Major League Soccer

Seattle Sounders really the best team in MLS? Find out the reasons why it would not be

Brian Schmetzer's team ranks second in the Western Conference but shows weaknesses in many aspects of their game.

By Fredi Roman

Brian Schmetzer's team ranks second in the Western Conference but shows weaknesses in many aspects of their game.
Brian Schmetzer's team ranks second in the Western Conference but shows weaknesses in many aspects of their game.

Seattle Sounders count among his strengths with good balance and a diverse set of skills. The team shows game after game that responds to the ideas of its coach and also added Brad Smith to reinforce the team's defense and offense. However, like all teams, Seattle has weaknesses.

The first great weakness is defense. In it they have used various central defenders such as Chad Marshall, Kim Kee-hee and a Roman Torres. But the one who is a fixed piece is Yeimar Gómez Andrade, the defender who provides greater security. If he is absent, the Seattle Sounders defense would be completely undermined and they have no effective replacement for security.

Another weakness is the midfield on the right. Although the strong attack is the left, on the right they cannot find a good game. Miguel Ibarra, Handwalla Bwana, Cristian Roldan and Joevin Jones have passed through there but without becoming threats. Since his return from his time in Germany, Jones has not reached the peaks of his first spell with the Sounders, but in recent weeks there are signs that he is returning to his best level.

Finally, another weakness of the Sounders has to do with the way they defend. Of the two games they lost in the season, both were due to counterattacks by their rivals. Few teams can beat the Sounders by going head-to-head against them. So the easy solution would be to score first as that will force the opponent to be a little more aggressive and then the spaces will appear.

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Fredi Roman

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