Can’t get Much Worse than this, Right?

The Sounders brought the rain to Carson as they took on a reborn LA Galaxy side on a gloomy LA evening. The Sounders gave fans another disappointing showing as they lost 0-1 thanks to a Gabriel Pec goal in the 4th minute.

Here are my thoughts

Match Recap

Right off the bat, the Sounders were NOT ready for what the LA Galaxy would bring them. In the first minute, Paintsil hit a superb shot off the post after a perfect chip from Gastón Brugman. From there, you knew the Sounders would be in for a rough day. Two minutes later, Gabriel Pec opened up his MLS goal-scoring account after a great bit of play from Puig, Paintsil, and Pec finishing it off.

As the match went on, the two sides settled into a much more even balance of play. Neither side was able to find the goal over the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, as both teams clearly struggled with the garbage pitch conditions.

The Sounders started the second half, appearing more composed and ready to get a result from this game. However, try as they might, the Sounders couldn’t find their breakthrough. Neither could the Galaxy, but with a 1-0 scoreline, only one team actually needed a goal. The Sounders’ best chance of the night came after Brian Schmetzer’s favorite player, Jordan Morris, missed an absolute sitter in the 90th minute after a fantastic setup from Teves and Jordan himself.

And fans will still call for him to be a locked-in starter… but I digress.

While the Sounders have created chances and looked capable of at least giving the opposing defense some trouble this season (sometimes), they still look lost in possession, keep coming up with repeatable ideas in the attacking third, and have yet to pick up a single win this season. This Sounders team is desperate to get everyone back and healthy. I just hope it’s enough to get to the playoffs.

What happened to the defense?

Last season, the Sounders had the best defense in the entire league, from Frei winning the Golden Glove to Ragen’s emergence as a star CB. The Sounders were the team no one could score on. Since the start of the 2024 season, the defense and defensive shape have looked shambolic to be honest. Nouhou has found himself way too high up the pitch, loses focus, and has looked even more hotheaded. Ragen struggles to defend 1v1, you know, the most essential thing you should be able to do as a defender, and he does not have the pace to keep up. But don't worry, he can pass! Alex Roldan is a wingback and not a right-back. That’s all I need to say.

I think it’s time to adjust and play your best defenders. Xavier Arreaga has looked rejuvenated this season, and since Yeimar returned, he hasn’t seen the pitch. He deserves a shot over Ragen. Cody Baker is set to have his breakout season. He’s shown his quality and should be a starter in this team. I’m sure once João Paulo returns, the midfield and defense will be more composed, but until he’s 100%, Schmetz needs to play his most inform players.

Anything other than the 4231 is a mistake

The game against LA Galaxy was the first time the Sounders lined up in their favored 4231 formation. The Sounders had fantastic passing sequences, great possession, and every player looked so much more comfortable, and even Jordan Morris looked decent out on the wing. At this point, there is zero reason Schmetz should switch back to their super negative 442. 

The player that benefited the most from the play on Saturday was Nouhou. The Cameroonian was listed as a left-back, but in possession, he was essentially a third center-back. His positioning was much more in line with Ragen and Yeimar, and he was tasked with less offensive responsibility than when the Sounders played in a 442. Against the Galaxy, he was used earlier and deeper in the buildup from the back. This is the best way to utilize Nouhou, and this is how you must use him going forward. With Leo Chu returning in a few weeks, they could finally start to cook if Nouhou is deployed like this.

Is it Time to Panic?

No, I don’t think it’s time to panic YET. The Sounders are definitely tiptoeing towards that panic line, and if they lose one more match, then it’s time to question the entire organization. I’m not going to be like the other guys and sugarcoat and praise everything the FO and team do. That’s incredibly unproductive. Fans and journos need to question the narrative and expect more from the players, coaches, and front office. If we continue to be complacent, we’ll be no better than any other mediocre team in MLS.