What are the Rave Green’s true colors?
Well, have you noticed?
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen the Sounders in MLS action. Sure, we saw some convincing wins in the Open Cup and the return of Steve Zakuani in a reserve match, but that’s about it.
If you’re like me, you probably dealt with their absence with a healthy dose of Euro 2012 matches.
I have good news. The drought is over.
Busy season part deux begins in earnest with this weekend’s match against the Montreal Impact, A.K.A. Sounders North. Get ready for 6 MLS matches and an Open Cup tie, all before July 7.
What will we see from the first team during these matches?
Here’s the 5 questions I’m asking
1. Can the Sounders win against the league elite?
Don’t get me wrong, this Sounders are having a good season, but each time they come up against an elite team they’ve fallen short.
This stretch will go a long way toward determining if Seattle is elite themselves with matches against Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake.
2. What can we expect from Mauro Rosales?
The Argentine playmaker has been banged up all year. Hopefully a few weeks of rest means that Mauro Rosales is fully fit and ready to go.
His performances so far have lacked the spark and creativity from last season. The Sounders need him to elevate his game if they want to be an elite team.
Will Freddy Montero leave during the summer transfer window? (photo soundersfc.com)
3. Brad Evans or Andy Rose?
I think the young Englishman, Andy Rose, has shown enough to merit consideration for the ideal 11. The competition will be tough.
It’s well known that Brad Evans is Sigi’s preferred midfield marshall.
In my book Rose provides the same box-to-box skills as Evans with a little more attacking bite. The debate is between youthful energy and experience here.
4. When will the goals start coming?
The Seattle attack was supposed to be one of the best in the league. Who would think otherwise with Freddy Montero, Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales, and a rejuvenated Eddie Johnson on the roster.
So far we haven’t seen these 4 spend too much time on the pitch together.
Will they finally gel?
It would be nice to see the Sounders put 3 on the board outside of early rounds of the Open Cup.
The big 4’s contribution is more important than ever now that leading scorer David Estrada has gone down with a broken foot.
5. Will Freddy Montero say goodbye in the summer transfer window?
In the absence of a healthy Mauro Rosales, Freddy Montero has become the focal point of the Seattle attack this year.
His skill on the ball and vision for the goal make him one of the elite players in MLS, but, they also put him at risk of becoming a European transfer target.
I think anyone who follows MLS knows Montero’s leaving sooner or later. But Sounders fans should pray its after the 2012 season is over. A midseason departure would be devastating
What do you think? What are your questions as the Sounders head into busy season part deux?
Hit me up in the comments secti0n, or at my email listed below.
About Josh Dougherty
