Seattle Sounders: 2017 Season Preview
2016 was a record breaking year for the Seattle Sounders as they won their first MLS Cup. Now they head into 2017 with a massive target on their backs.
Over the later half of 2016, the club somehow went from last in the western conference to finishing 4th and becoming MLS Cup Champions. The Sounders have always been a team to fear since they’ve been in the MLS, and they’ve always been pressured to do well. But in 2017, they will be feared as the MLS Champions and will face the pressure that every reigning champion faces.
2017 will be Brian Schmetzer’s first full season as coach, Nicolas Lodeiro’s first full season in MLS and Jordan Morris will begin his sophomore season with the club. The Sounders lost some key players, but they also gained several players that should help them make a run at another MLS Cup.
Recap of 2016
Record: 14(W)-14(L)-6(D)
Finishing Position: 4th Place in Western Conference
Post-Season: Won in MLS Cup final 5-4 on penalties after 0-0 draw with Toronto FC
The Seattle Sounders started out their 2016 season horribly. Some might say it was the Sounders worst ever start to the season. They fired their coach mid season. Clint Dempsey, their star forward, was sidelined with an irregular heartbeat.
But then they signed Uruguayan international Nicolas Lodeiro and defender Roman Torres returned from a torn ACL. In August and September, the team started to click. They became a feared team again. Fans started to believe that they could make the playoffs.
In the end, it came down to decision day, and a day which proved favorable for Seattle. A few miracles later, an 88th minute goal, beating Supporter Shield winners, the “flu game”, “The Save”, a Roman Torres penalty and the Seattle Sounders were 2016 MLS Champions.
Transfers Out:
- Michael Farfan (Retired)
- Erik Friberg (BK Hacken)
- Herculez Gomez (Retired)
- Andreas Ivanschitz (Viktoria Plzen)
- Darwin Jones (Tampa Bay Rowdies)
- Damion Lowe (Tampa Bay Rowdies)
- Tyrone Mears (Atlanta United)
- Dylan Remick (Huston Dynamo)
- Zach Scott (Retired)
- Nelson Valdez (Cerro Porteno)
Transfers In:
- Seyi Adekoya (UCLA)
- Kyle Bjornethun (Seattle University)
- Will Bruin (Huston Dynamo)
- Bakie Goodman (Georgetown University)
- Bryan Meredith (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Brian Nana-Sinkam (Stanford)
- Dominic Oduro (FC Nordsjaelland)
- Harry Shipp (Montreal Impact)
- Jake Stovall (Wright State)
- Gustav Svensson (Guangzhou R&F)
- Nouhou Tolo (Sounders FC 2)
- Henry Wingo (University of Washington)
Predicted Starting XI for Opening Weekend
The Sounders opening weekend starting XI is fairly similar to last years. Frei(GK), Joevin Jones(LB), Marshall(CB), Torres(CB) are all regular starters from last year. New signing Gustave Svensson(RB) looks to be the only new addition to Seattle’s defense.
Ozzie Alonso and Cristian Roldan will most likely continue to start as center-mids in Schmetzer’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation with Fernandez and Lodeiro on the wings. Providing that Clint Dempsey continues to be healthy, it looks like he’ll start in an attacking-mid position. Jordan Morris is currently suffering from an ankle injury, but should be fit for opening day against the Huston Dynamo on March 4th he’d start in a forward position, like he did for much of last year.
2017 Predictions
Even with the losses of Tyrone Mears, Andreas Ivanschitz, Erik Friberg, Nelson Valdez and several others, the Sounders play shouldn’t differ greatly from 2016. Assuming that Dempsey stays healthy, he, Lodeiro and Morris are set to be one of the most dangerous attacking threes in MLS.
The Sounders should have Roman Torres all season long, by the end of 2016 him and Chad Marshall were a force to be reckoned with. Stefan Frei has become one the most consistent goalies in MLS, with Joevin Jones turning into a dangerous left back.
Under Schmetzer, the Sounders have a good chance of going deep into the playoffs again this year. With what looks to be a dangerous attack and a set back line, on paper the Sounders have few flaws to pick out, and if the Sounders can be the first on the score sheet in games, and cut down on defensive mistakes, they will be one of the most dangerous teams in MLS.
Predicted Finishing Position: 3rd in the Western Conference
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2017 MLS Team Previews