Sounders 2022 season preview: Sky is the restrict

No different group in MLS historical past has proven the extent of consistency of the Seattle Sounders, who are actually 13-for-13 in qualifying for the MLS playoffs of their historical past. Much more exceptional, they’ve by no means completed decrease than fourth within the West nor seventh within the Supporters’ Protect race. That’s undeniably exceptional.

However for all that success, they’ve by no means actually put collectively a tremendous season from begin to end. They gained the Supporters ‘Protect in 2014, however that’s the one yr they completed the common season atop the Western Convention they usually’ve completed second for 5 years’ straight.

That is the yr they hope to vary that. Their roster is constructed to win from Day 1 and they need to be aggressive in each competitors they enter. However will they rise to the event? Solely time will inform.

Head coach: Brian Schmetzer, seventh season

Key additions: Albert Rusnák, Sam Adeniran, Dylan Teves

Key losses: Shane O’Neill, Nicolas Benezet, Brad Smith

(4-2-3-1) Free; Nouhou, Arreaga, Yeimar, Alex Roldan; João Paulo, Cristian Roldan; Rusnák, Lodeiro, Morris; Ruidíaz.

Whereas many MLS groups have been grabbing headlines with high-priced transfers, the Sounders quietly made what might change into the most important transfer of the offseason once they lured Albert Rusnák away from Actual Salt Lake on a free-agent deal. Rusnák grew to become the primary Designated Participant to modify groups by way of free company, and at 27 years outdated, he has loads of good years forward of him. In contrast to these international transfers, Rusnák has already confirmed that he can produce in MLS and is coming off an 11-goal, 11-assist season. On high of all that, he can play any of the three attacking midfield spots, which ought to come in useful if Nicolás Lodeiro wants a while off.

The Sounders have traditionally gotten off to gradual begins – final yr’s 13-game unbeaten streak to begin the season being an excessive outlier – due principally to their penchant to maintain their choices open till the summer season switch window. This yr, nevertheless, they’ve one thing fairly near an optimized roster from the very starting. It is a group that’s constructed to win now, which might embrace making a severe run on the Concacaf Champions League title that has eluded MLS groups within the fashionable period of this match (Seattle has already certified for the CCL quarterfinals after dismantling Motagua 5-0 within the second leg of their Spherical of 16 match). Predicting something in MLS is usually a fickle proposition, however the Sounders have the look of a group that might make historical past.

As thrilling as all which may be, the chilly onerous fact in MLS is that the groups who look the very best on paper hardly ever win all of it. Have a look at final yr, as an illustration. The Columbus Crew have been coming off an MLS Cup win – over the Sounders, no much less – returned most of their gamers, and nonetheless managed so as to add expertise (sound like anybody?). They ended up lacking the playoffs. The New England Revolution put collectively a record-setting season final yr and misplaced their first playoff sport. What might go flawed for the Sounders? As deep as they’re, like all MLS groups it’s not limitless. It’s not onerous to think about accidents to a couple key gamers altering the equation dramatically.

If your folks comply with MLS, they in all probability know that the Sounders have by no means missed the playoffs of their 13 years. What they could not have realized was that regardless of claiming 60 factors, final yr was the primary time Seattle had ever did not advance to a minimum of the Western Convention semifinals. They grew to become the primary group in MLS historical past to get eradicated in a sport wherein they didn’t give up a single shot, falling in penalties to Actual Salt Lake. Yeah, that also stings slightly.

Going to go together with Hulk, and never simply because he’s large and inexperienced (though that positively helps). Like Hulk, the Sounders have two sides: they’re constructed by one of many best soccer minds in MLS and are completely able to merely smashing issues once they’re so inclined. On the peak of their powers, there are few who can match them, however they’re not impervious to getting caught in Bruce Banner mode like he did in Infinity Conflict.