Seattle Sounders: Starting slowly hardly the worst shortcoming

Brian Schmetzer wants his Seattle Sounders to overcome the slow starts of recent seasons. However, of all the shortcomings to have, it’s hardly the worst.

There are few teams has storied and stable as the Seattle Sounders. Even this past season, when tragedy and calamity seemed to bestow the northwest, there was always calm and composure at CenturyLink.

This is a franchise that knows itself, understands what it has to do, and has full and unwavering belief in its process.

Even after yet another slow start, this time winning just three of their first 14 MLS matches, they still rallied to make the playoffs and end the season as one of the favourites for MLS Cup. The only reason they didn’t go further in the playoffs is penalties, a well-known lottery.

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That is the third time in succession that Seattle have stumbled out the gate, only to surge through the latter months of the season and ultimately finish above the playoff line. In the first two seasons of those this three-year run, they ended the season in MLS Cup, lifting it in 2016. This is a team that knows how to win and win at the right time.

Nevertheless, head coach Brian Schmetzer is keen to drop the slow-start moniker that is threatening to engulf his players. Speaking this week, Schmetzer stated:

"“We don’t want to start slow. I think it’s important for this franchise to remove that moniker of starting slow.”"

To an extent, he is absolutely correct. There is a sociological argument that state that if a person is told that they are something enough times, then they will act as that something does, whether they actually are or are not. This pertains to those who grow up in poorer, more deprived areas. If you are told you are poor, then you will act like a poor person.

The same argument can be made for football teams. This is what Schmetzer rightly wants to avoid. But at the same time, the shortcoming of being slow starters is hardly the worst label to be stuck with, especially given their winning mentality in the latter stages of the season and in the playoffs. I am sure the New York Red Bulls would happily swap their playoffs bottling for Seattle’s slow starts.

Although Schmetzer is right to try and find ways in which his team can improve, and addressing their poor Marches, Aprils and Mays is certainly that, he should also not solely focus on the negative. There is a stability and a mentality to the Sounders that other franchises could only dream of. In part, that is why they are so able to weather these lacklustre starts to seasons.

Starting slowly is hardly the worst shortcoming in the world. In fact, if that is your biggest problem to solve in the offseason, then you’re pretty set for the year ahead. This Seattle Sounders team, to me, seems ready for another playoff run.