Topic: [Playoffs] Sounders FC v. Houston Dynamo (Read 2961 times)

sounderfan · « **on:** October 25, 2009, 07:50:02 PM »

A tough, tough first round opponent for the Sounders...

http://www.examiner.com/x-413-Seattle-Soccer-Examiner~y2009m10d25-Sounders-will-face-Houston-Dynamo-in-first-round-of-playoffs

sounderfan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2009, 04:40:28 PM »

Vote: What's the biggest key to beating Houston?
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2172002

sounderfan · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2009, 05:33:13 PM »

You're gonna smile at this video. Sounders sing "Seattle" for their fans...

sounderfan · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:30:39 PM »

The club releases their Weekly News & Notes:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-413-Seattle-Soccer-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Sounders-FC-Weekly-News--Notes

PrideNJoy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:35:51 PM »

sounderfan · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2009, 09:26:35 AM »

Sounders Playoffs: What's the key to beating the Houston Dynamo?

The Dynamo have a combined 92 years of MLS experience on their roster , not to mention the winning of the 2006 and 2007 MLS Cups. The Sounders have longtimers Tyrone Marshall and Peter Vagenas to look to for playoff experience. The Seattle roster is full of first-timers to the playoff scene. Brad Evans and Nate Jaqua have both won MLS Cups in the last two years (Columbus, Houston).

vms · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2009, 10:18:10 AM »

They seem to match up well despite the obvious experience of the Dynamo. The key will be limiting chances which means the backline and Alonso will have to come up big for the Sounders. And as always Ljunberg will have to be the playmaker!

sounderfan · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:41:09 AM »

Sounders make playoff debut tonight at Qwest Field
(Examiner)

What are the tactics and pitfalls in the first 30, middle 30 and final 30?

Feldercarb · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:39:06 PM »

Well, at least one guy has the faith:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/luis_bueno/10/29/mls.playoffs/

EWSoccer64 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2009, 01:52:07 PM »

Well, let's hope this guy is right.

sounderfan · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2009, 09:42:36 AM »

Examiner says....

Sounders fail to connect in glare of playoff spotlight

Left Foot · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:21:06 AM »

So, for you long time soccer watching fans, can a goal keeper attack a player like that and avoid a red card. Looked like the same thing that Zidane did and he was tossed. Is this a case of reffing to keep it close?

Seems like I've seen other folks tossed for what the keep did in other games as well.

sounderfan · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:23:06 AM »

Onstad:
http://www.examiner.com/x-413-Seattle-Soccer-Examiner~y2009m10d29-Sounders-head-to-Houston-with-series-notted-at-00

“To be honest I just gave him a super light bump and he went down like he normally does. He rolled around a few times. If it would have been Nate Jaqua, he would have brushed his shoulder like a fly was buzzing him. That is Fredy, and as soon as I bumped him I told myself that was the wrong guy to bump. I got what I deserved and the referee thought he embellished it a little bit.”

Left Foot · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:31:27 AM »

Well, I guess if you all are ok with it, I am as well. I'm not so certain that Zidane should have been tossed then though.

sounderfan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:37:10 AM »

I'm not OK with it. I mean, Onstad was being a jerk at the time, and his comments (above) after the match are equally classless. It would be nice to see him pick a few out of the back of the Houston next next leg.

Squash · « **Reply #15 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:03:28 PM »

Here is the problem.....Mr. Flop does flop a lot. I saw him fall at least 6 times i can remember with very little contact. If i am being honest i would have pulled him from the game sooner. He had the lowest work rate of any Sounder including those sitting on the bench. You'd see the other Freddy close guys down aggressively at times only to have Flop standing in the middle doing nothing to help. It's constant and once he was subbed out the energy up front was completely different.

Otter · « **Reply #16 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:10:42 PM »

Quote from: Left Foot on October 30, 2009, 10:21:06 AM

So, for you long time soccer watching fans, can a goal keeper attack a player like that and avoid a red card. Looked like the same thing that Zidane did and he was tossed. Is this a case of reffing to keep it close?

Seems like I've seen other folks tossed for what the keep did in other games as well.

This is one of those cards that people like to describe as "orange"; it could have been yellow and it could have been red. In my opinion, the referee was either afraid to make the tough choice here or he did not see it clearly since he was directly in line behind Montero.

If any field player did what Onstad did, it would be a straight red. Despite what Onstad says, it was not the love tap that he makes it out to be. It was aggressive and all contact was initiated by Onstad since Montero was standing still at the time. Onstad was also aggressive after he did it, standing over Montero and making gestures.

Violent conduct
A player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.

The only thing in question is if it was "excessive force". It would seem that knocking an opponent on his ass when he is just standing there is but that is just my opinion.

Overall, the referee did not have a stellar day.

sounderfan · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:35:56 PM »

Well, at least SEATTLE showed up ready to go. The fans, that is...

Left Foot · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:37:17 PM »

Yes, I did think that Montero looked a bit disnterested. I don't think he flopped all that much when Onstad charged him though. Remember that Materazzi flopped a bit when Zidane did the deed which resulted in a red card.

I'm with Otter, the ref blinked. Most likely to preserve a shot at an interesting series which in my book really sucks.

Squash · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:41:20 PM »

Quote from: Left Foot on October 30, 2009, 12:37:17 PM

Yes, I did think that Montero looked a bit disnterested. I don't think he flopped all that much when Onstad charged him though. Remember that Materazzi flopped a bit when Zidane did the deed which resulted in a red card.

I'm with Otter, the ref blinked. Most likely to preserve a shot at an interesting series which in my book really sucks.

I think you are being too kind Lefty...he looked like he was headed to the bar. I do agree the one particular incident was not a flop but when you do it ALL THE TIME you won't get those calls you should.

I was actually pissed at his lack of interest and play last night. I honestly do not know how his teammates can respect him with such a LOW work ethic on the field.

sounderfan · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:58:53 PM »

Not an excuse, but please note: Montero was running a fever on Tuesday, and was suffering 'flu-like symptons' on match day. So that might have been part of it. However, Fredy has also been DOA in some matches where he's perfectly healthy...

greenhornet · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:00:56 PM »

Even though I can't stand the flops montero and others make, this one was not a flop. Onplaid should have been tossed immediately, no questions asked - straight RED. The ref in this game is a complete chump and I was immediately bummed when I saw that he was running the game.

What concerns me is that our forwards seem content to just stand up front and wait for service, I don't get it. How often do you see them work to get into the channel or make a diagnol run or help create an easier ball for the back or mid's to play them? It's no wonder they have trouble scoring, they limit the chances by not working harder off the ball. Maybe the road will be a blessing to there scoring wow's, hope so!

Squash · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:10:24 PM »

Quote from: sounderfan on October 30, 2009, 12:58:53 PM

Not an excuse, but please note: Montero was running a fever on Tuesday, and was suffering 'flu-like symptons' on match day. So that might have been part of it. However, Fredy has also been DOA in some matches where he's perfectly healthy...

No excuses for him..... he has a pattern of being lazy and a flopper.

GHornet who else was standing..... I only saw Montero last night?

metz123 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:15:47 PM »

I totally agree. I texted a friend a halftime that I've never seen a forward as lazy as Montero. The guy just does not move unless the ball is played directly to him. He had several opportunities up front to make some diagonal runs to free up space or make an overlap run and he just stood. He also had multiple chances to pressure up on defenders and just stood.

Now I don't know what Sigi was thinking putting the 2 freddies up front against a much taller team but I was ready to see Montero pulled 30 minutes into the game. He doesn't create enough 5 seconds of magic to justify standing around for 60 minutes. I'm no Jaqua fan but I'd rather see he & Le Toux up front at least trying to create some havoc and let Lunberg run at the defense from a midfield position than what I saw last night.

keeper4life · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:17:05 PM »

As far as I'm conerned the reason its still zeros. Going into houston is the play of kasey keller. If anyone else was in goal that game would have been 2-0 houston. Our lazy forwrad montero has got to stop being so falt footed and get caught ball watching all the time. Are forawrd never player connected at all. Everyone was on a different page and you can't be successful that way at all. Freddy J needs to be in the CM I think...he plays better there when he can distrbute the ball

Squash · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:18:00 PM »

Quote from: metz123 on October 30, 2009, 01:15:47 PM

I totally agree. I texted a friend a halftime that I've never seen a forward as lazy as Montero. The guy just does not move unless the ball is played directly to him. He had several opportunities up front to make some diagonal runs to free up space or make an overlap run and he just stood. He also had multiple chances to pressure up on defenders and just stood.

Now I don't know what Sigi was thinking putting the 2 freddies up front against a much taller team but I was ready to see Montero pulled 30 minutes into the game. He doesn't create enough 5 seconds of magic to justify standing around for 60 minutes. I'm no Jaqua fan but I'd rather see he & Le Toux up front at least trying to create some havoc and let Lunberg run at the defense from a midfield position than what I saw last night.

Agreed and I'd hope no coaches want their forwards to play like him.

I thought Roger L came off the bench and had tons of energy as well. He should have started up top maybe..anything but LazyFlop

metz123 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:19:20 PM »

Oh yeah, unless Montero did something to provoke (which I have not seen on video), that should have been a straight red card. The ref was horrible, between constantly bringing the Houston players over to him for a stern talking, then giving the straight yellow to Sounders, failure to play advantage and the lack of balls to give a red, he lost control of the game very early. Houston noticed this and took full advantage.

On Alki · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:45:40 PM »

When it comes to futbol insight on this site I agree with Metz about 99.9% of the time. And once again in this case I unequivocally agree with both of his posts on this game.

At first take I thought Oncombover had punched Fredy. I wanted to see the replay....then we see it and he "only" pushed him over with his chest and Fredy being Fredy embelished as usual so was it a big bang or a little bump as Oncombover suggests, I really don't know. I've seen that call be straight red everytime except this time...........

Left Foot · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:51:44 PM »

Thanks folks. At least this one time I am either 1) Not a lunatic or 2) at least have folks around who are as crazy as me.

sounderfan · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2009, 02:06:37 PM »

Sounders fans steal the show in historic playoff debut

Washington-OregonPremierSoccer.Com Forum

Author Topic: [Playoffs] Sounders FC v. Houston Dynamo (Read 2961 times)