There’s no tactical way to avoid that equalizer fwiw. They were controlling game. Gk punted a ball upfield that Ragen had controlled. He misplayed it twice. That might never happen to him again.
Not to put too fine of a point on this, but the Sounders out shot Charlotte 6-0 over the final 20 minutes. They out shot them 3-0 after the 86th minute. They were doing a very effective job at closing at this match, absent an actual insurance goal.
Didn't love the result, but absolutely loved the gameplay. And what a feeling to see 17, 9, and 10 come off the bench. That was an incredible flex. Any team aught to be terrified by that.
I don’t disagree with that
So much better than last years 85th min sub-and-pray.
But one thing to realize is most teams have improved too
MLS has always was a buyers league and spent a lot
Blown away at the quality of play in MLS this weekend
Yep, while disappointed in the result, I was encouraged by the play on the field. Very dynamic and multifaceted in the attack. A bit rusty defensively, but they'll shake off that rust.
It was raining pretty steadily. Many pitches would likely have standing water in those conditions. I’m a proponent of grass but hard to imagine the conditions would be better when the weather is like that.
For sure. Just gotta cut out the mental errors at home, that was a major issue last season and was a major issue today. By my count we’ve lead in the 85th minute at home 6 times since the start of last season and won 1 of those. That’s really bad
I didn’t see this so much as a mental error as an almost comedy of physical ones. Yes, ragen could have just booted it out a couple of times but those are also passes and plays he makes effectively 98/100 times.
I agree with this. If he makes any other kind of contact on the ball, even if it doesn’t get to Frei, the play is different. He missed the ball perfectly for the run that followed.
I don’t think we see two mistakes like that in a row from him the rest of the season.
The problem with this take is it feels an awful lot like what we were all saying about the myriad of mental errors that led to the abysmal start last year.
Like, every team is *trying* to win. Nobody makes those mistakes on purpose.
A fair point, but last year we had smaller margins because the offense didn’t look ANYTHING like it did last night. Also, credit to CLT -that was the reigning GK of the year, 2nd best GA (Sounders #1). Last year, we lose that game 2-1 because our offense was the problem. Wont be the case in 2025.
Agreed there was definite improvement in the offensive end, and Charlotte is no slouch on D, but I think there were lots of intangible positives last year too. One game though! Hopefully they smash RSL and we don't have to worry.
Maybe the fact he barely got away with trying to dribble around an attacker as the last man just a minute or two earlier is playing more into my judgment than it should. I think after that point, for the rest of the game, you have to think to yourself “I’m not going to try to be cute anymore”
The only kind of solace we can take, as it relates to points dropped/given, is that this was an eastern conference team. It’s much more painful standings-wise when this happens to a western conference opponent… as it happened several times last year…
I really enjoy how much the attack has changed. It seems tactically more inline with the talent on the field. The strategy seems to leave the CBs more open to counters hopefully it's just early season jitters.
I don’t think that’s too hot a take! They played pretty well and we started a rotation lineup. If they play like this all year that stadium will fill up forsure. My only issue with roster currently is Muskovski. I think if we can improve the 3rd st role we will be unstoppable.
Comments
So much better than last years 85th min sub-and-pray.
But one thing to realize is most teams have improved too
MLS has always was a buyers league and spent a lot
Blown away at the quality of play in MLS this weekend
Unreal how many players slipped or completely fell. Not to mention mishitting the ball when their plant foot doesn’t have solid purchase.
No excuse, just not a pro-level pitch.
Wonder what grass would be like?
But yeah I'm very encouraged by what we've seen so far this season. This team is going to be good.
I don’t think we see two mistakes like that in a row from him the rest of the season.
Like, every team is *trying* to win. Nobody makes those mistakes on purpose.