't care. Apparently MLS soccer isn't his thing (or he isn't insane like me).
   

So there ya go, that's my story of internal conflict and how I can sit on the plane and feel good about myself.

A Deflating Result

Even though I was feeling really nervous in the days leading up to the Sounders-Timbers match, I was actually pretty calm on the drive down Saturday Night. For whatever reason, I just wasn't thinking about the end result, but rather was excited for the atmosphere. I had heard that we should get there early because the team had something planned that we would be talking about for months afterwards. I expected their to be a buzz in the stadium and some electricity in the streets.

We got downtown and of course it started to rain, at times hard. I could hear the ESPN announcers saying how fitting it was that the two Pacific NW rivals were playing in rain...I tried to fight off my anger with the late start time since it was so beautiful during the day. We got to our seats and suddenly the rain didn't bother me. I was too busy soaking it all in.
The first thing I noticed was actually how loud the Timbers Army was. Look, I hate giving the scum any sort of credit, but it has to be said. They were loud. They were active. They looked really good. Now it should also be said that my seats are much closer to the away section than to ECS so of course it sounds louder. Sometimes I wish we were closer to ECS so we could join in all their chants, but after the teams walked out the tunnel and the anthem was sung, I realized another reason why our seats are great - we get an amazing view of the Tifo displays.

After a minute I realized what the team had been talking about when they said to come early. if you were not in your seats, you missed an amazing display: a 9 part Tifo display. First, honoring the MLS Sounders, a Fredy Montero banner. Then representing the USL Sounders, Marcus Hahnemann and Presto Burpo banners. Finally (or at least we figured), representing the NASL Sounders, Jimmy Gabriel and current assistant coach Brian Schmetzer. If that wasn't enough, from the top of the stadium a banner of with a fist crushing the Timbers and two banners that read 'Decade of Dominance. Finally, a banner of Timbers' killed Roger Levesque, was lifted using the field goal nets. It was an AMAZING site and one that made me feel like we had one-upped the Timbers Army. "How you like that?" I quietly smirked. I had goose-bumps.

And then the game finally started. It was sloppy to begin. The Timbers had the better of the possession and were dangerous on the flanks where Kalif Alhassan and Darlington Nagbe were running our our backs with ease. Keller made key saves on shots that easily could have found their way past him given the slick conditions.

In the 38th minute, Brad Evans went down with a groin injury. He came back on for a few minutes but re-tweaked it and had to be subbed out. We figured Friberg would take his place, but then saw The 'Stache warming up. I know Roger is a Timbers' killer, but there is no way Sigi thought going to Roger with a full half left was a better option than Friberg (it wasn't until after the game I realized Friberg and Rosales were both out). I love Roger but didn't feel good about him being in the game so early.

In the 52nd minute, Alvaro Fernandez found himself with only the keeper to beat after a fairly lucky deflection off a header...others may have panicked, but El flaco played in a World cup Quarterfinal. I know he was in the doghouse earlier in the year, but there was no way he wasn't putting it away. When I think about it, I would have wanted no other Sounder in that position. He calmly beat Perkins near post with a volley and the stadium went nuts. I participated in my first jump hug (luckily with The Wife and not J-Will). Things were good.

Ten minutes later, something happened. Portland got a free kick close to where they scored from last week. I'm not sure anyone else felt it, but I was nervous every time they took a free kick - we had cleared all of them previously, but it never felt like we were totally in control. Jack Jewsbury hit it into the box, Futty Danso got up, put a head on it and beat Kasey Keller who had come off his line. The stadium suddenly went into shock. The Timbers Army was freaking loud - it was a decibel level I had never heard before. Obviously they weren't as loud as ECS or the rest of the Qwest faithful, but considering how many fans they had there, it was really loud. I have to give them props.

After that, both teams traded opportunities but neither could score. We walked out of the stadium frustrated. I mean, we had just blown a 1-0 lead to the Timbers. Maybe we didn't deserve to win after the first half, but surely we played better in the second half and should have closed the deal. In the end Portland converted on their one excellent chance and head home to Portland feeling really good about themselves.

It wasn't a loss, but it sure felt like one. The best way to describe it - it was deflating.

So now the game is over and we need to move on. It won't get an easier as we will have 3 games in 7 days beginning this Saturday. With Zakuani out for the season and Friberg, Rosales and now evans nursing some injuries, our midfield depth is completely gone. El Flaco, Carrasco and Alonso are still available, but the right side will be a problem if we need to start Roger there for any extended period of time.

A few final random notes:

• Poor Lamar Neagle looked LOST out there. I hate to say it, but he was terrible.
• I am surprised that Sigi didn't throw Fucito out there for 5 minutes at the end of the game.
• El Flaco was amazing. It's easy for me to say that considering he scored, but he was amazing way before that. He was crushing Jeremy Hall all night and reminded us all of the player he could and should be.
• I hate Jack Jewsbury.
• I don't remember Jhon Kennedy Hurtado being so awkward with the ball at his feet...luckily his marking is solid and his reading of plays was top notch on Saturday.
• Kenny Cooper was looking to draw fouls but really should have just used his size more. He should have been a handful all night but didn't seem into the game much.
  

Feeling a little concerned...

It is finally here: Portland at Seattle. The day that both fan bases have been waiting for. With all due respect to Rapids fans who consider their rivalry with RSL to be the best and to the DC United-Red Bulls rivalry, this is instantly going to be the best rivalry in MLS. I don't need to talk about the history - you can find tons of pieces by simply using Google. What I do want to talk about is my state of mind with the match less than 24 hours away.

In a nutshell, let's just say that I'm worried. The problem with rivalry games is that most of the time, someone is going to lose (normally someone always loses but you can obviously tie in soccer...). I love rivalries as much as the next guy, but I also know how it feels to be a fan of a team that constantly loses its rivalry games. Seeing the Yankees always beat the Mets sucks (worst ever was the 2000 World Series). Seeing the Flyers or Rangers beat the Devils sucks. And of course, having Wazzoo beat the Huskies sucks. Losing sucks. And you know what? Winning the rivalry games is often more of a relief to me than it is pure joy. I'm at the point in life where I just don't want to hear Yankees fans on their high horses. I don't necessarily want to gloat, I just don't want to hear them.

And that is what I am facing going into Saturday's game. I have watched the Timbers this year. I have read their quotes. I have heard what the fans think of us. I know that they all are waiting to take the drive up north and beat us. I know that there insufferable fans want to shut up our insufferable fans. I know they want to talk about how great a home field advantage they have compared to Qwest. I just know they want to talk. And that is what sucks. If they beat us at home, we will NEVER hear the end of it. I won't be able to read any soccer sites for weeks.

Some of you might be yelling at me right now for talking this way. How can a so-called hardcore fan actually be thinking about what happens if his team loses? I mean, losing should never be considered prior to a match. You need to have faith. Well...you know what...you're right, I just have been burned so many times that I can't help it. You try being a Mets, Devils and Nets fan. You can't compete with the Yanks, Rangers and Knicks.

Taking a step back and forgetting about my insecurities as fan, I do think there is reason to be worried. I think it all starts with the Timbers fans and gradually works itself up to the coach. We will obviously have an amazing home field advantage even if 1000 Timers supporters show up. We need not worry about the Timbers Army affecting the outcome of the game in the stands. However, we do need to realize exactly what has been happening leading up to this season and this game. Anyone and everyone who is wearing the Alaskan Airlines jerseys has without a doubt heard about how much the fans hate the Sounders. At every fan event, after every game, on every blog, the fans just waiting to get their hands on us. Without a doubt this has infiltrated the team - regardless of where they are originally from, the players know how important it is to the city. They are going to have a chip on their shoulders. Then add in the affect of Coach john Spencer on the team. Watch any game and you see just how passionate he is about every little thing that goes on. On TV he looks super annoying, but he obviously has the respect and adulation of the entire team - when Kenny Cooper scored his first goal he ran not to his teammates but to John Spencer and when players are subbed off they come and get a big hug from Spencer. If I was a Timbers fan I would love him...unfortunately I am not so I do not.

I think he will have them ready to play. They will be ravenous and chomping at the bit to get us. Meanwhile, I question whether Sigi will have our boys prepared. I know that there have been a lot of pieces featuring Roger Levesque and Brian Schmetzer. They know how important it is...so do Zach Scott, Taylor Graham and Kasey Keller. But what about Jeff Parke, El Presidente, Brad Evans, El Flaco, Fredy Montero? Do they know how important it is? Or are they going to be told to just go out and play our game. Is Sigi going to stress that we play attractive soccer? Is he going to adjust his style if we give up an early goal? He sure didn't when the Sounders got embaressed by Portland and Vancouver in the pre-season. Will he do it now? We have the better team. We have the better players. We are just going to need to be better coached and better motivated to get the job done. I just don't know if that is going to be the case.

With that being said, I will be there Saturday night with The Wife and J-Will. We will boo (or at least I will) every single Timbers player including the strength coach and the trainer. I will wear my rave green and hold my scarf with pride. I will care like this is the most important game ever. I will be one of the 36k who watches our boys have there way with the Timbers. Then I will listen to every spoken word about the game. I will read every written word. (I may even have a few myself). I will remember this day as the day we welcomed the Timbers to MLS. I will remember this day as the day we showed them why we are the Kings of Cascadia.

Trio of MLS Games this Weekend

Somehow amidst the Mother's Day celebrations, working in the yard and playing with the kid I was able to find time to watch not one, not two but 3 MLS games over the weekend. Normally that is cause for concern as no one would want to be subjected to that. However the trio of games I got to see were not like the rest.

First, on Friday night I watched the inaugural installment of Soccer Night in America on FSC. The Philadelphia Union traveled across country to take on the Portland Timbers. From my point of view, this was akin to Rangers-Flyers. Simply put, I hate both teams. Yet somehow once the game started, I actually found myself rooting for Philly. Those are words that have never come out of my mouth before. I feel kind of dirty, like I should take another shower this morning. Anyways, the game was an interesting one in that the two teamshad totally contrasting styles. In front of their home crowd, Portland essentially runs around on offense like a chicken with their heads cut off (thanks Martino for that one). It is nonstop. Philly on the other hand has such little interest in offense that I have to wonder if the mob has some sort of dirty photos of them all if they score.

A few additional notes about the game:

• Sebastian LeToux looks like the 2009 version rather than the 2010 version. It makes me wonder if he simply can't play with a partner up top. The obvious response would be to blame Carlos Ruiz, but I think it goes deeper than that. I think Seba needs to feel like he has full reign up top. Now with more options around him he is actually worse.
• For all the hoopla about the Timbers Army, I saw a lot of empty seats on Friday night. The actual fan club is without a doubt hardcore, but one has to wonder if the rest of the stadium is in to it.
• Portland is now 4-0 at home. I have watched three of the games and can't say I have been overly impressed with them. They feed off the energy of the crowd and have scroed some goals in transition and off of set pieces. While the Sounders should have the advantage heading into this weekends game, I am totally scared. Simply put, Portland so far has done everything needed to get results - something the Sounders often can't do. Add in that John Spencer will have the boys fired up and it is going to be scary

Next, on to Columbus where the Sounders played the Crew Saturdy afternoon. I don't really have much of a review of this game as it always seems that I pay less attention when watching on tv. If you read the Sounders blogs most people feel like we fortunate to get a point...that Columbus was the better team on the day. I somewhat agree but ultimately feel letdown any time we blow an early 1-0 lead. Call me crazy, but even with 3 games in 9 days, I feel like this team has the defensive depth not to give up that lead. I know that guys like Montero, Jaqua and Alvaro can't go a full 90 (especially with how thin we are at midfield all of a sudden), but there should be no excuse for the backline. Following the blowout against Toronto, I thought we were in a great position to collect points against what I consider to be two of the weaker teams in the league, yet we only come home with 1 point from 2 games. If we somehow don't get points this weekend I will inch ever closer to the panic button.

A few other notes from the game:

• I thought the shale jerseys were kind of cool looking. The Wife loved the green adidas stripes. I liked how XBOX looked on them (for some reason it just looks strange on the green ones). We both still hate the sports bra look.
  
• Ozzie Alonso continues to be my boy. I mean, if the man crush wasn't there before, it is even more now. He is the only player besides Keller to play all 270 minutes this past week. He was certainly less effective down the stretch, but remains the heart and soul of this team
• Kasey Keller came up with some HUGE saves in not the best climate. His save of a free kick in the 92nd minute will get the most pub, but to me, his best two saves were against a low hard shot but Eddie Gaven in the 10th minute and a breakaway save against Robbie Rogers in the 32nd minutes. After a few hiccups last year, he seems to be back.

Finally, the weekend ended with the marquee event - New York at Los Angeles. It was billed as a battle of stars - Henry, Marquez, DeRosario vs Donovan, Beckham, Angel and for once it did not disappoint. I know I am borrowing this from Ives, but the first 45 minutes were easily the best soccer this league has seen. Beckham looked to have gotten in a time machine as he was in my opinion the best player on the field. Henry scored early and played with a chip on his shoulder the whole game. It wasn't the Lothar Matteus "I am better than this league" chip but rather the "How dare you all question me" chip. No offense meant to Donovan or Marquez, but just having Henry and Beckham fulyl engaged was enough to lift the quality of the match.

A few additional thoughts:

• My favorite part of the game was easily when Donovan and Henry started trash talking after Donovan's goal. It started off as an embrace between the two and then quickly turned sour after Donovan took offense to something Henry said. A few minutes later, Henry took down Donovan and then failed in helping him off the ground. The Wife asked why they were in the same part of the field...simple answer - Henry was interested and tracked back on defense. A few minutes later he took down Beckham. Their was clearly some heat between the two teams. It was stuff that even the biggest soccer bashers would have enjoyed.
• Chad Barrett was the only player on the field that would not start for any other MLS team. Simply put, both teams are stacked. Only down side was that Teemo Tainio was injured and missed the game. I have been hearing a lot of positive things about his presence on the field.
• Donovan was a little too cool with his finish after beating Condoul late in the first. Credit Tim Ream for never giving up and clearing the ball off the line at the last possible second.
• I want to give credit to the other big names involved in this game not mentioned above: Ream, Omar Gonzalez and Juan Agudelo, all future USMNT starters; Juninho; Donovan Ricketts; Luke Rodgers. Just crazy talent all over the field

I think the opportunity to watch three games in one weekend will present itself again, but next time I fully expect it to be along the lines of Sounders, DC-NE and Tor-Columbus, or in other words nothing to write home about. Oh well, such is life in MLS (where only 6-8 teams are watchable)