PIP Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps 4/20 @ 7:30
Apr 19, 2024 19:34:48 GMT
Holden, airkeeper, and 3 more like this
Post by fuzzy on Apr 19, 2024 19:34:48 GMT
Dodging work on a Friday is a great time to contribute a PIP!
Vancouver has been pretty bad since coming into MLS, but this year they're actually doing well! At 4-1-2 they're currently second in the West and have a game in hand on the leaders. A win here could feasibly push them into first.
On the offensive end, Vancouver is getting it done with a lot of balance. Their leading goal scorers are Fafa Picault and Brian White with 3 each, but what's impressive is they have 9 unique goal scorers. Compare to Seattle who has scored a total of 9 goals period. Van is getting this done by good and varied team play as evidence by their 8 players with at least one assist and 4 players with 2. In general, they aren't run by a star player and rather they have many good players who get their jobs done.
On the defensive end they're difficult to assess. What they do is pretty basic, they drop deep behind the ball and embrace safety first defending as referenced by them being 3rd in the league in clearances. I really like their goalkeeper, Yohei Takaoka and they haven't conceded many goals (9), but this season his save percentage is less than stellar. I couldn't find xGA stats quickly, but my guess is they are quite low in this category.
If Vancouver has a weakness, it's that while they're kind of good at everything they aren't great at anything. As mentioned, Takaoka isn't havent a great season stopping the ball, but beyond that they have very middle of the pack numbers in terms of passing, and xG. They're very passive defensively and are near the bottom in terms of fouls both won and conceded. Not that fouling is always good mind you, but there's a balance and teams can absolutely be too passive; Vancouver fits this definition.
For Seattle, well, we suck and I'm not optimistic. While I certainly think Vancouver is beatable, we've historically seen Seattle unable to break down teams who sit deep and it's a problem that has only gotten worse this year. PdlV reaggrevated something so he's not going to be there to help us. Get ready for Rusnak pushing the ball wide to Nouhou to hit hopeless crosses!
Prediction: 0-1 Vancouver. I just don't see where a goal comes from and honestly I think we've been luck to score as many as we have, given four have been penalties and five were all in the same game. Vancouver has good players all over and while not world beaters, it seems likely someone will find and finish a chance. If you want some optimism it's that I'm historically terrible in my PIP predictions so maybe I've reverse jinxed us; definitely this is a time I'd love to be wrong.
Vancouver has been pretty bad since coming into MLS, but this year they're actually doing well! At 4-1-2 they're currently second in the West and have a game in hand on the leaders. A win here could feasibly push them into first.
On the offensive end, Vancouver is getting it done with a lot of balance. Their leading goal scorers are Fafa Picault and Brian White with 3 each, but what's impressive is they have 9 unique goal scorers. Compare to Seattle who has scored a total of 9 goals period. Van is getting this done by good and varied team play as evidence by their 8 players with at least one assist and 4 players with 2. In general, they aren't run by a star player and rather they have many good players who get their jobs done.
On the defensive end they're difficult to assess. What they do is pretty basic, they drop deep behind the ball and embrace safety first defending as referenced by them being 3rd in the league in clearances. I really like their goalkeeper, Yohei Takaoka and they haven't conceded many goals (9), but this season his save percentage is less than stellar. I couldn't find xGA stats quickly, but my guess is they are quite low in this category.
If Vancouver has a weakness, it's that while they're kind of good at everything they aren't great at anything. As mentioned, Takaoka isn't havent a great season stopping the ball, but beyond that they have very middle of the pack numbers in terms of passing, and xG. They're very passive defensively and are near the bottom in terms of fouls both won and conceded. Not that fouling is always good mind you, but there's a balance and teams can absolutely be too passive; Vancouver fits this definition.
For Seattle, well, we suck and I'm not optimistic. While I certainly think Vancouver is beatable, we've historically seen Seattle unable to break down teams who sit deep and it's a problem that has only gotten worse this year. PdlV reaggrevated something so he's not going to be there to help us. Get ready for Rusnak pushing the ball wide to Nouhou to hit hopeless crosses!
Prediction: 0-1 Vancouver. I just don't see where a goal comes from and honestly I think we've been luck to score as many as we have, given four have been penalties and five were all in the same game. Vancouver has good players all over and while not world beaters, it seems likely someone will find and finish a chance. If you want some optimism it's that I'm historically terrible in my PIP predictions so maybe I've reverse jinxed us; definitely this is a time I'd love to be wrong.
