What a campaign the Seattle Sounders had
last campaign, just like a see saw, when the Rave Greens had a streak so
negative and suddenly the tables turned in their favor to finally win it all.
In 2016, the Seattle Sounders experienced a
series of setbacks and oddities that had its faithful legion of followers a bit
worried and seeing with disappointment how their squad was going to see a first
since their inception of not making it into the postseason.
A campaign that suddenly this squad was in
a losing streak so bad that ended up costing the job of the only man at the
helm since this squad inception into the ranks of Major League Soccer, as Sigi
Schmidt tenure ended.
Still for the Emerald City squad appointing
an interim in his place, a member of its alumnus as a player since the Sounders
days in that old NASL and later to manage the Sounders destinies in that
Pacific League until their big jump to the big circuit.
When Brian Schmetzer, the Seattle squad was
one in disarray and with the arrival of this chap just to try to put order and
try its best to level the Rave Greens campaign and do the impossible of getting
this squad into the postseason.
A feat tough but not impossible, still the
problems did not finish to mount on the Sounders, when their top man Clint
Dempsey was sidelined with a heart ailment for the remainder of the campaign as
well injuries taking its toll on some important players.
Proving a bit difficult for Schmetzer as he
was in the need of a miracle to try to salvage this campaign and continue its
streak intact of making it into the postseason uninterruptedly, as this quarrel
was to be determined until the end of the regular campaign.
For a squad that has won important shields
in the US Open Cup with a record five cups, a Supporters Shield, two Cascadia
Cups and other minor trophies, but not the granddaddy of them all the MLS Cup.
A pass that at the end of the campaign was
in play three spots with four squads looking to net a spot, it’s when the
Sounders, SKC and Real Salt Lake got the last three spots and the postseason
spots were ready in the Western Conference.
Carrying a momentum since the start of the
playoffs, the Seattle squad in the knockout round took care of SKC and moving
into semifinals to play a heavily favored Dallas FC and the Texans became prey
to the Rave Greens hunger.
With nothing to lose and plenty to earn,
the finals of the Western Conference were set and against a Colorado Rapids, squad
that had a one of a kind campaign and in the final was no match for the Emerald
City Bunch.
The 2016 champions Sounders capture all the
headlines after winning that elusive cup for many years they could not win, as
the question arises from this will the Rave Greens defend it successfully?
As many players left the squad, but with a few
moves in the off season the Seattle Sounders got some players that will make the
difference for them in tis 2017, the campaign that they will be the defending
champions.
In addition, the Sounders went to Houston
and got forward Will Bruin, midfielder Harry Shipp a former midfielder from
Montreal and betting on youth USL prospect defender Nouhou Tolo and homegrown forward
Sedi Adekoya and midfielder Henry Wingo and Gustav Svensson.
Contested will be the 2017 campaign for
many squads and for the Seattle Sounders with the label of favorites and
defending champions, will one challenged and tough to play as they will be the squad
to beat.
The good news continue to make way for this
squad as Clint Dempsey is cleared to play and will be an important part of this
squad in this 2017 and hopefully they can make a stand in MLS as well when they
start a new chapter in CCL.
This squad for sure will be in the playoffs
and maybe semifinals can be their destinies, finish atop the Western Conference
and cannot wait to see those one of a kind Cascadia Derbies.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Crest Credit and Property of Seattle
Sounders Football Club 2017
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017
Major League Soccer
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